The New York Giants are still looking to add talent to their offensive line as they prepare for training camp to kick off this week. According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, the Giants are bringing in veteran guard Greg Van Roten for a free agent visit.
The Giants could add solid depth with Greg Van Roten
Van Roten is entering his 10th season in the NFL. He’s bounced around a few teams throughout his career but turned in a solid 2023 campaign with the Las Vegas Raiders. Last season, Van Roten earned a 75.3 overall Pro Football Focus grade after starting all 17 games for the Silver and Black. He surrendered just 21 pressures and three sacks across 1,025 snaps played last season.
The Giants’ offensive line has yet to determine its starting five. Veterans Jon Runyan Jr. and Jermaine Eluemunor were signed this offseason in free agency, but have yet to find their home in the lineup. Both players have the versatility to play either guard spot, but Eluemunor also has a history of playing right tackle.
Evan Neal will have a chance to maintain his job as the starting right tackle, but if the Giants were to add Van Roten, they would have increased flexibility to move Eluemunor into that job and rely on Van Roten as the team’s right guard.
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Van Roten has familiarity with Giants OL coach Carmen Bricillo
Earlier this offseason, the Giants made a change to their coaching staff, firing offensive line coach Bobby Johnson and replacing him with Carmen Bricillo. The Giants’ new assistant was most recently the offensive line coach for the Las Vegas Raiders where he produced career-best seasons out of both Eluemunor and Van Roten. That familiarity could be valuable as the team considers signing the veteran guard this week.
Under Bricillo, the Raiders had the No. 10 ranked offensive line in the NFL last offseason according to PFF. The Giants are hoping that their new coach can get similar production from his unit this offseason as they try to improve an offensive line that surrendered a league-high 85 sacks in 2023. Adding Van Roten could give the team necessary depth and reliability to the offensive line this season.
