The Giants have expressed interest in acquiring Browns left tackle Joe Thomas, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com. However, Cleveland does not seem intent on trading Thomas, and New York would need to offer a substantial package in order to pique the Browns’ interest.

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Thomas would certainly be an upgrade to a Giants’ offensive line that has been a mixed bag so far this season. Though New York ranks third in Football Outsiders‘ adjusted sack rate, it places just 27th in adjusted line yards, FO’s run-blocking metric. 2015 first-round pick Ereck Flowers has been adequate at left tackle, but a Thomas acquisition would allow Big Blue to move Flowers to the right side, where Bobby Hart has been overmathed through five starts.

The 31-year-old Thomas is in the midst of another excellent season, as he’s started all eight games and graded as the league’s No. 8 offensive tackle, according to Pro Football Focus. Thomas, a nine-time Pro Bowler, has never missed a contest during his 10-year NFL career, and is actually quite affordable from a cap perspective. Given that the Browns would absorb his remaining signing bonus money, Thomas would only count for $9MM in each of the next two years.

Thomas, a lifelong member of the Browns, has never been to the postseason. Still, he does not want to be traded. First-year coach Hue Jackson addressed reporters earlier this week and said that Thomas would not be dealt between now and the deadline. Despite that, rival GMs believe that top exec Sashi Brown could pull the trigger on a deal, especially since the team is going nowhere in 2016.

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