Dan Salomone

The unique thing about quarterbacks in free agency is they do extensive homework on your roster. Russell Wilson liked what he saw from his new teammates who will be protecting him.

"It always starts with the guys up front, what they're capable of," the 10-time Pro Bowlersaid in his introductory press conference. "Seeing a guy like Andrew Thomas in the weight room and doing squats, just being around him a little bit. GVR (Greg Van Roten), talking to different guys along the way, just been a really smooth process that's given me a lot of confidence."

Joe Schoen has said multiple times throughout the offseason that he was pleased with the Giants' planned starting offensive line from a year ago, and now they're all back with Van Roten re-signing with the team. The general manager, however, always needed to add a caveat about the group.

After the five starters played 100 percent of the snaps together through six weeks, the Giants used 10 different combinations after Thomas went down.

"When Andrew was healthy last year, I was happy with the way the offensive line was playing those first six games they were together," Schoen said in aone-on-one interview with Giants.com. "I thought we were able to function offensively in both phases of passing and running the football. GVR also brings, what people don't see, is leadership. He's a force multiplier in there, which is really good for John Michael (Schmitz), really good for Jake Kubas in his development. Really happy to get Greg back. He's got versatility, he played some center, played guard. But the leadership and the veteran presence in that room was very important. I look forward to those guys continuing to grow, and his leadership in that room and getting his help developing some of the young guys was really important last year."

Below is a look at the state of the offensive line with the draft just a few weeks away:

2024 GAME-BY-GAME STARTERS

THE NEWCOMERS

James Hudson III

Previous Team:Cleveland Browns

Career:49 G, 17 GS (14 at RT, 3 at LT)

Hudson, 6-5 and 313 pounds, was originally selected by the Browns in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He played in 47 regular-season games with Cleveland and made 17 starts 14 at right tackle over his first three seasons and three at left tackle last year.

As a rookie, while playing in 12 games with four starts at right tackle, Hudson helped Cleveland lead the NFL with 5.09 yards per carry, the highest average by a Browns team since 1966. The offensive line opened holes for Nick Chubb, who finished second in the league in rushing yards that year and third the next season.

Hudson had played high school (Central Catholic), college (Cincinnati) and professional (Browns) football all in the state of Ohio. He played in 11 games at Cincinnati from 2019-20 after transferring from Michigan (2017-18) and helped bookend an offensive line that was a Joe Moore Award semifinalist.

Stone Forsythe

Previous Team:Seattle Seahawks

Career:53 G, 14 GS (11 at RT, 3 at LT)

Forsythe, 6-8 and 307 pounds, played in 53 games with 14 starts (11 at right tackle and three at left tackle) in four seasons with the Seahawks. He also has one postseason appearance.

A sixth-round draft pick by Seattle in 2021, Forsythe started a career-high eight games in 2023 (five at right tackle and three at left tackle). He took over at right tackle for an injured George Fant in the 2024 season opener. Forsythe then started the next five games before a hand injury landed him on injured reserve. Forsythe returned for the final three weeks of the season.

THE INCUMBENTS

Andrew Thomas

Career:61 G, 60 GS (All at LT)

Greg Van Roten

Career:127 G, 88 GS (58 at RG, 27 at LG, 3 at C)

Jon Runyan

Career:80 G, 63 GS (35 at LG, 28 at RG)

John Michael Schmitz Jr.

Career:28 G, 28 GS (All at C)

Jermaine Eluemunor

Career:102 G, 60 GS (41 at RT, 13 at LT, 6 at RG)

Evan Neal

Career:29 G, 27 GS (All at RT)

Aaron Stinnie

Career:47 G, 15 GS (All at LG)

Austin Schlottmann

Career:68 G, 14 GS (8 at C, 6 at RG)

Joshua Ezeudu

Career:33 G, 10 GS (7 at LT, 2 at LG, 1 Extra OT)

Jimmy Morrissey

Career:14 G, 4 GS (All at C)

Jake Kubas

Career:5 G, 3 GS (2 at RG, 1 at LG)

Bryan Hudson

Career:No games played

A potential position change for Evan Neal has been a topic of conversation. The seventh pick in the 2022 draft has started 27 games in his career, all at right tackle.

