It’s been no secret that the New York Giants have had an offensive line issue for a very long time. After leading the NFL in sacks allowed by a wide margin last season with 85, the Giants have made it a priority to address this issue. So far this offseason, they have done just that by adding Guard Jon Ruyan Jr. from, the Green Bay Packers on a three-year deal and former Las Vegas Raider Jermaine Eluemunor to a two-year deal.
So, it was clear that Giants General Manager Joe Schoen was not messing around and making sure that he provided much better protection for their quarterback, Daniel Jones. And with training camp in full gear and well underway, the Giants were not done improving the offensive line.
Giants Sign Veteran OL Greg Van Roten
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With the already additions of the aforementioned Runyan and Eluenumor made by the Giants this offseason, news broke early Tuesday of another offensive lineman. New York added former Las Vegas Raider Greg Van Orden to bolster their offensive line. The 34-year-old will not only be reunited with Elenumor from their days in Las Vegas, but he will also be back with the Giants offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo who was the Raider offensive line coach last season.
Van Roten has been a reliable lineman throughout his career especially last season as he played in all 17 Raiders games in 2023. Van Roten has been around a long time in the NFL as well as playing for the Raiders, the o-lineman has played with the Green Bay Packers, Carolina Panthers, the New York Jets, and the Buffalo Bills.
This was another great move made by the Schoen and the Giants front office. With the additions of Runyan, Eluemunor, and Van Roten as well as the Giants star tackle Evan Neal, what does this mean now for Neal?
Is Evan Neal’s time in New York coming to an end?
It has been a rocky start to Evan Neals’s career in New York after the Giants drafted him seventh overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. Whether it’s been injuries, inconsistency playing at the tackle position, and even being booed by the Giants fans on Monday Night Football, his time may be running out with the Giants.
Neal has also started training camp with New York not exactly 100% healthy as he was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list as his rehab from off-season ankle surgery has not gone as he thought. Head Coach Brian Daboll didn’t even sound so sure that he was going to be ready by Week 1 when he was talking to reporters about the 23-year-olds injury woes.
“Big Blue” needed to add experience and depth at the offensive line position. Last season, New York dealt with so many lineup changes each week at the position, and adding a guy like Van Roten was the right move. Second-year Center John Michael-Schmitz is also dealing with a shoulder injury throughout camp, and the Giants made the right moves so far.
Having guys like Jon Runyan Jr., Jermaine Eluemunor, and now Greg Van Roten is signaling that Neal could be in trouble with the Giants. While it remains unseen if the New York Giants will cut him or even trade yet this offseason, another offensive line move in free agency could signal the end of Evan Neal’s time in New York.
