New York Giants Interested in Free Agent Offensive Tackle Branden Albert
It appears that the New York Giants have finally realized that they have to fix their offensive line.
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Giants are bringing in veteran offensive tackle Branden Albert for a visit this week after he left Seattle without signing a deal with the Seahawks.
Albert actually announced his retirement on July 31, leaving millions on the table, but he changed his mind days later. Unfortunately, the Jacksonville Jaguars didn't want him back and he was released on Aug. 11.
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The two-time Pro Bowler is still a productive player. He just has to stay healthy. He's definitely an upgrade over incumbent starting left tackle Ereck Flowers and rookie backup Chad Wheeler, and the Giants may also consider playing him at right tackle since Bobby Hart has been struggling this year.
However, a lot of people have already pointed out that the Giants general manager Jerry Reese should have made a move like this months ago before they sunk to 0–5 to start the season.
Right now, the Giants are in the midst of a lost season and observers like the New York Daily News' Pat Leonard and NJ Advance Media's James Kratch have noted that they may as well give their young players more playing time.
"If Reese needs to play another tackle, it would make sense to play the young Wheeler, not bring in a veteran with baggage like Albert. But we're sure he has his reasons," Leonard said in his column.
"The Giants are going nowhere this season. Their focus should be to play their young players," Kratch stated. "If Flowers and Hart were deemed fit to start when the Giants thought they were going to the Super Bowl, they (or reserve Chad Wheeler) should be fit to start on the march toward the No. 1-overall pick," he added.
