The New York Giants have to be coming into the 2026 season feeling pretty good about their offensive line. Four of the five starters from last season are back -- on a line Pro Football Focus ranked ninth last season, no less.
Out is 11-year veteran Greg Van Roten, and in is 2026 10th-overall pick, Francis "Sisi" Mauigoa.
The pressure is on for Sisi to immediately stick as the starting right guard. It'll be easier said than done, seeing as though the 21-year-old started three years at right tackle for the Miami Hurricanes. His size, power, and athleticism should translate to the inside nicely, but it's never guaranteed.
Adding to the pressure is the fact that GVR was the ultimate glue guy over the last two years in East Rutherford -- he played all 17 games and never missed a snap. Even after selecting Mauigoa, you’d think Van Roten would’ve been an ideal backup and mentor for the young rook, but New York seemingly hasn't had a desire to bring him back.
It's been a shockingly quiet offseason for the journeyman, but that could be coming to an end very soon. According to KPRC2's Aaron Wilson, the 36-year-old visited with the New England Patriots on Thursday morning.
Greg Van Roten’s Patriots visit should have the Giants thinking
It's only fitting that the Pats are taking a look at 'ole reliable. They've already gotten in Big Blue's way once this offseason.
The G-Men were very much in on the Alijah Vera-Tucker sweepstakes during free agency, but an unwillingness to budge on contract length from New York's side ultimately squashed the deal, and he ended up signing with New England on a three-year, $42 million deal.
General Manager Joe Schoen's reluctance to give Vera-Tucker more years on his deal stems from the very real health concerns that unfortunately follow the 27-year-old around like a shadow. The Pats figured, what the hell, and gave him the extra year he wanted, but now might have second thoughts about going in with no real backup plan.
Which is why the GVR visit is starting to make a lot of sense. The former undrafted free agent out of Penn can play all over the inside of the line, which makes him a high-value backup for the oft-injured AVT. He's coming off a one-year, $3.25 million deal, making him seemingly very affordable.
It'd be a frustratingly smart move on the Patriots' part.
It should make Giants fans wonder why in the world NY hasn't been interested in bringing him back. Sure, they essentially replaced him with Sisi, but a team can never have too many healthy, reliable backups on the roster. Right now, the backup interior guys are Aaron Stinnie, Lucas Patrick, and Daniel Faalele. There’s a very real argument that Van Roten is the best interior backup of the bunch.
There’s no contract yet. It was just a visit. But if the Patriots end up signing Van Roten, it’ll be fair to wonder why the Giants never made one of the easiest reunions of the offseason happen.
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