Justin Pugh‘s free agency prospects just got a bit brighter. Per Austin Knoblauch of NFL.com, the Giants lineman and free-agent-to-be has been cleared to resume all football activities after an MRI revealed no structural damage in his back.
New York drafted Pugh in the first round of the 2013 draft, and this year will mark the Syracuse product’s first venture into the open market. He has lined up all along the offensive line for the Giants, and his versatility will certainly make him more attractive to potential bidders. However, he has not suited up for a full 16-game campaign since his rookie year, and advanced metrics have never been overly fond of his play. He graded out as the No. 52 guard in the league in 2017, per Pro Football Focus, and he ended the year on season-ending IR with a back injury (he ultimately missed half of last season due to injury).
Nonetheless, his medical clearance and the fact that this year’s crop of free agent lineman is pretty slim (only Andrew Norwell and Nate Solder rank above him per PFR’s most recent rankings) should result in a fairly robust market for Pugh’s services. PFR lists him as a tackle, though an acquiring team may sign him as a guard with the ability to kick out to tackle if necessary.
The Giants, who are reportedly preparing to make a major push for Norwell, have not ruled out a reunion with Pugh.
I would hope that Pugh can come back and resume his career with the Giants. He has always been a solid performer when healthy !
I believe his injury problems stemmed from his grueling battles with those massive DT’s in the trenches. He started his career as an OT and did quite well despite shorter arms than normal for that position. He is quick enough, if healthy, and better suited for the Tackle position in the NFL !