The New York Giants and new head coach John Harbaugh have big decisions to make ahead of NFL free agency and the official start of the 2026 offseason.
According to Over the Cap, the Giants currently have a projected $6.947 million in available salary space. And that’s after the NFL raised the salary cap up over $300 million.
In other words, in order to make the moves Harbaugh wants to make, Big Blue will first have to shed some cap space, and one potential cut candidate could be starting left guard Jon Runyan Jr.
On February 4, SNY Giants insider Connor Hughes named Runyan while running through potential cap casualties. He noted that Runyan’s release would save NYG $9.25 million in cap space, and the beat reporter also hinted that this move is very possible.
“Offensive line is an area I’d keep an eye on,” Hughes wrote, in response to a fan question on which position the Giants will attack in NFL free agency.
“An interesting statement, I know, considering the group was as good a year ago as they’ve been in a decade-plus,” the reporter admitted, explaining: “The problem is that the group is patchwork. You’re waiting for it to fall apart, and get the sense it’s eventually going to.”
“Andrew Thomas has major durability concerns. Jon Runyan Jr. and John Michael Schmitz have not lived up to expectations. Greg Van Roten is 35. Jermaine Eluemunor is an unrestricted free agent who wants to get paid,” he continued.
Concluding: “The Giants are a solid group when all of those players are healthy. Things look so different when you lose just one. They’d be wise to look for some long-term solutions up there.”
Giants Could Use Jon Runyan Cap Relief to Pursue Ravens Free Agent Tyler Linderbaum
GettyBaltimore Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum.
Going one step further, Hughes detailed a plan that could involve moving on from Runyan in order to pursue Baltimore Ravens stud center Tyler Linderbaum, who is set to hit the open market in March.
“Sources I touched base with said to expect this to happen, along with several other Ravens,” Hughes stated when asked if Big Blue will pursue Linderbaum. “It’s commonplace in the NFL for a new coach to bring a handful of guys with him. The best coaches have a message they preach to a team, but the best teams have players who take that message and carry it through the locker room. They set the standard others follow.”
Who better to set the tone for Harbaugh than Linderbaum? A 25-year-old former first-round pick who has already established himself as one of the top-tier players at his position.
“One thing on Linderbaum: He’s not coming cheap,” Hughes added. “One league source estimates his contract to be worth north of $18 million per year.”
Needless to say, an extra $9 million-plus in cap relief from moving on from Runyan could go a long way in securing Linderbaum.
Any Tyler Linderbaum News Would Signal a Position Change for Giants Center John Michael Schmitz
The final step of a Runyan-Linderbaum switcheroo in NFL free agency involves Schmitz transitioning over to guard.
The 2023 second-round pick has one year left on his rookie contract, and he’s headed for a jersey change in 2027 at this rate. Schmitz has been extremely underwhelming at center and has looked overmatched at times.
Linderbaum would be an immediate upgrade who could grow alongside quarterback Jaxson Dart for the next five to 10 years, in theory, but what does that mean for Schmitz?
Since his rookie cap hit is still very manageable, it makes sense for the Giants to try to shift Schmitz to either left or right guard. Both spots could be up for grabs in 2026, depending on the status of Van Roten, and the second-rounder would likely get the opportunity to compete for one of those two starting jobs.
If it works out, great. Perhaps the Giants even re-sign Schmitz as a guard of the future.
If it doesn’t, a guard spot is much easier to fill than the center position as Harbaugh puts his personal stamp on this roster going forward.
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