Giants’ O-Line Still Miles Away from Championship-Caliber — Could a 2026 First-Round Pick Fix That?
The New York Giants’ offensive line has seen some improvement under GM Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll, but let’s be honest—it’s still nowhere near the dominant unit that helped carry Big Blue to its last Super Bowl.
Heading into the 2025 season, the projected starting five includes Andrew Thomas, Jon Runyan Jr., John Michael Schmitz, Greg Van Roten, and Jermaine Eluemunor. It’s a solid, versatile group, but one that leaves plenty of room for upgrades—especially at right tackle.
Eluemunor, unless extended, is in the final year of his deal. If the Giants let him walk next offseason, they’ll be staring at a major hole on the edge. Even if he stays, Eluemunor could be moved inside to guard if a better tackle option emerges.
Because of that, Pro Football Network has predicted the Giants will target a right tackle with their 2026 first-round pick—a move they’ve projected in back-to-back mock drafts (July 5 and 12).
Kadyn Proctor: A Massive, Athletic Option… But With a Familiar Risk?
In PFN’s July 5 mock, analyst Max Dorsey mocked Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor to New York. Standing 6’7″ and weighing in at 350 pounds, Proctor is a towering, physically gifted blocker who could protect new QB Jaxson Dart for years to come.
“The Giants believe they’ve found their quarterback,” Dorsey wrote. “Now, they need to protect him. Proctor fits that bill with his rare blend of size and athleticism.”
While Proctor has the traits of a top-tier NFL tackle, there’s one red flag that could spook Giants fans—and possibly the front office.
Kadyn Proctor
He closely resembles Evan Neal, the Alabama product-turned-Giants disappointment, who also made the transition from left tackle to the right side. The comparison may be unfair, but the déjà vu is real—and it could influence Schoen and Daboll, assuming they’re still running the show in 2026.
Francis Mauigoa: A More Natural Fit on the Right Side?
PFN’s July 12 mock from analyst Mark Stolte took a different approach. With Arch Manning likely staying in college and no QB worth reaching for, Stolte projected the Giants to draft Miami’s Francis Mauigoa, a right tackle through and through.
“Mauigoa checks the fit box,” Stolte explained. “He’s a true right tackle who moves well, measuring 6’6″, 315 pounds. While I rank Proctor slightly higher overall, Mauigoa is better suited for New York’s current roster.”
The Miami tackle allowed just one sack and ranked 51st out of 241 college OTs in pressure rate, per TruMedia—a strong case for plug-and-play reliability.
What Drafting a Right Tackle Would Mean for the Giants
If the Giants do go offensive tackle in Round 1, it likely signals one of three things:
-
They’re moving on from Eluemunor in 2026.
-
Eluemunor re-signs but shifts to guard, and neither Marcus Mbow nor Jake Kubas steps up to claim the RT job.
-
In a surprise twist, the team considers cutting ties with Andrew Thomas—either due to injury concerns or financial flexibility.
Though Thomas is under contract through 2029, the Giants could save $17.25M by trading him after June 1 in 2026, or $19.4M by releasing him post-June 1 in 2027.
That said, the most realistic hope is that Thomas bounces back from injury and reestablishes himself as a cornerstone, making options 1 and 2 the more plausible paths forward.
Final Word
The Giants may not have a glaring O-line crisis in 2025, but the writing is on the wall: right tackle is a long-term question mark. Whether it’s the dominant Proctor or the smoother-fitting Mauigoa, expect New York to address that need early in the 2026 draft—especially if Jaxson Dart proves he’s the guy under center.
Leave a Reply