The New York Giants’ revamping off their offensive line continued with the signing of Patrick Omameh.
Omameh, a 2014 undrafted free agent out of Michigan, started 13 games in 2017 for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He also spent time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chicago Bears. Omameh, 28, has 45 starts in 53 career NFL games.
Omameh was made expendable after the Jaguars signed Andrew Norwell.
The Giants are getting another starting caliber offensive lineman in Omameh. The upside is that he has overachieved as an undrafted player. The downside is that the Giants are Omameh’s fifth team (he initially signed with the San Francisco 49ers but didn’t make the active roster) as he enters his fifth NFL season.
The signing of Omameh could mean the Giants are prepared to move on from Justin Pugh. Pugh has been the best player on the Giants’ o-line since he was drafted out of Syracuse 19th overall in 2013. Pugh has started in all 63 of his career NFL games but only played 19 games in the past two seasons because of injury.
Pugh could have a price tag too extravagant for the Giants. He is scheduled to meet with the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday. Weston Richburg agreed to a five-year, $47.5 million contract with the 49ers while D.J. Fluker, who signed a one-year deal last season, is not expected to return.
General manager Dave Gettleman said he wanted to rebuild the offensive line when he took over for Jerry Reese. The team re-signed Jon Halapio and made Nate Solder the NFL’s highest paid left tackle. The Giants also have John Jerry, John Greco, Brett Jones, and Ereck Flowers, Adam Bisnowaty, and Chad Wheeler.
The Giants could potentially have four of five starters on the o-line set with Solder and Flowers at the tackles, Jones at center, and Omameh at one of the guard spots. Flowers could move to one of the guard spots depending on any additional moves made in free agency or in next month’s NFL Draft.
– Curtis Rawls is a Managing Editor for Full Press Coverage and covers the NFL and the New York Giants. Please like and follow on Facebook and Twitter. Curtis can be followed on Twitter @CuRawls203.
