Former Saints OT Charles Brown may help the New York Giants Improve their O-Line

At the end of the second round in the 2010 NFL Draft, the New Orleans Saints selected offensive tackle Charles Brown out of USC with the 64th overall pick. Three years later, the team used its third-round pick (75th) to select his replacement. Fifteen weeks into the 2013 season, Brown found himself sitting on the bench, replaced by raw rookie Terron Armstead for the last two games of the regular season, and the playoffs.

In the three years Charles Brown was with the Saints, he started in 22 games. His final start in black and gold showcased a dreadful Week 15 performance against Robert Quinn and the St. Louis Rams, and resulted in him being replaced for the rest of the season and the postseason. Armstead, thrown into the fire, had a rough first start against a powerful Carolina defense the next week, but managed to hold his own. The rookie also showed enough in Week 17, and two playoff games, to make the job his to lose in 2014.

Now, with Brown only 26 years old, his rookie contract has expired and was not renewed by the Saints. But his career isn't over yet. The New York Giants, who hosted Brown for a visit earlier in the free agency period, announced this week that they have signed him to a free-agent contract.

Hoping to make something of another team's castoff, the Giants are trying desperately to recover from the dismal state of their offensive line, which collapsed pitifully last year. In addition to Charles Brown, they have added guard Geoff Schwartz, guard/tackle John Jerry and center J.D. Walton since the start of free agency. They are also hoping to have guard Chris Snee back from hip surgery.

Brown will most likely be competing with previous starting left tackle Will Beatty, who had a disappointing 2013 season and is still recovering from a broken leg. Even if the ex-Saint doesn't get the starting job, however, his experience at both left and right tackle will likely land him a roster slot as swing tackle behind Beatty and last year's rookie RT Justin Pugh. So, barring injury, Brown should be suiting up in blue for at least the 2014 season. And if he rediscovers the brilliance that earned him a selection in the second round of the draft, his career may find a resurgence at the cold outdoor stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.