Because he’s still only 25 years old, Andrew Thomas is increasingly being viewed as a veteran presence on the Giants’ offensive line.
Certainly, Thomas is the longest-tenured member of that group in terms of contributions to the team and is by far the best player up front.
In some ways, it seems like Thomas just got here recently, but he’s in his fifth workout at Giants training camp and is truly in the prime of his career.
“Yeah, it’s gone by so quickly,” Thomas said. “I remember being a rookie, I remember the struggles with COVID and everything else, but it got me to where I am today and I’m just trying to do my best to provide leadership and lead my guys.”
The guys desperately need Thomas to lead the way.
Last season was a horrible season of football for the offensive line, with the oft-turnover unit allowing a franchise-record 85 sacks, the second-most allowed in a season in NFL history.
According to Pro Football Focus, Thomas recorded four sacks in 376 pass-blocking snaps.
He has never been fully recovered since suffering a serious hamstring injury while having a field goal return blocked in a 40-0 loss to the Cowboys in the season opener.
He missed the next seven games, and the Giants’ offense was a disaster without him.
Upon his return in Week 9, the Giants were 2-6 and the positive buzz about a surprise 2022 playoff team had been replaced by a “not again” feeling.
With the new year upon us, Thomas seems to be in high spirits.
He was sweating it out after a humid first day of training camp and seemed in good shape.
“I’m feeling great,” he said. “Obviously I hurt my hamstring last year, but I’m feeling really good. I’ve been doing a lot of rehab to get stronger, a lot of Nordic and stuff, and I’m feeling pretty good. I won the event with the least body fat this year and I’ve been able to build muscle, so I’m doing a good job.”
It’s been a steady promotion for Thomas.
Far from being an instant star, his rookie year was full of learning and growing pains, and rumors circulated around the league that the Giants made a mistake by selecting him fourth overall (starting offensive lineman) over Jedrick Wills Jr., Mekhi Becton and Tristan Wirfs in the 2020 draft.
“I’m going to run my own race,” Thomas declared at the time, and that’s exactly what happened: By 2022, he’d raised his PFF grade to 89.1 (up from 62.4 and 79.8 in his first two years, respectively) and been named to the All-Pro second team.
Heading into the 2023 season, PFF graded Thomas as the fourth-best tackle in the NFL behind Trent Williams, Lane Johnson and Laremy Tunsil.
When the new regime of general manager Joe Sean and coach Brian Daboll took over with Thomas, it only took one season to convince them that the highly accomplished and talented youngster should stay with the team.
Coach Sean signed Thomas to a five-year, $117.5 million contract extension last July, including $67 million guaranteed, which was then an NFL record for an offensive lineman.
Explaining the big deal, Coach Sean said Thomas “has played at a high level. He’s the type of player we have.”
Thomas is under contract through the 2029 season, which now feels like a lifetime away.
Thomas’ status took a bit of a dip last season, but he wants to re-emerge as a top left tackle candidate, and he knows what he has to do to get there.
“In terms of pass protection, when it comes to the finer details;[tection]”My sets, my approach,” Thomas said, “and then I just focused on taking care of my body, rehab, pre-habilitation, nutrition, all of that stuff, trying to stay at my best. And when I’m at my best, I feel like I’m one of the best players.”
There’s another voice Thomas should listen to.
Carmen Bricillo is Thomas’ fifth offensive line coach in five years, a ridiculous lack of continuity.
There was Marc Colombo, Dave DeGuglielmo, Rob Sale and Bobby Johnson.
The Buricillo is tasked with transforming last year’s leftovers into this year’s feast.
The team signed two veterans in starters John Runyan Jr. and Jermaine El-Emno, and center John-Michael Schmitz had a shaky rookie year but is expected to improve in Year 2.
Once the problematic right tackle position (Evan Neal, or El Emnor if Neal is unavailable) is resolved, a solid five-man line will be constructed.
“Obviously, we have a lot of new guys,” Thomas said, “we have a new offensive line coach so that’s different, but we have some veteran guys coming in so I think we have a little bit more experience. And then for me personally, I just want to stay healthy and take my play and my leadership a step further this year.”
