The proper guard market for free agency this year is not the Giants' preference. Some players who were excellent at what seemed too expensive brought home a familiar face.
Greg Van Roten, the toughest player on the offensive line in 2024, will be re-signed on a one-year contract.
This is a bit surprising as upgrades at the location were considered a priority.
Obviously, Van Roten did enough to impress the coaching staff in his first season with the Giants.
He not only started all the games, he played every snap – of which all 1,125 were the only offensive linemen who would do so.
It was an impressive achievement in his 10th NFL season at the age of 35.
In 2023, Van Roten with the Raiders also started all 17 games on the field with 98% of the snaps.
Las Vegas' Van Roten offensive line coach Carmen Briscilo was last season's line coach and there's a trust between the two.
When John Michael Schmitz missed the final two games, Van Roten slipped off and started at center, providing versatility inside the line.
The Long Island native, from Rockville Centre, was considered a strong locker room presence and a leader in the line.
What this means is that if the Giants need to do so, they can turn to Van Roten. Younger players Josh Ezedo and Jake Kubas, or those who chose in the NFL Draft, are also probably competing for the right guard spot.
Another lineman was added, previously Seahawks' Stone Forsyth signed a one-year veteran payroll benefit agreement. That is, he's an extra bargain price as the Giants build their roster.
Forsythe, 27, started 14 of the 53 games he played for the Seahawks in 2021, his sixth pick from Florida.
At 6 feet 8 pounds and 307 pounds, he is the Giants' second offensive tackle brought during this free agency period.
25-year-old James Hudson III started 17 games in four seasons against the Browns.
Hudson received a two-year contract $12 million (half of which is guaranteed money). That means he's expected to win a spot.
Adding two tackles doesn't mean the Giants are planning a move with Evan Neal. Evan Neal is struggling to gain footing with a right tackle as the first round pick of 2022 (No. 7 overall).
The poor performance and injury have been that Neil is on the bench in 2024, and he won't start towards this season.
Jermaine Elmnoll returns to his second year with the Giants as the first right tackle, and Andrew Thomas has settled on the left tackle.
The decision to keep Neil as a backup swing tackle or move him to guard will come later this spring.
The Giants are reclaiming 25-year-old Ihmir Smith-Marsette, who stabilized last season's kick-return game on a one-year contract.
Newark, New Jersey, a four-year NFL veteran, played in nine games for the Giants, earning a 100-yard kickoff return for touchdowns in a 17-week victory over the Colts, earning the NFC Special Team Player of the Week honor.
