Where Does Marcus McKethan Fit into Giants' O-line Plans?

Can Marcus McKethan earn a roster spot after missing all of last season?

Author:
Quinn Slaven
Publish date:
Jun 19, 2023 4:00 PM EDT

In this story:

Marcus McKethan, Offensive Line

Height: 6-foot-7 | Weight: 335 pounds
2022 Stats: Missed season due to a torn ACL suffered in the preseason

Marcus McKethan, a fifth-round draft pick in 2022, was always projected to be a developmental type of offensive lineman. The former North Carolina offensive lineman offers versatility and the demeanor you want from a player in the pit; he just needs some polish on his technique and some experience, the latter of which he was robbed of thanks to a preseason torn ACL.

McKethan excelled at right guard for the Tar Heels, showing great footwork, punishing edge rushers on pulling plays. He frequently managed to get low enough to drive block on power runs. He started three full seasons and saw time in five games during his redshirt freshman year. McKethan earned All-ACC Honorable Mentions following his junior and senior seasons.

Before his ACL injury, McKethan took second-team snaps at guard and third-team snaps at tackle throughout OTAs.

Best Case Scenario

Athletes who suffer ACL injuries typically make a full recovery. At 24 years old, McKethan has favorable odds of returning as healthy as ever.

Assuming he’s ready to play, McKethan theoretically has an opportunity to challenge veteran right guard Mark Glowinski. Last season, Glowinski allowed five sacks on 614 pass snaps. While the job is Glowinski's to lose, the Giants can get out of his contract after this season, so they might want to start looking ahead to the future, especially toward an offensive lineman on his rookie contract.

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Worst Case Scenario

McKethan is starting from scratch, so this coming year is his rookie campaign. What could be truly damaging is for McKethan to show he’s just good enough to stick around but incapable of making a measurable impact.

General Manager Joe Schoen overhauled the offense and brought back key players in quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Saquon Barkley. While searching for interior offensive linemen to complete the puzzle, the Giants have collected a crowded room of Shane Lemieux, Wyatt Davis, Josh Ezeudu, Jack Anderson, and Tyre Phillips, all of whom could push for the projected nine roster spots on the offensive line.

It is time to start weeding out the bunch. Collectively, these players will cost $5.6 million this year, which may not sound like a lot until you consider none of them have started more than five games.

What to Expect in 2023

The Giants will likely stick with Glowinski to start the year. If McKethan has made progress and is deemed healthy enough to get the green light back from his injury, he could see some snaps as part of a rotation moving forward, a sure sign that the coaches are considering him for a larger role in the offense.

McKethan is versatile enough to play either guard spot, but again, he's starting from scratch at this level, thanks to the injury. Regardless of what side he plays on, he needs to see the field this summer so the coaches can gauge precisely where he's at in his development.