How will the Giants and offensive line coach Mike Solari shape that unit in 2017? (James Kratch | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

By James Kratch | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

No Giants position group will be more scrutinized this season than the offensive line.

The unit struggled again in 2016, and its issues helped contribute to a major step-back by the offense as a whole. The Giants averaged a full touchdown less per game as their run game was hit-or-miss and quarterback Eli Manning rarely had ample time to throw and attack defenses downfield.

That brings us to 2017, where the Giants are exuding confidence the line will take a big step forward after doing ... not much.

Sure, the Giants signed veteran lineman D.J. Fluker, drafted tackle Adam Bisnowaty and even added a blocking tight end in Rhett Ellison. It still seems likely this line's future will hinge on how Ereck Flowers plays at left tackle after two rough years, as well as how the right tackle situation shakes out. The Giants also have to worry about center Weston Richburg and left guard Justin Pugh, their top linemen, entering contract years with big paydays potentially on the horizon.

What will line coach Mike Solari's unit look like after OTAs, minicamp and training camp are in the books? What could it look like? And what is the Giants' best offensive line combination? Let's break it down ...

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THE STATUS QUO

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John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

The starters: LT-Ereck Flowers; LG-Justin Pugh; C-Weston Richburg; RG-John Jerry; RT-Bobby Hart.

Analysis: This is the first-team offensive line the Giants had on the field last week during their first open OTA. It's also the Giants' incumbent starting offensive line group after veteran Marshall Newhouse signed with the Raiders earlier this year. It's likely the line group the Giants believe is their best case scenario, all things considered.

Flowers' job at left tackle appears more secure than Hart's at right tackle at this juncture. All indications are the Giants would like to see both young tackles keep their respective spots, though. The team seems optimistic Flowers and Hart will make significant strides in their third seasons.

Richburg is a lock to be the center. Pugh is all but a lock to be the left guard. Jerry is the favorite to be the right guard, but his job could be up for grabs in the summer in a battle with veteran D.J. Fluker, who signed with the Giants in March.

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FLUKER AT RIGHT TACKLE

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Marvin Gentry | USA TODAY Sports

The starters: LT-Flowers; LG-Pugh; C-Richburg; RG-Jerry; RT-Fluker.

Analysis: This is the most likely move if the Giants are going to get away from their current starting group. Fluker played guard the last two seasons with the Chargers and is working at guard right now with the Giants, but he has experience at right tackle. He definitely has the size to play the position (6-5, 340).

If Fluker is at right tackle, Hart just slides into the jack-of-all-trades sixth man role. This is the line most fans are probably hoping for, and on paper it would seem to be the "best" one, assuming Flowers improves on the left side. That being said, the Giants would likely be most pleased with things staying the same and Fluker coming off the bench.

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FLUKER AT RIGHT GUARD

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Gregory Bull | AP Photo

The starters: LT-Flowers; LG-Pugh; C-Richburg; RG-Fluker; RT-Hart.

Analysis: Fluker has been working as the second-team right guard. Even though he has a one-year deal and Jerry re-signed on a three-year deal, it isn't out of the question that Fluker could beat Jerry out for the job. Fluker is a former first-round pick, after all.

Fans may not think of it this way, but it would be a rather sizable upset if Fluker (or anyone) were to beat out Jerry for the job. Jerry has started all 16 games for the Giants in two of the last three seasons, and he's been a 16-game starter in four of the last five years. The lone exception is 2015, though, when the Giants started him on the bench as a swing guard. So it's happened before.

A potential downside to Fluker winning the guard job: The Giants would have to worry about in-game line shuffling in the event of an injury to one of their tackles. Their swing tackle would be lining up at guard every play, so an injury would lead to multiple lineup shifts. Other than that, this is another line grouping Giants fans would have guarded optimism about.

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BISNOWATY AT RIGHT TACKLE

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William Hauser | USA TODAY Sports

The starters: LT-Flowers; LG-Pugh; C-Richburg; RG-Jerry; RT-Bisnowaty.

Analysis: Adam Bisnowaty, the Giants' sixth-round pick, may be the most intriguing lineman of the bunch heading into training camp. He feels like a player who could either be a starter, or be inactive most weeks. The reason why it could be tough for Bisnowaty to get a shirt on game days: The Giants' other likely reserves offer more position versatility.

So what happens if Bisnowaty surprises and wins a starting job this summer as a rookie? The Giants would likely be ecstatic after trading up for the Pitt product. Bisnowaty earning the job could also push Fluker or Jerry off the roster, assuming the Giants carry eight linemen as usual, and a backup center and Hart are two of the three reserves.

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PUGH AT LEFT TACKLE

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John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

The starters: LT-Pugh; LG-Fluker; C-Richburg; RG-Jerry; RT-Flowers.

Analysis: This should be the lineup of last resort for the Giants. If they have to go this direction without an injury being the catalyst, they have major issues. Moving Pugh to left tackle in a contract year is unfair to the player - especially after he has hit a groove at left guard and found a home. It would also be a major indictment on the front office's inability to make any left tackle-related moves this offseason. Unless injuries force the Giants' hand, the chances of Pugh playing left tackle are remote. But they would be on the table if Flowers struggles mightily.

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C/G BRETT JONES

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John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Jones is the incumbent backup center, and has the inside edge to reclaim that spot again. If the Giants have an injury at guard, he could also fill in there. Jones flashed some in limited snaps last season, but it doesn't look like the Giants are going to give him a strong chance to push for the right guard job. Climbing over Fluker and Jerry may be too much to ask.

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C/G KHALED HOLMES

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Holmes signed a futures deal with the Giants after being out of the league in 2016. Usually those signings don't receive much attention, but Holmes is an interior lineman who was the Colts' fourth-round pick in 2013 and has nine career starts under his belt. He could be a sleeper to push Jones for a backup spot.

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OT CHAD WHEELER

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John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

The undrafted free agent out of Southern California will be a player to watch in training camp. Wheeler likely has the best shot of the undrafted and roster underdog crop to earn a spot on the 53-man roster coming out of the summer, but it's far from a given. Demonstrating an ability to play multiple positions would help his cause immensely. Wheeler may be the best potential left tackle prospect behind Flowers (not counting Pugh).

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OL JESSAMEN DUNKER

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Trevor Ruszkowski | USA TODAY Sports

Dunker is listed as a tackle on the Giants' roster, but guard may be his NFL future. Dunker is a promising prospect, but it would take a lot for him to make the active roster out of camp. A practice squad spot is more likely.

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OL ADAM GETTIS

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Amanda Marzullo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

The veteran has bounced back and forth between the Giants' practice squad and active roster the last two years. He can play all the interior spots and can slide over to tackle in a pinch. He's often an afterthought when assessing the offensive line rotation, but the Giants clearly like him as a player, since they keep bringing him back. He could be in the mix for a reserve spot as the eighth man.

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James Kratch may be reached at jkratch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JamesKratch. Find our Giants coverage on Facebook.