Giving Evan Neal yet another chance wasn’t enough for John Harbaugh, and the New York Giants head coach had enough room in his heart to hand a reprieve to a second struggling offensive lineman in 2026 NFL free agency.
Harbaugh and the Giants are bringing back Joshua Ezeudu, “pending a physical,” per Giants.com Managing Editor Matt Citak. If the physical goes as expected, it will be “a one-year deal” for the third-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft, according to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, who reported on Tuesday, March 17, Ezeudu is getting “a clean slate and chance” to impress a new regime.
There really isn’t another way to look at this potential deal. Not when Ezeudu has consistently failed to impress at multiple spots within the trenches. As a top-100 pick yet to make good, the 26-year-old joins Neal as high-profile O-linemen who haven’t panned out as general manager Joe Schoen expected.
Granting Ezeudu another chance, after doing the same for Neal, represents a risk, even though it’s not too difficult to work out why Harbaugh is content to take the chance.
Utility Saves Joshua Ezeudu
Ezeuedu offers utility thanks to being versatile enough to play several positions up front. His flexibility is summed up by where he’s been deployed across 33 games for Big Blue.
As Citak detailed, Ezeudu has spent “seven at left tackle, two at left guard, and one as an extra lineman.” That history makes Ezeudu a natural swing backup, a role that’s always useful on any roster.
Harbaugh knows the Giants need to begin bossing the line of scrimmage in a way they’ve only done sparingly in recent years, but it won’t be easy. Not without changes to a solid, if unspectacular starting group.
Those changes may come from within, based on how Harbaugh and Schoen have so far approached the position in free agency.
Giants Trusting the Familiar Up Front
The Giants’ primary decision-makers have been content to trust the familiar along their O-line. Ezeudu’s pending deal only continues the trend, positioning him to become the fourth lineman welcomed back during this veteran market.
Neal and backup guard Aaron Stinnie have also returned, but the most notable comeback involves right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor. He is a credible foundational piece in the starting lineup, but there’s room for an infusion of proven talent among this group, especially when starting right guard Greg Van Roten is still a free agent.
Price and timing will be the keys to whether or not the Giants spend more money along the line, with Raanan reporting “New York is waiting for some of the deal prices to drop.”
Fortunately, there are options, including some Harbaugh knows well. Like former Baltimore Ravens man-mountain guard Daniel Faalele. The latter is an interior lineman Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post believes the Giants are focused on because of his “familiarity with Harbaugh from #Ravens and (offensive coordinator) Matt Nagy likes big interior offensive linemen.”
Faalele remains a logical candidate to join the Giants, unless his old boss truly believes the light can finally go on for Neal and Ezeudu.
John Harbaugh Gives ‘Clean Slate’ to 2nd Struggling Giants Lineman