Giants’ offensive line remains a huge uncertainty despite investments

Oh, by the way, as you contemplate what might and might not happen with the Giants this season, as you imagine how the newly bearded Daniel Jones will be helped by Malik Nabers busting open down the seam, as you wonder about Life After Saquon in the backfield, as you embrace the dawn of a new day with Brian Daboll calling the shots … 

Pause for a moment and consider this: The offensive line remains in flux and, despite the almost money-back-guarantee that the group has to be better than the 2023 edition there are no certainties in any of this, because, well, this is the Giants and this has been their blind spot and vulnerability for far too long. 

There is a strong possibility the five-man unit the Giants desire to start in the Sept. 8 regular-season opener against the Vikings will not line up together in any live action until that day. Four of the five are expected to make it onto the field Saturday at NRG Stadium in Houston, with left guard Jon Runyan Jr. likely to sit out dealing with a shoulder issue that has sidelined him this week in training camp. 

This is not a big deal but it is a deal, especially considering the recent history of this franchise with regard to this position group and the prolonged avoidance of competence. 

“You’re correct that you’d like to have your group, but this is the NFL,” Carmen Bricillo, the new Giants offensive line coach, said. “If you can get your top seven, or eight working together that’s probably the best you can do in this league no matter what the injuries are.” 

The way the Giants want to line up, from left to right, is Andrew Thomas, Runyan, John Michael Schmitz, Greg Van Roten and Jermaine Eluemunor. Schmitz missed a week and a half with a shoulder injury and Van Roten was not signed until July 30. Aaron Stinnie was brought in as depth inside and the Giants hope Evan Neal, finally clear of the bone spur in his left ankle that delayed his rehab from surgery, can work his way back and be the backup swing tackle. 

Is this good enough? Other than Thomas at left tackle, there is no player renowned for anything special along the NFL trail. Runyan is a good, solid and durable guard. Eluemunor was a career backup before landing the right tackle job the past two years for the Raiders. Schmitz was a 2023 second-round draft pick who endured typical rookie growing pains. This is Van Roten’s sixth team in the past 10 years and so he has been a serviceable and dispensable guard option for a decade. 

The plan seems obvious: Bring in smart, proven players who can work together, perhaps not the most athletic group but more cohesive than the past. The Giants anticipate Bricillo is an upgrade over Bobby Johnson, who was with Brian Daboll in Buffalo and spent the past two seasons as his offensive line coach. Bricillo worked with Eluemunor, 29, and Van Roten, 34, last year in Las Vegas so there is a connection there. The younger core of Thomas (25), Schmitz (25) and Runyan (26) was assembled with longevity in mind. There will be no reliance on rookies this time around. 

“I think having some veterans in that room, some guys who’ve played in the league for a long time is important,” Daniel Jones said. “And it helps me, helps the younger players in the room. It helps everybody.” 

Giving up a franchise-record 85 sacks, as the Giants did in 2023, caused all involved to age prematurely. This is why anything that does not go absolutely, positively smoothly with the offensive line is cause for alarm in these parts. Van Roten has lined up at guard and center. Runyan was inserted at right guard and then moved over to the left side. Neal was on injured reserve until last week and is now fighting for a role, despite his lofty draft status (No. 7 overall in 2022) as the front office holds out hope he can overcome a terrible start to his NFL career. 

“Most places I’ve been, it’s been a constant shuffle to go ahead and evaluate this time of year,” Daboll said. “I would have loved for it to just be the five guys that were going to be in there.” 

The naysayers are out there, buzzing around. Ross Tucker, a former NFL offensive lineman now with CBS Sports, ranked the Giants as having the worst unit in the league. This dire prediction came before the addition of Van Roten — not exactly a game-changer, as far as overall assessments. 

“It’s hard to judge,” Thomas, the best of the bunch, said. “Last year, there was so much going on, whether it was injuries, rotation, or so many different things. But I think we have a good group of guys, some veteran presence in the room, and I think that will help us gel together.” 

That is the plan. And the Giants need this plan to work.