Just How Bad is Giants Offensive Line?

All eyes will be on New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones this season as he embarks on a potentially tenure-saving campaign.

New York has worked to limit his excuses. No longer can Jones’ supporters say he doesn’t have a star target on the boundary. Rookie receiver Malik Nabers has the chance to revitalize the offense by himself. The Giants are also hoping that a strong class of linemen in free agency give Jones more protection than ever before, setting the stage for his final audition.

But will their offseason additions prove to be fruitful?

In Pro Football Focus’ offensive line rankings , New York’s offensive line fares poorly, placed as the 28th-best line in the NFL. Only the Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints, and New England Patriots fell lower, and they trail the rival Washington Commanders by one spot.

“While their free agency additions weren't high-profile, they should contribute to improving this unit,” Zoltán Buday wrote. “Right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor and right guard Greg Van Roten both joined from the Raiders, where they performed at a high level last season. Additionally, Jon Runyan was signed from Green Bay, providing another starting-caliber lineman—a resource the Giants were short on last season.”

It’s hard to overstate how important the trio of Runyan, Eluemunor, and Van Roten are to New York’s success in 2023. Mere competency would be an upgrade, and with offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo presiding over the unit (as he did with Eluemunor and Van Roten a year ago with the Las Vegas Raiders), there’s reason to believe continuity may not be as much of an issue as the heavy turnover would suggest.

Holdovers Andrew Thomas and John Michael Schmitz must be better than their 2023 selves, too, although they are operating with different baselines. Thomas faltered from his incredible 2022 performance as he battled injuries a season ago. Schmitz may have been the worst starting center in football.

“If left tackle Andrew Thomas stays healthy and second-year center John Michael Schmitz Jr. makes strides, this unit could approach league-average performance by season's end,” Buday wrote.

Related: Giants Offensive Line Key to Week 1

There may not be a Giants fan on the planet who wouldn’t take the promise of a league-average offensive line this season.

General manager Joe Schoen swung and missed at tackle by taking Evan Neal with the No. 7 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, but if his free agents can mitigate the opportunity cost and give Jones enough time to remain confident in the pocket, the team would be one massive step closer to the quarterback’s potential resurgence.

The five men up front have a very real chance of defining New York’s season.