The New York Giants' 2022 season will be the first of a new era. Joe Schoen, Brian Daboll and company will look to fix the mess left by Dave Gettleman.
New York's roster looks very similar to last year's team, though that is mostly because Gettleman made it super hard to change. The more important facets lie in how Daboll organizes his team and utilizes his players. New defensive coordinator Don Martindale and new offensive coordinator Mike Kafka both come from established teams and will look to make the Giants a good one again, though that will certainly take time.
Even with most of the team looking the same, the Giants are looking to establish a new identity and become a more competitive team. Under better leadership, an improvement is possible, if not likely. One unit, in particular, will be under scrutiny as fans hope to see its improvement.
Some position groups will be of high interest for New York this season. Tabs will be kept on the wide receivers in year number two with Kenny Golladay and Kadarius Toney. The defensive line has some of the most noteworthy names on the roster like Kayvon Thibodeaux, Leonard Williams and Azeez Ojulari. However, the Giants' position group most worth keeping an eye on is none other than the offensive line.
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Giants Key Position Group For 2022 NFL Season
The Giants' offensive line underwent an overhaul this offseason. Alabama tackle Even Neal joins the squad after being picked seventh overall in the NFL Draft. Schoen also added Joshua Ezeudu and Marcus McKethan later in the draft. Mark Glowinski, Jon Feliciano, Jamil Douglas and Matt Gono were brought in via free agency.
With four-year starter Will Hernandez departing and no other notable lineman to speak of aside from Andrew Thomas, the Giants' offensive line should look radically different. A fresh start is needed in the position group after so many years of failing to win in the trenches.
Neal is expected to be a strong player right away. Glowinski, who helped put Jonathan Taylor in the MVP conversation last season as a key interior blocker, and Feliciano, who has experience in both guards spots and at center, will look to solidify the Giants' interior line. Thomas improved in his second season and the Giants will try to make sure he is still a franchise cornerstone. New York has what it takes to be a vastly improved team on the offensive line.
Every team's offense starts and ends with their offensive line. For the Giants, that unit's performance this season will be extra important given the key players they will be protecting: Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley. Although the new front office and head coach have spoken glowingly about both players this offseason, both of them are in prove-it mode. Their future with the Giants is at stake in the 2022 season.
Jones, in particular, has a debate around him when it comes to the offensive lines he has played with in his career. Has his lack of of production and overall failure so far been because of his poor support or would he be bad even in more ideal circumstances? New York has certainly done him no favors but the flashes of potential he has shown are fleeting. Schoen has to find an answer and he will be able to do so if the offensive line gives Jones more of an opportunity to prove himself.
Barkley has already proven to be a superstar when healthy but has not been very effective following years of injuries. If it takes a truly good offensive line to make him serviceable despite other running backs on the roster making do, he may not see a second contract with New York.
The best way to know that Schoen is off to a good start is by observing how the Giants offensive line does. Their responsibilities are increasingly important as New York weighs which players should be given playing time in the backfield. Making the position group a good one will be massively important for the team's future.
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