Joe Schoen, the Giants’ hot-seat fourth-year general manager, is scheduled to speak with reporters Monday at the NFL Annual Meeting.
Schoen will face plenty of quarterback-related questions, of course. But one of the biggest remains unanswerable for now: Will his offensive line actually be able to protect Russell Wilson?
Yes, the Giants could absolutely draft Shedeur Sanders at No. 3 (if he’s still available). But even if they take Sanders — who had his own issues with pass blocking problems at Colorado — it’s likely they’ll go into the 2025 season with Wilson as their starter.
Last season, the Giants finished 28th in Pro Football Focus’ pass blocking ratings. Wilson’s Steelers were 24th.
Obviously, some of the Giants’ problems stemmed from elite left tackle Andrew Thomas missing 11 games with a foot injury. But their interior linemen were not great pass blockers. Right guard Greg Van Roten graded 64.9 in PFF’s metrics, compared to 62.6 for left guard Jon Runyan and 50.2 for center John Michael Schmitz. That’s an issue.
Meanwhile, in Pittsburgh, Wilson was pressured on 37.6% of his drop-backs, seventh-most in the NFL. That was slightly higher than Daniel Jones’ ninth-ranked pressure rate with the Giants (37.3%).
Jones performed horrendously when under pressure last season — 37.8 PFF passing grade. Wilson wasn’t that bad, but he wasn’t good either — 50.9 grade. Plus, Wilson turns 37 in November. At this stage of his career, he isn’t getting any more mobile — or durable.
Among qualifying quarterbacks last season, Jones ranked 22nd (second to last) in PFF passing grade when under pressure. Wilson was 15th.
Schoen will run it back in 2025 with almost his entire 2024 line, while hoping Thomas can stay healthy, after injuries wrecked his past two seasons. The main lingering question is at right guard, where Schoen re-signed Van Roten (who just turned 35), but could draft somebody with a premium pick. (He has five in the top 105.)
Ultimately, if Schoen wants to keep his job past this season, he better hope his line doesn’t perform like last year’s group — or like Wilson’s Steelers line.
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Darryl Slater may be reached atdslater@njadvancemedia.com.