Jon Runyan Says Dexter Lawrence Could Become One of the Best Defensive Tackles of All Time

This offseason one of the major priorities for the Giants was to improve the offensive line. This year they addressed that need through free agency instead of the NFL Draft.

Giants general manager Joe Schoen signed Jon Runyan Jr. on a three-year, $30 million deal and Jermaine Eluemunor on a two-year, $14 million deal. Two veteran offensive linemen.

So far in training camp the Giants offensive line additions have had to go up against pro bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence. He certainly has given them a tough time.

Even in the short amount of time Runyan Jr. has been in New York, he’s already seeing just how great Lawrence has become, and will be.

“I thought going against Dexter twice in four years was enough and now I got to deal with it every day,” Runyan Jr. said. “It’s good.  It’s only going to make you better.

You know, like they say, iron sharpens iron. If you’re lacking on any technique, your hands miss, or you’re too high, he’s going to expose you immediately. So, every single play with him, you got to bring a hundred percent and you got to be locked in and focused.”

• One of the best of all time

Runyan Jr. said going against players like Lawrence helps him and everyone improve.

“It’s only going to make me and everybody else better being able to go against somebody like that. One of the best D-tackles in the NFL. I think he has the capability (of being) one of being the best of all time.”

Many around the NFL have been impressed by Lawrence’s size and quickness, athleticism, and technique. Runyan Jr. is one of them.

“He moves so well for being whatever weight he’s at and how big he is. It’s just really awesome being able to work together with him and make each other better and build this offensive and defensive line, because I feel like that’s going to be the heartbeat of this team, how well we control the line of scrimmage. Being able to work with him is a real blessing.”

Lawrence is only 26-years-old. Over the past few seasons he’s developed into one of the most talented interior defensive linemen in the entire league, and it’s a shared opinion that the best is yet to come for him.