Giants made progress on the line in 2024, but there is still much to be done
The New York Giants’ offensive line was better in 2024 than the historically awful group the team fielded in 2024. It was competent much of the time, at least until injuries ravaged the unit and left a rag-tag group of players who were either out of position or should not have been playing at all.
GM Joe Schoen did well signing veteran starters Jon Runyan Jr., Jermaine Eluemunor and Greg Van Roten to solidify the starting group. The injuries, though, exposed the flaws in the Giants’ offensive line roster construction.
Misplaced faith in players like Josh Ezeudu and Evan Neal and the lack of any young talent in the pipeline aside from undrafted free agent Jake Kubas left the Giants scrambling for answers — and not finding enough good ones — as injuries mounted.
Let’s look at some ways the Giants might be able to address their offensive line issues this offseason.
Current roster
(2025 cap hit in parenthesis)
OT Andrew Thomas ($21.087M)
LG Jon Runyan Jr. ($11.075M)
OT Jermaine Eluemunor ($9.191M)
OT Evan Neal ($7.811M)
OL Josh Ezeudu ($1.745M)
C John Michael Schmitz ($1.738M)
OL Austin Schlottman ($1.42M)
C Jimmy Morrissey ($1.03M)
G Jake Kubas $970,000
C Bryan Hudson $840,000
Pending free agents
G Greg Van Roten
G Aaron Stinnie
OT Chris Hubbard
The only free agent of concern here is Van Roten. The veteran guard played well in 2024, but he will be 35 in 2025 and the bottom will fall out eventually. If he wants to continue to play, I could see bringing him back as center-guard depth on a low-cost, one-year deal.
A notable name not listed here is Tyre Phillips. He signed to the practice squad late in the season, but did not sign a reserve/futures contract with the Giants at the end of the season. Whether he and the Giants have parted ways for good is unknown.
Potential free agent targets
SB Nation free agent tackle rankings:
7. Dillon Radunz
5t. Patrick Mekari
5t. Morgan Moses
4. Alaric Jackson
3. Cam Robinson
2. Ronnie Stanley
1. Tyron Smith
SB Nation free agent guard rankings:
7. Zack Martin
6. Greg Van Roten
5. Will Fries
4. James Daniels
3. Kevin Zeitler
2. Teven Jenkins
1. Trey Smith
SB Nation free agent center rankings:
6. Connor McGovern (Jets)
5. Evan Brown
4. Bradley Bozeman
3. Coleman Shelton
2. Ryan Kelly
1. Drew Dalman
I think there are four spots on the offensive line that should be settled. Thomas (LT), Runyan (LG), Schmitz (C) and Eluemunor (RT). I don’t think I would take a big money swing at addressing right guard in free agency. If I am spending big money anywhere, I believe my first choice would be at cornerback, assuring that Deonte Banks is not CB1 entering the season.
If I were to take a big swing, there would be none bigger than Kansas City Chiefs right guard Trey Smith. He made his first Pro Bowl in 2024 and will be just 26 entering next season. Pro Football Focus estimates a market value of four years, $82 million ($50 million guaranteed).
I know. Some of you are skill asking why it was the Chiefs instead of the Giants that took the gamble on Smith’s blood clot disorder in Round 6 of the 2021 NFL Draft.
If the Giants want to go short-term, maybe someone like James Daniels (one-year, $5.5 market value, per PFF) or Brandon Scherff (one-year, $6 million) would fit.
I am also looking for a competent veteran who can play both sides as a swing tackle, allowing Eluemunor to stay in one spot.
Potential 2025 draft targets
Here are the linemen currently in the top 100 of the NFL Mock Draft Database Consensus Big Board:
Will Campbell, OT, LSU (No. 8 overall)
Kelvin Banks, OT, Texas (No. 9)
Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State (No. 17)
Tyler Booker, G, Alabama (No. 26)
Josh Conerly, OT, Oregon (No. 28)
Armand Membou, OT, Missouri (No. 32)
Aireontae Ersery, OT, Minnesota (No. 33)
Cameron Williams, OT, Texas (No. 38)
Donovan Jackson, G, Ohio State (No. 39)
Jonah Savaiinaea, G, Arizona (No. 40)
Wyatt Milum, OT, West Virginia (No. 43)
Marcus Mbow, G, Purdue (No. 53)
Emory Jones Jr., OT, LSU (No. 61)
Tate Ratledge, G, Georgia (No. 69)
Grey Zabel, OT, North Dakota State (No. 86) | Prospect profile
Earnest Greene, OT, Georgia (No. 91)
Ajani Cornelius, OT, Oregon (No. 98) | Prospect profile
I don’t know who it will be, but the Giants simply must get some young talent to develop along the offensive line. Eluemunor is in the last year of his contract. Runyan has no guaranteed money past 2025. As we said above, Van Roten’s status is uncertain and the right guard spot appears to be the biggest question on the starting unit.
If it is me, I am looking for at least one offensive lineman, whether at guard or tackle doesn’t really matter, somewhere in the first four rounds. I don’t want to force a pick, but getting young talent along the line is a must. Using multiple selections here over the course of the draft is not a bad idea.
The overall plan
The right guard spot is, as I said above, the concern right now when considering the starting line.
I am OK with filling it in any of the ways I mentioned above. I can also see a scenario where Neal, Ezeudu, Kubas and a fairly early draft pick compete for that role. The idea that Neal and Ezeudu can play tackle at a competent level simply has to be abandoned. If Neal is unwilling to play guard, the Giants need to find someone who will take him off their hands and move on.
Address that guard spot, find a quality swing tackle, add young talent in the draft. That is the plan in a nutshell.
