The Giants have taken a closer look at another center, and that alone is enough to raise eyebrows around John Michael Schmitz.
New York brought veteran offensive lineman Kendrick Green in for a visit on Thursday, according to the NFL transaction wire, and later signed him to the practice squad. On its face, that’s standard roster business. But with Schmitz stumbling through another rough stretch, the timing makes this one feel a lot louder than a routine check-in.
Schmitz has been one of the biggest question marks on the Giants’ line through three games. The 2023 second-round pick owns a 45.7 overall Pro Football Focus grade, which puts him 32nd out of 33 eligible centers.
His 49.7 run-blocking grade ranks 29th, and his 42.3 pass-blocking mark sits 31st. Sunday’s game against Tennessee was especially rough, as Schmitz posted a 19.0 pass-blocking grade while the rest of the Giants’ line played well.
That’s not exactly the kind of start a player wants in a contract year, especially after three seasons that were already underwhelming. For Schmitz, the margin for error is getting smaller.
The Giants do have Bryan Hudson on the 53-man roster behind him, and Hudson’s presence makes any move at center worth watching. The 25-year-old got first-team work during training camp while Schmitz was dealing with a concussion, so the team has already shown some willingness to look in another direction.
Green gives New York another name to evaluate. The 27-year-old was a third-round pick by the Steelers in 2021 and has played both center and guard. His NFL stops include Pittsburgh, Houston, Buffalo and Cleveland.
Cleveland released Green from injured reserve with an injury settlement on Tuesday, which made his visit to the Giants come together quickly. At 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds, he adds another body to the competition, and maybe more importantly, another signal that New York is willing to keep poking around.
For now, a visit is just a visit. But with Schmitz struggling and Hudson already in the mix, the Giants are making it clear they’re at least thinking about alternatives at center.
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