The New York Giants have agreed to terms with offensive tackle Matt Nelson, pending a physical.
Nelson, a 6-foot-7, 315-pound Iowa product, spent his first four seasons with the Lions, making 14 starts in 43 appearances as a converted defensive lineman. After he spent 2019 on the practice squad as an undrafted rookie, Nelson saw action in all 16 games in 2020 and made a career-high 11 starts the following season.
Nelson started Weeks 2 and 3 at right tackle for Detroit last season before being placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury. Overall, 12 of Nelson's 14 career starts have been at right tackle. The other two were as an extra offensive lineman.
Nelson spent his collegiate career as a defensive end, appearing in 52 career games (33 starts) for the Hawkeyes. In his final season, he was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten and the Iowa Comeback Player of the Year. Nelson also won the Team Hustle Award on defense and was a four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
View the best photos from the NFL career of offensive tackle Matt Nelson.
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Matt Nelson (67) Los Angeles Rams defensive end Aaron Donald (99) during an NFL Professional Football Game Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/John McCoy)
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Matt Nelson (67) is introduced before an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Matt Nelson (67) and ndianapolis Colts outside linebacker Zaire Franklin (44) watch an extra point kick during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Matt Nelson blocks against Indianapolis Colts outside linebacker Zaire Franklin (44) during a extras point conversion during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Matt Nelson walks on the field before an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Detroit Lions tackle Matt Nelson (67) adjusts his helmet during pregame of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Tony Ding)
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Matt Nelson stretches during warm-ups before an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Matt Nelson (67) blocks against the Atlanta Falcons during an NFL football game at Ford Field in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Matt Nelson (67) blocks Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson (45) during an preseason NFL football game in Detroit, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Matt Nelson (67) blocks Los Angeles Rams outside linebacker Leonard Floyd (54) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021 in Inglewood, Calif. The Rams won 28-19. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Matt Nelson (67) watches from the sidelines during an NFL preseason football game against the Carolina Panthers, Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Brian Westerholt)
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Matt Nelson (67) during an NFL Professional Football Game Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/John McCoy)
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Matt Nelson (67) gets set on offense against the Green Bay Packers during an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Chicago Bears outside linebacker Khalil Mack (52) is defended by Detroit Lions offensive tackle Matt Nelson (67) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Matt Nelson (67) blocks against the Green Bay Packers during an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Matt Nelson (67) blocks against the Green Bay Packers during an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Matt Nelson (67) blocks against Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard (94) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Matt Nelson (67) gets set on offense against the Baltimore Ravens during an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Chicago Bears outside linebacker Khalil Mack (52) is defended by Detroit Lions offensive tackle Matt Nelson (67) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Matt Nelson (67) in action against the San Francisco 49ers during an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Matt Nelson (67) blocks against the Baltimore Ravens during an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Matt Nelson (67) blocks against the Baltimore Ravens during an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Matt Nelson (67) blocks against the Baltimore Ravens during an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Matt Nelson (67) in action against the San Francisco 49ers during an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Matt Nelson (67) in action against the San Francisco 49ers during an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Matt Nelson (67) looks on before the start of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/David Berding)
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Matt Nelson (67) in action against Indianapolis Colts during an NFL preseason football game, Friday, Aug. 27, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Matt Nelson (67) blocks against Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Quincy Roche (48) during an NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021 in Pittsburgh, PA (AP Photo/Matt Durisko)
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Matt Nelson (67) blocks during an NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021 in Pittsburgh, PA (AP Photo/Matt Durisko)
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Matt Nelson (67) plays during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Friday, Aug. 27, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
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