Justin Pugh: I don't mind playing guard, I just want to win

By foxsports
Published

Back in January, during an interview with WFAN's Mike Francesa, New York Giants GM Jerry Reese first floated the idea of kicking Justin Pugh inside to right guard. Reese offered two stipulations for the potential position change.

"It depends on how things shake out, if we can get a big dynamic right tackle via free agency or the draft, Pugh is a guy that fortunately can move in to guard, he can play left tackle, he can play right tackle, so there's a lot of places he can play for us," Reese said.

The first part of that potential scenario did not come to fruition. The Giants signed offensive tackle Marshall Newhouse in free agency, but he is nothing more than a depth signing after struggling to surface with the Green Bay Packers and Cincinnati Bengals.

For Pugh to kick inside to guard, the Giants will now have to invest an early round draft pick in an offensive tackle. In a draft class that is talented and deep at the tackle position, the Giants will have an opportunity to find a potential day-one starter at right tackle with their first or second round draft pick. 

If Pugh had any say in it, that player would be Iowa offensive lineman Brandon Scherff.

“I like the kid from Iowa,” Pugh told reporters on Thursday when asked about Scherff. “Seems like a tough kid. That’s someone I would like . . . He’s a tough guy. He plays tackle. He may be a guard, he may be a tackle - that’s something I went through (before the 2013 NFL draft).

If Pugh is to get his wish, the Giants would likely have to use their first-round selection or trade down to the middle of the first round. Scherff is seen by many draft analysts as a Top 15 overall talent and some believe that he is the best overall offensive lineman in the draft.

Although some analysts believe that Scherff will be best at guard, the only issue they have with him at tackle is his short arm length and reach. Many tackles before him, such as Riley Reiff and Joe Thomas, have been plus or elite starting offensive tackles, respectively, with a shorter arm length.

Drafting Scherff could signify that Pugh will have to kick inside to offensive guard. Late in the 2014 season, he balked at the idea, but now he has changed his tune.

“I’m loving my time at right tackle,” he said. “But I don’t mind playing guard. I want to win. I want to go to the playoffs, and that is my priority this year. So wherever that puts me and whatever the best five guys are, that’s OK.”

If the Giants do pass on Scherff in round one, talented offensive tackle prospects Jake Fisher (Oregon), T.J. Clemmings (Pittsburgh), and D.J. Humprhies (Florida) could still be on the board at No. 40 overall when the Giants pick in round two. All three of these prospects are excellent fits for the Giants' zone-blocking scheme under offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo.

(h/t New York Daily News)

Photo Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

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