The right guard market in free agency this year is not to the Giants’ liking — some good players at prices they see as too high — and so on Wednesday a familiar face was brought back.
Greg Van Roten, the sturdiest player on the offensive line in 2024, will be re-signed on a one-year contract.
This comes as a bit of a surprise, as upgrading at that spot was considered to be a priority.
Clearly, though, Van Roten did enough to impress the coaching staff in his first season with the Giants.
Not only did he start every game, he played every snap — all 1,125 of them — and was the only offensive lineman to do so.
At 35 years old, in his 10th NFL season, that was an impressive accomplishment.
In 2023, Van Roten with the Raiders also started all 17 games, on the field for 98 percent of the snaps.
Van Roten’s offensive line coach in Las Vegas, Carmen Bricillo, was the line coach with the Giants last season and there is a trust there between the two.
When John Michael Schmitz missed the final two games, Van Roten slid over and started at center, providing versatility on the interior of the line.
The Long Island native from Rockville Centre was a strong locker room presence and considered a leader on the line.
What this means is the Giants can rely on Van Roten if they need to do so, with younger players Josh Ezeudu or Jake Kubas or someone they might select in the NFL Draft also perhaps competing for the right guard spot.
Another lineman was added, with Stone Forsythe, formerly of the Seahawks, signing for a one-year, veteran salary benefit contract, meaning he is a bargain-priced addition as the Giants build out their roster.
Forsythe, 27, was a 2021 sixth round pick out of Florida and he started 14 of the 53 games he played for the Seahawks.
At 6-foot-8 and 307 pounds, he is the second offensive tackle the Giants brought in during this free agency period.
James Hudson III, 25, started 17 games in four seasons with the Browns.
Hudson received a two-year deal for $12 million — with half of that in guaranteed money — meaning he is expected to earn a spot.
Adding two tackles does not mean the Giants are planning a move with Evan Neal, who as a 2022 first round pick (No. 7 overall) has struggled to gain a foothold at right tackle.
Poor performance and injuries put Neal on the bench in 2024 and there is no starting job open for him heading into this season.
Jermaine Eluemunor turns for his second year with the Giants as the starting right tackle and Andrew Thomas is entrenched at left tackle.
The decision to keep Neal as a backup swing tackle or to move him inside to guard will come later this spring, if at all.
The Giants are bringing back Ihmir Smith-Marsette, a 25-year old who stabilized their kick return game last season, on a one-year contract.
The Newark, N.J. native, a four-year NFL veteran, appeared in nine games for the Giants and had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in a Week 17 victory over the Colts, earning him NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
