Long is a four-time Pro Bowler and a former No. 1 overall pick of the Miami Dolphins in 2008.
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On Tuesday, Long met with the Atlanta Falcons – the first team he’s visited since the Giants – which immediately sprung Big Blue back into action.
Free-agent offensive tackle Jake Long is in search for a new team as he recovers from another ACL injury, with both the Giants and Falcons expressing interest in the veteran.
Lance Kendricks #88 of the St. Louis Rams celebrates scoring a landing with Jake Long #77 towards the Kansas City Chiefs in the course of the first quarter at Arrowhead Stadium on October 26, 2014 in Kansas City, Missouri.
If the Broncos aren’t completely confident with the o-line candidates available, Long could provide competition and instantly become the front-runner to win the starting left tackle job, allowing the team to place Sambrailo, Harris, or someone else at right tackle. Now Long is trying to keep his NFL career alive.
The Broncos lost star left tackle Ryan Clady to a season-ending knee injury in May, leaving second-round draft pick Ty Sambrailo as Manning’s presumed blindside protector.
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The seven-year veteran has only played in three full seasons and has battled bicep and triceps injuries as well, per Wilkening. If he was healthy, the Dolphins would not have let him go, but he signed in 2012 with the Rams on a four year deal. And while they were in “no rush” to sign him, the team has kept a close eye on Long since the initial visit. After the season, the Rams cut him in a move that saved them $9.25 million on the salary cap.
