Perhaps the most amazing thing about the New York Giants being a 2-9 team is that the team’s long-beleaguered offensive line has not been part of the problem.
Since the James Hudson era ended and star left
tackle Andrew Thomas returned to full-time duty after his 2024 Lisfranc injury the offensive line has been — dare I say it — solid.
Thomas and right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor have become one of the league’s best tackle tandems. Pro Football and Sports Network ranks Thomas as the No. 3 tackle in the NFL and Eluemunor No. 17. Pro Football Focus grades Thomas No. 5 and Eluemunor No. 17.
Overall, PFSN has the Giants’ offensive line ranked No. 18 in the NFL, right in the middle of the pack. Pro Football Focus ranks the line No. 14, one week after it peaked at No. 11 in PFF’s rankings. The Giants are eighth in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency rankings.
How did this happen?
Truth is, we saw this last season before Thomas was lost for the year. Thomas, Jon Runyan Jr., John Michael Schmitz, Greg Van Roten and Eluemunor, from left to right, is the same line the Giants began 2024 with. That line was middle of the pack until Thomas injured, other injuries followed, and the lack of acceptable depth on the line was exposed.
Thomas is playing his best football since he was a second-team All-Pro in 2022. His 98.2 pass-blocking efficiency score is, in fact, a career-high and tied for fifth in the league among tackles. Eluemunor has the best PFF grade, best PFSN score, and best pass-blocking efficiency rating of his career.
Really good bookends, something the Giants have sought for more than a decade, is a great place to start in building an offensive line.
The continuing development of the often-criticized Schmitz is something else that has to be pointed out.
A 2023 second-round pick, Schmitz had a rough rookie season. He has shown improvement, though in each of the past two seasons. In 2025, he has the best PFSN Impact Score, best PFF pass-blocking grade, and best pass-blocking efficiency score of his career.
Neither left guard Jon Runyan Jr. nor right guard Greg Van Roten are great players or long-term solutions, but both are adequate veteran players who know how to do their jobs.
The Giants have also gotten good work from depth pieces Austin Schlottmann and fifth-round pick Marcus Mbow when needed.
Offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo also deserves his flowers. Bricillo came to the Giants in 2024 with the reputation of being able to get the most out of offensive line units that might not have great talent at every spot. He has been able to do that with the Giants.
There is still work to be done
The 31-year-old Eluemunor can be a free agent this offseason. There are 14 right tackles in the NFL making at least $15 million annually. The way he is playing, best guess is Eluemunor would be shooting to join that group. Can the Giants pay him that much? For how many years? If not, do they entrust the job to Mbow? Do they use their top 10 — probably top five — 2026 NFL Draft first-round pick on whoever they believe to be the best tackle on the board?
What about the guard spots?
Van Roten is 35 and still playing capably. That, though, cannot last forever. If they aren’t going to give him the right tackle job, can Mbow transition inside to guard and be a long-term answer there? Can the forgotten Josh Ezeudu still emerge as a capable starter? A draft pick? A free-agent signing. Right guard was the one spot on the line that was up for grabs in training camp. Evan Neal couldn’t take it away from Van Roten, but it is clear the Giants know they need to address that spot.
Runyan has no guaranteed money left on his three-year, $30 million contract after this season. He has been OK in his two seasons with New York, but it’s not hard to imagine the Giants moving on from Runyan this offseason and trying to upgrade that spot.
For now, though, the offensive line is not giving Giants’ fans much to complain about. That is pretty unfamiliar territory.
