By Solomon 
The New York Giants seem to have changed their approach to free agency at right guard.
Initially, they were eyeing a top-tier option, with reports suggesting they were in the mix for Will Fries. However, Fries ended up signing a massive five-year, $88 million deal with the Vikings. Instead of going for another big-name guard, the Giants decided to bring back Greg Van Roten, their starting right guard from last season.
After the move, Giants reporter Dan Duggan suggested this might mean the team is no longer chasing a high-end guard. He noted that Van Roten’s willingness to sign now—after waiting a long time last year—suggests the Giants pivoted from their original plan.
Paul Schwartz from the New York Post echoed this, saying the Giants weren’t fans of the price tags on available guards, so they opted to stick with someone they already knew.
Giants Might Hold an Open Competition for Right Guard
With Fries and other top options off the table, the Giants could take a different approach by letting multiple players compete for the starting job. Duggan floated the idea of a battle between Van Roten, Evan Neal, Josh Ezeudu, Jake Kubas, and possibly a rookie. He liked the Van Roten signing because it at least ensures they have a solid veteran while they see if a younger player can step up.
Pat Leonard from the New York Daily News chimed in, noting that the Giants are high on Jake Kubas, an undrafted rookie from 2024. That raises an interesting question: Would the Giants really start an undrafted player over Neal (a former first-round pick) and Ezeudu (a third-rounder)? Duggan thinks it’s possible, especially since the team hasn’t fully committed to moving Neal to guard.
Regardless, bringing back Van Roten provides stability. He started all 17 games last season and played over 1,100 snaps. He also has experience at center, which could be useful given the struggles of John Michael Schmitz.
Giants Add Depth at Offensive Tackle
The Giants have also been busy adding to their offensive line depth, signing two veteran tackles.
First, they brought in James Hudson III on a two-year, $12 million deal. Hudson, a former fourth-round pick by the Browns, has started 18 games in his career.
Then, before re-signing Van Roten, they added Stone Forsythe, a 6’8″, 307-pound lineman who played in 53 games (14 starts) for the Seahawks. He started a career-high eight games last season before a hand injury sidelined him.
With Hudson and Forsythe joining Andrew Thomas and Jermaine Eluemunor, the Giants finally have some solid tackle depth. However, this also crowds the roster, leaving questions about Neal and Ezeudu’s future roles.
It’s clear the Giants have been adjusting their plans as free agency unfolds, and it looks like right guard will be an open competition heading into the season.