Similar to backup quarterback, swing tackle was a priority for the Giants this offseason. Schoen said they addressed that with the signing of Hudson, who would then be the next man up after Thomas or Eluemunor.

"Good thing about Evan is he's going to do whatever he can to help the team, whether that's guard or tackle," Schoen said. "When they come back in April, again, we still have the draft, so they come in that Monday before the draft. The team will look different here in four weeks. When he comes in he's willing to do whatever he can do to help the team. If that's tackle or guard, he's open to it."

The offseason workout programbegins April 21. The Giants' first of 10 OTAs is scheduled for May 27, and they will conclude spring practice with a three-day minicamp starting June 10.

"I'm going to talk to all the players when they get back on the 21st," coach Brian Dabollsaid at the Annual League Meeting. "Evan is open to do whatever he can do to help the team out. We'll have individual meetings. We'll have the position coaches sit down with him, and I want to get in front of them first and have conversations with different guys on the roster about a number of things, things we can get better at, things I can get better at. That will take place in two weeks here.

Daboll added: "I would say there is probably a number of opportunities. Him and I will sit down and we'll talk when he gets back, and (offensive line coach) Carm (Carmen Bricillo). There are a number of other players. We'll sit down and we'll talk to Evan and them and have an opportunity to help in any way he can. Look forward to working with him."

THE PROSPECTS

The top five tackles in the 2024 draft class,according to NFL.com's Bucky Brooks:

"This OT group features several intriguing prospects with Day 1 starting potential. Will Campbell is the crown jewel of the class to me, with a game that suits any scheme. I'm not as concerned about his arm length as some draft analysts seem to be. The LSU standout is an unfinished product, but he should quickly smooth out the rough edges to become a quality starter. Armand Membou is a rare find as a super-sized blocker with quick feet, elite burst and violent hands. The Missouri product overwhelms defenders at the point of attack and on the second level, displaying running back-like movement skills in space. Josh Simmons' talent, tools and tenacity could make him a perennial Pro Bowler early in his career. The Ohio State/San Diego State product possesses the length and agility to stymie defenders in pass protection while also displaying the explosion to uproot run stoppers at the point of attack. Kelvin Banks Jr. is a dancing bear on the edge with outstanding balance, body control and agility. He can win with force or finesse on the perimeter, displaying the physicality and toughness coaches covet in offensive tackles. Josh Conerly Jr. has surged up the charts as evaluators are increasingly smitten with his size and athleticism. The Oregon standout is a work in progress, but his upside eventually could make him a Pro Bowl-caliber player at the next level."

Brooks'top five interior offensive linemen:

"Teams looking for bullies at the point of attack will be intrigued by this IOL group. Tyler Booker is a menacing presence at the line of scrimmage with a rugged game built for a power running squad. The Alabama standout possesses the size and tools evaluators crave in an interior blocker. Donovan Jackson mauls defenders with a violent style that meshes with a power-based offensive attack. As a large blocker with nimble feet, the Ohio State product is a Day 1 starter with Pro Bowl-caliber tools. Grey Zabel will be the next small-school standout to successfully transition from outside to inside as a pro. Though the North Dakota product dominated FCS competition on the edges, he displays the strength, power and agility to thrive as a swing player in the lineup. Jared Wilson is an impressive snap-and-stuff blocker at the pivot. The sizable Georgia standout consistently owns the point of attack, relying on his first-step quickness and leverage to stalemate defenders at the line. As a rock-solid interior blocker with heavy hands and a wide base, Tate Ratledge controls defenders utilizing a "maul and mash" brand of ball that wears down opponents over time."

ON MOBILE

ON DESKTOP