For the first time in a long time, the New York Giants' offensive line hasn't been garbage. In fact, according to Pro Football Focus, they've cracked the top 12 ($) heading into Week 18. Even still, it's hard not to quickly realize it's almost entirely Andrew Thomas with a splash of Jermaine Eluemunor doing most of the heavy lifting.
The interior of the line hasn't been pulling its weight, and with the offseason just around the corner, there is no shortage of ways Joe Schoen, or whoever is general manager, can upgrade the group. Veteran guard Greg Van Roten will enter free agency, likely leaving his spot open, but the real intrigue is at the other guard spot.
Jon Runyan spent four years in Green Bay before signing a three-year, $30 million deal with the G-Men in 2024. He certainly hasn't lived up to the contract in his two years in East Rutherford with poor run and pass protection grades, and with his final year looming, it might make more sense to cut ties and get the cap savings than go another year with an inferior interior.
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If the G-Men cut the 28-year-old, it'd free up $9.25 million, but carry a $2.5 million dead cap hit. Still, with limited cap space entering the offseason, cutting him makes a lot of sense.
The additional cap space could help the team flush out the rest of the roster while they look to the 2026 Draft to fill the newly created void. There are plenty of prospects to keep an eye out for.
Giants have a clear path to rebuild offensive line without Jon Runyan
The 2026 class offers Big Blue a reset. And in Bleacher Report's latest article about every team's draft needs, they found three names that could be of interest come April: Texas A&M's Chase Bisontis, Boston College's Logan Taylor, and Iowa's Gennings Dunker.
Bisontis is exactly the kind of early-round prospect the G-Men should be eyeing. He’s strong, athletic, and has played both guard and tackle at a high level. With uncertainty across the interior, he’d have a real shot to start Week 1 and bring some much-needed stability to the line.
Taylor won’t go as high, but he’s the kind of smart, reliable player good teams stash for depth. He’s big (6-foot-7, 312 pounds), experienced, and rarely makes mistakes in pass protection. If nothing else, he’d give Big Blue a backup plan at multiple spots -- something they’ve lacked for years.
And then there’s Gennings Dunker, who might just have the most electric name of the draft -- certainly for linemen. He’s nasty, physical, and bullies defenders in the run game. The technique needs work, but if New York wants to toughen up inside, he’s a great place to start.
If the Giants want to take a step forward in 2026, moving on from Runyan, saving money for other free agents and extensions, and investing in a better option at guard is a necessary move.
