The Giants have a real problem brewing at center, and it’s making a quiet free-agent loss look a lot louder.
John Michael Schmitz is still the name penciled in as the starter heading toward the 2026 season, but the early signs around camp don’t exactly inspire confidence. The concern isn’t theoretical anymore. When Schmitz missed four games last season because of injuries - a concussion in Weeks 7 and 8, then a finger injury in Weeks 17 and 18 - backup Austin Schlottmann stepped in and looked better across the board.
Per Pro Football Focus, Schlottmann posted a 70.8 overall grade to Schmitz’s 60.8. In run blocking, it was 69.8 to 63.3. In pass blocking, Schlottmann came in at 77.0 while Schmitz was at 60.9.
That kind of gap is hard to ignore, even if the sample was limited. There’s an argument that New York should have moved on from JMS, saved the cap space, and kept Schlottmann instead, though that’s probably the couch GM talking.
Instead, Schlottmann turned that short stretch into a two-year, $7 million deal with the Tennessee Titans in free agency. At the time, it looked like the sort of depth departure teams can absorb without much fuss.
Training camp has changed the tone.
The Giants brought in Lucas Patrick on a one-year deal to replace Schlottmann as the main interior backup, and on paper he fit the job. The 10-year veteran can handle all three interior spots, which made him the natural safety net behind Schmitz.
But Patrick has already missed a big chunk of spring work with an undisclosed injury, and Pat Leonard confirmed his workload is still being managed. Head coach John Harbaugh has waved it off as “old guy stuff,” but the Giants’ actions tell a different story.
On Tuesday, the team worked out four interior offensive linemen, a pretty clear sign they’re at least checking their contingency options if Patrick’s situation drags on. None of those players were signed, but the message was there all the same.
That’s what makes Schlottmann’s exit sting now. He already showed last season that he could keep the offense moving - and maybe even improve it - when Schmitz was sidelined. He outplayed JMS in his chances, then left for Tennessee after Brian Daboll gave him a better shot at playing time.
So now the Giants are left hoping Patrick gets healthy, while also scanning the market for bodies just to keep the depth chart intact. It’s the kind of mess that might have been avoided if Schlottmann had never walked out the door.
No, he wasn’t going to turn the offensive line into a powerhouse by himself. But dependable depth matters, and the Giants know that better than most. Right now, they’re hoping this doesn’t become one of those decisions they spend all season regretting.
In Other News...
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Jaxson Dart Put Giants Fans On Notice For More Than His TD
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Giants Just Sent Another Message About A Roster Battle In Camp
The Giants kept turning over the bottom of the roster this week by bringing in eight players for workouts at The Greenbrier Sports Performance Center, another sign that camp jobs remain very much up for grabs. Among the group was former Giants defensive back Dee Williams, part of a broader look at defensive backs and other depth options as the team continues sorting through competition before the roster gets trimmed.
The move comes as New York keeps searching for the right mix of younger players who can stick through camp and into the season. The group also included D.J. James, a 2024 sixth-round pick of the Seahawks who later spent time on the Patriots' practice squad, and the rest of the workout list offered the kind of fringe talent teams often cycle through this time of year. For the Giants, it is another quiet but clear reminder that no spot at the back end of the roster is being handed out yet. [Read more 🡒]