If the New York Giants were hoping Year 3 would be the breakout for John Michael Schmitz, they might want to start preparing for Year 4. Or a different center altogether.
The early reports out of camp aren’t just disappointing — they’re exactly what you’d expect from a player who hasn’t figured it out in two years. Pads aren’t even on yet, and while we’re all tired of overreacting to July reps, Schmitz already looks like he’s losing ground fast. It’s starting to feel less like nothing and more like confirmation.
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Schmitz was already skating on thin ice after two underwhelming seasons. Not even a week into camp, and it looks like he's testing just how thin it can get.
John Michael Schmitz is completely unraveling at the worst possible time
Let’s start with what Abdul Carter did to him. The rookie linebacker tossed Schmitz aside on Thursday in what can only be described as not safe for work. Carter lined up on the inside and just bull rushed JMS onto a different field, literally. He threw him out of the frame so easily, and it clearly shook his confidence moving forward.
The very next day, Schmitz reportedly had three errant snaps, which are three too many for a guy in his third year, especially one who’s seemingly regressing with each passing season.
Here’s what Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post reported:
John Michael Schmitz had about 3 errant snaps today, one day after Abdul Carter put him in a blender.
— Ryan Dunleavy (@rydunleavy) July 25, 2025
Pads aren't on yet. Too early for any determinations.
But, as I said before camp starter, no jobs should be handed out on draft status this year. Greg Van Roten has C… https://t.co/mkZ3MThrKV
It’s hard to argue JMS deserves the benefit of the doubt.
Schmitz’s camp has been brutal, but the leash should be short anyway. He’s been a bottom-tier center since the day he got his first start. He's given up 11 sacks and 58 pressures in his first two years with inconsistent play in both the run and pass game. There’s been minor improvement, but it’s still not enough.
And that’s the problem: if this is the “getting better” version of John Michael Schmitz, what’s the ceiling supposed to be? It's hard to get worse... so improving should be a given.
So with Schmitz slipping, the door’s pretty much wide open for someone else to step in. — and he might already be on the roster.
Greg Van Roten isn’t flashy, but he’s experienced, reliable, and already the most durable lineman the G-Men have. He's in a camp battle with Evan Neal, but if Neal locks down the job, GVR becomes the top challenger to Schmitz at center. If Neal doesn’t win it, Van Roten likely sticks to guard — but the point remains: the veteran has positional flexibility, while Schmitz has mounting issues.
Big Blue needed Schmitz to take a leap. Instead, it feels like more of the same — only now there’s a real fallback option. If Van Roten puts together a solid camp and Schmitz keeps not being able to snap the ball, this job won’t be his much longer. And if these early camp signs hold, the Giants might need to start exploring other options fast.