Veteran center/guard Austin Schlottmann showed the value of having capable veteran backup offensive linemen in 2025, when he played well in four starts for the New York Giants as a fill-in for John Michael Schmitz.
Schlottmann, 30, posted a career-best 70.8 Pro Football Focus grade while playing 362 snaps, also a career-high. According to PFF, Schlottmann had a phenomenal 99.2 pass blocking efficiency rating, allowing just three pressures in 212 pass blocking snaps.
Reasons to keep Schlottmann
Schlottmann is a perfectly capable backup at center or either guard position. He understands the role and is a plus to have on a roster. He is also inexpensive, having carried a salary cap hit of just $1.42 million in 2025.
Reasons to let Schlottmann go
Will his presence be superfluous? It will be if the Giants invest heavily on the interior of the offensive line and bring back Greg Van Roten as a backup. Van Roten, with experience at both guards and center, could fill that same three-position backup role. The cost would be more, but only marginally so.
The verdict
I would like to see him back. Again, though, it depends. If the Giants are penciling Van Roten into that backup role, spending money on Schlottmann would likely be unnecessary.
