Justin Pugh, left, got his first taste of NFL action this weekend.
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Top draft picks usually get the most scrutiny as teams hold their first rookie minicamp, as the Giants did this weekend. But when you’re an offensive lineman, you’re used to flying under-the-radar.
Justin Pugh, selected No. 19 overall in last month’s draft, got his first taste of that last Friday when fourth-round selection Ryan Nassib garnered much of the attention. It’s Pugh, Nassib’s college teammate, who is competing for a chance to start however.
The college left tackle worked out at right tackle this weekend, where 32-year-old David Diehl is nearing the end of his career.
“He has been there the whole camp so he is getting better every day — more comfortable with it,” head coach Tom Coughlin said. “The language barrier is becoming a little bit easier for him, as it is for the others.”
The former college teammates were able to joke about the switch.
“I was like, ‘Hey Ryan, now I got your front side as opposed to your backside.’” Pugh said. “He said, ‘It’s all good, man.’ As long as I’m protecting him, he’s good with it.”
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