Giants Could Have a Shocking Starter No One Would Have Expected

The New York Giants have a few very interesting position battles to monitor heading into training camp, and while left guard certainly isn't the sexiest, it may be one of the most important.

The Giants' offensive line, for the most part, is solid. Andrew Thomas and Jermaine Eluemunor comprise one of the better tackle tandems in the NFL, and first-round pick Francis Mauigoa looks like a potential start at right guard.

John Michael Schmitz isn't overly inspiring at center, but he also isn't bad enough where he could be viewed as a weak link.

The left guard spot, though, is a question mark.

Chances are, Jon Runyan Jr. will win the starting job at the position. After all, he has been New York's starting left guard ever since signing a three-year, $30 million contract with the team in free agency back in March 2024.

However, Runyan has not played nearly well enough to guarantee himself the job, and the Giants would stand to save $9.25 million by releasing him.

Daniel Faalele and Evan Neal are viewed as the top two candidates to potentially supplant him, but neither is particularly compelling. Faalele has lowlight films of whiffing on defenders, and Neal — a former first-round bust who hasn't played since 2024 — is a pariah among Giants fans.

But what about rookie J.C. Davis?

New York selected Davis in the sixth round of the NFL Draft back in April, this even though the Giants didn't really have a need for him.

Davis played his collegiate football at Illinois and was entrenched at left tackle for the Fighting Illini, doing a rather impressive job in the rugged Big Ten.

He probably won't be playing tackle for New York. Thomas and Eluemunor are the obvious starters, and Marcus Mbow is the clear swing tackle.

But how about moving Davis inside to guard?

When the Giants drafted Davis, that was the initial thought of many: that the 6-foot-4, 322-pound lineman could potentially serve as a swing guard for Big Blue.

And with uncertainty surrounding Runyan and his competition, why not give Davis a chance to show he can potentially become the starter at some point?

Do I think Davis has a realistic chance of winning the starting left guard job out of camp? Probably not, but I see no reason why he can't at least put himself on John Harbaugh's radar moving forward.

Davis possesses impressive size, underrated athleticism and very good instincts. He might not ever be a starting tackle on the professional level, but he absolutely has the ability to play inside and establish himself as a key cog in the trenches.

People seem to be sleeping on Davis going into training camp, but he is a name that should absolutely be monitored for New York.

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