The competition for starting offensive tackles is stiff. There are only a few capable starters available and more than a few teams still in search of an answer for their line.



Russell Okung is among the top options remaining on the free agent market (along with former Giants left tackle Will Beatty), and the Giants had him in for a visit over the weekend. But they are clear underdogs for his services.



Okung, 28, also had visits with the Steelers, Lions and Broncos. The Steelers signed offensive tackle Ryan Harris earlier in the week, so they're out of the hunt. The team that drafted Okung, the Seahawks, are still in the mix as well.

Of the four remaining suitors, the Giants may be the furthest from winning a Super Bowl. They've gone four straight seasons without the playoffs, and just completed their third straight losing year.



If winning is at or near the top of Okung's priority list, the Giants might not be his first or best choice. Denver and Seattle are certainly more logical. Each has reached the Super Bowl two of the past three seasons, and each has lifted the Lombardi Trophy on one of those occasions.



There is also another obstacle that could cloud Okung's path to the Giants. All 72 of his career games have been at left tackle. He hasn't played right tackle since the first eight games of his freshman year at Oklahoma State in 2007.



The Giants have Ereck Flowers at left tackle. General manager Jerry Reese said last month at the NFL Scouting Combine that he didn't envision that to change.



"Yeah, we think Ereck Flowers is a left tackle. We think he's going to be our left tackle moving forward," Reese said. "He was up and down a little bit during the season. He really looked good at times, then he looked like a rookie at times. I think that rookie wall, I think he hit that at some point as well. But he's a tough kid that stayed out there the whole time. Mike Solari is our new offensive line coach and we're looking forward to see what he can do with him moving forward."

Flowers, 21, doesn't necessarily want to move to the right side, where he hasn't played since his freshman year at Miami. He views himself as a left tackle, and the Giants view him as their left tackle of the present and future -- all of which makes the potential signing of Okung more difficult.

Of course, if Okung is signed the Giants can find a way for it to work. They can devise a reasonable plan and solution that makes all parties involved reasonably happy.



Regardless, when Okung is surveying his options, this just makes the Giants a little less enticing. Even if he's signed as their left tackle, he has the left tackle of the future looking over his shoulder.



Maybe the only way to make the Giants attractive enough to grab Okung's full attention is to offer significantly more money than the competition, and that seems unlikely and unadvisable given his injury history. Okung is coming off shoulder surgery and has never played 16 games in his six professional seasons.



This much is clear: Given all the factors, it doesn't appear Okung's best fit is with the Giants. What's unclear is where the Giants would turn if he chooses to sign elsewhere. The options are limited.



Jordan Raanan may be reached at jraanan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JordanRaanan. Find NJ.com Giants on Facebook.