Is Will Hernandez primed for a breakout season?

The New York Giants have had plenty of trouble along the offensive line over the past few years. Young, promising draft picks seldom seem to pan out on the offensive line. For example, 2018 second-round pick Will Hernandez has yet to establish himself as a high-quality starter.

In 2020, Will Hernandez was benched in the second half of the season after starting the first eight games for the Giants at left guard. Shane Lemieux took Hernandez’s place as the starter. Entering the 2021 season, both Lemieux and Hernandez are projected to start on the Giants’ offensive line. This year, Will Hernandez has made the switch to right guard and looks primed for a breakout season.

Why Will Hernandez will break out in 2021

After spending the first three years of his career at left guard, Will Hernandez has now made the switch to the right side of the line. In preparation for his new role, Big Will dropped 20 pounds. He is in the best shape of his career and looks like he is moving with far more fluidity than he has in the past.

Hernandez enjoyed a solid 2018 rookie season. Since then, however, Will has regressed on a year-to-year basis. Despite this, 2021 looks to be the year that the trend of regression ends. Will Hernandez enjoyed a phenomenal 2021 preseason playing right guard for the New York Giants.

In the Giants’ preseason finale versus the New England Patriots, Will Hernandez put together a phenomenal performance that could be looked at as the exclamation point at the end of a great summer. Hernandez posted a 92.2 overall PFF grade on 39 snaps at right guard.

Across his 57 total snaps this preseason, Will Hernandez recorded an elite 87.0 overall PFF grade. He looks like a far better player than he did a year ago. In a crucial fourth season for Will Hernandez, it is important he breaks out and establishes himself as a high-quality starter in this league. It appears Will Hernandez is ready to do just that for the New York Giants in 2021.