One of the New York Giants' priorities this offseason will be to improve their offensive line, and they're not opposed to using nontraditional means to do it.
According to sources, the Giants on Tuesday are planning to sign Brett Jones, a 6-foot-2, 318-pound center who was named the top offensive lineman in the Canadian Football League in 2014.
Jones is most likely a depth signing for the Giants, though it's not out of the question that he could impress enough in the spring and summer to compete for a starting job along the interior of the offensive line.
The Giants' ideal plan this offseason is to move 2014 second-round draft pick Weston Richburg from left guard to center and add either a guard to replace him or a big, physical tackle that would allow them to move Justin Pugh from right tackle to one of the guard spots. But the positional versatility of Richburg, Pugh and Geoff Schwartz, who should be recovered from his injuries in time for training camp, allows them to adjust that plan based on the strengths of their personnel.
The Giants were more or less pleased with their pass protection in 2014, but their line was a woeful run-blocking unit and needs to get more physical.
The 23-year-old Jones, who helped lead the Calgary Stampeders to the Grey Cup title in November, became something of a hot commodity once he made known his intentions to forego a potentially huge payday in CFL free agency (which opens Tuesday at noon ET) to try to make the jump to the NFL.
In addition to the Giants, Jones reportedly worked out for the Eagles, Steelers, Cardinals and Buccaneers.
Jones, who was the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie in 2013, has started one game at guard and the rest at center during his two-year career.