ESPN gives New York Giants' roster an ugly ranking
With general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll returning for a fourth season in their respective roles, the roster underwent some major turnover this offseason.
Most notably, the Giants overhauled the entire quarterback room, except for Tommy DeVito. Meanwhile, the defense looks to be a point of strength on paper.
Despite this, ESPN gave the Giants another brutal ranking in terms of where the roster compares to the rest of the league, coming in at No. 27. The biggest issue ESPN's Mike Clay had with the roster is with the offensive line.
The Giants are set to return all five starters from 2024, but that might not be a good thing. LT Andrew Thomas is very good, but he has missed substantial game action in recent seasons and doesn't have a ton of help. LG Jon Runyan, C John Michael Schmitz Jr., RG Greg Van Roten and RT Jermaine Eluemunor all posted below-average-to-poor PFF grades and run block win rates last season, with all three interior linemen ranking bottom 20 in the latter stat among 92 qualified players. The draft provided minimal help, as fifth-round guard Marcus Mbow was the only OL investment.
It's difficult to argue with the perception of the offensive line. Even with Thomas in the lineup, he hasn't been able to stay on the field during the last two seasons — he's appeared in 16 total games during that span.
ESPN did give the Giants praise for the construction of the defensive front, calling that unit the team's biggest strength. The trio of edge rushers in Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and No. 3 overall pick Abdul Carter should bode well next to All-Pro talent Dexter Lawrence on the interior.
The Giants have a lot to prove going into the new season, and this is likely the final chance for Schoen and Daboll to keep their jobs.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: ESPN gives Giants' roster an ugly ranking
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