The New York Giants aren't taking any chances. They need any competent offensive linemen and want to assure that Brett Jones will be their starting center next season.
Jones will be given a second-round tender as a restricted free agent, according to a source. That will give the Giants right of first refusal if another team offered the former CFL star a deal or a second-round pick if they declined to match.
More likely, the Giants will pay Jones a salary of $2.914 million this season.
Jones, 26, might have attracted outside attention had the Giants used an original-round tender. He was signed as a street free agent three years ago. A second-round tender should scare off teams.
Jones is to be the Giants' starting center heading into this season. He took over the job last season when Weston Richburg was placed on injured reserve with a concussion. He performed relatively well. Jones started 13 games and was Pro Football Focus' 18th-ranked center.
Richburg is set to sign a five-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers as a free agent.
The Giants are planning to move forward with Jones as their starting center. They need any stability on the offensive line they can find. After missing out on guard Andrew Norwell in free agency, Jones seems to be the only player assured of a starting spot on the offensive line. The Giants are still looking to supply him some help.
Jones came to the Giants in 2015 after being named the CFL Most Outstanding Rookie and Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman award in his first two professional seasons. He spent his first season with the Giants on the practice squad.
Jones has played both guard and center the past two years. He started one game at guard in 2016, and 12 games at center and one at guard this past season.
Richburg had been the Giants' starting center each of the previous three seasons.