New York Giants Training Camp OL Room
The 2024 NFL season is fast approaching, and Giants fans are buzzing with excitement. With training camp set to kicking off on July 24th for the veteran players, let’s dive into the Giants’ Offensive line room as the team gears up for camp.
Andrew Thomas
Andrew Thomas is among the top offensive linemen in the NFL. Despite a freak hamstring injury sidelining him for seven games last season, he remains a cornerstone of the Giants’ offense.
After returning to the field, Thomas quickly regained his dominant form. The 6-foot-5 tackle allowed only four sacks and 17 total pressures on 376 pass-blocking snaps. Impressively, he gave up just one sack and six pressures in the final five games of the season. His performance earned him Pro Football Focus’ 10th-highest pass block grade among all offensive tackles in 2023.
Bottom line: if Thomas stays healthy, he’ll perform as one of the best left tackles in football. This will significantly boost the Giants’ offensive line, making it much better than the 2023 group.
John Michael Schmitz
Center John Michael Schmitz Jr., heading into his second season, has the potential to transform the Giants’ O-Line. Despite his lackluster rookie performance, there’s reason for optimism due to his leadership, intangibles, and physical abilities.
Schmitz was widely regarded as the best center in the draft and immediately secured a starting spot. He will remain the starting center this season. Schmitz should improve in Year 2, especially with more stability on both sides of him, new coaching, and additional opportunities.
Evan Neal
It’s hard to sugarcoat Neal’s performance so far; he’s been a first-round disappointment through his first two NFL seasons. However, with new offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo in charge, there’s hope he can develop Neal, a task former O-line coach Bobby Johnson struggled with.
With veterans reporting for camp and the first practice session of the summer approaching, the Giants have released their initial injury report. Unfortunately, Neal has been placed on the PUP list to start. The former No. 7 overall pick is still recovering from winter ankle surgery and is clearly not ready for full participation in practice.
Jon Runyan
Runyan spent the 2023 season with the Green Bay Packers, finishing the final year of his rookie contract after being a sixth-round pick in 2020. Over his 1,009 snaps, he earned a run-blocking grade of 53.2 and a pass-blocking grade of 62.4.
Runyan was one of the Giants’ best signings this offseason, securing a three-year contract worth $30 million and is almost certain to start at guard. I anticipate he will make a significant impact on the Giants in 2024, especially with the addition of Coach Bricillo and the moves made on the offensive line.
Jermaine Eluemunor
Many fans see Eluemunor, who followed his former offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo from Las Vegas to New York, as a clear replacement for Evan Neal if Neal struggles this season. He has started games at both left and right guard and became the full-time starter at right tackle over the last two seasons with the Raiders.
The belief has always been that the Giants would not move Eluemunor to right tackle, but with Evan Neal on the PUP list, that has changed. The Giants hoped to stabilize an offensive line that was in flux for most of last season, but now there are renewed questions about how the line will shape up at the start of the 2024 season.
Joshua Ezeudu
A 2022 third-round pick, Ezeudu boasts impressive athleticism, mobility, and strength—qualities that are highly sought after in an offensive lineman. However, Ezeudu’s biggest challenge through his first two seasons has been his technical skills. He has struggled with consistency in his technique and, at times, with maintaining his confidence.
The Giants seem to be taking a step back with Ezeudu to allow him to develop his game. Hopefully, he can grow and benefit from the better talent that has been brought in.
Aaron Stinnie
Former Buccaneers guard Aaron Stinnie brings veteran starting experience to the table and is set to compete as one of the primary backup options along the offensive line. His experience and skills make him a valuable asset for depth and versatility, potentially stepping in when needed to support the line’s performance throughout the season.
Austin Schlottmann
The New York Giants have demonstrated a strong preference for versatile linemen who can fill multiple roles along the starting front. In his two NFL tenures, Schlottmann initially played 449 snaps at right guard for the Denver Broncos before being moved to the practice squad for most of the 2021 season. He then joined the Minnesota Vikings, where he served as a rotational center.
Schlottmann will need to compete fiercely for a depth spot on the Giants’ roster.
Matt Nelson
Matt Nelson was one of five offensive linemen the New York Giants signed in free agency this offseason. After playing defensive end at Iowa, Nelson signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2019. Although he was initially cut at the end of training camp, he was re-signed by the Lions in mid-December.
From 2020 to 2023, Nelson appeared in 43 games with 14 starts for the Lions. He could potentially emerge as the Giants’ swing tackle.
Marcus McKethan
The Giants selected McKethan in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, 173rd overall, with the intention of developing him as a guard. Unfortunately, his progress was interrupted by a season-ending torn ACL sustained during the 2022 Blue and White Scrimmage at MetLife Stadium.
Due to his limited practice reps—none with the starters during training camp—McKethan’s performance fell short of expectations. He started five games and had significant playing time in a sixth, but his impact was underwhelming. McKethan will need to make a strong impression to secure a backup position.
The Others
There may be some additions to the practice squad, including Jake Kubas, Jimmy Morrissey, Jalen Mayfield, Yodny Cajuste, Marcellus Johnson, and Joshua Miles. Most of these players seem to be on the outside looking in and will need to demonstrate their potential to remain with the Giants.
