New York Giants Could Still Make One Significant Roster Cut

The New York Giants' roster is mostly set heading into the 2026 NFL campaign, give or take a few battles here and there.

However, there is one starting job that is still largely up for grabs as training camp approaches: left guard.

Jon Runyan Jr. has been the Giants' starting left guard since signing a three-year, $30 million contract with the team in March 2024, but it hasn't been pretty.

Runyan has been quite a disappointment in New York, and with the 28-year-old entering the final year of his deal, he is no sure thing to be on the roster come Week 1.

Giants insider Patricia Traina actually feels there is a legitimate chance that Runyan loses his job.

"They brought back all of these other guards. You think they brought them back just for good measure?" Traina said on the Talkin' Giants podcast.

Traina doesn't think that Runyan fits the bill for what John Harbaugh likes in an offensive lineman, which is why she feels free-agent addition Daniel Faalele and former first-round bust Evan Neal actually have a chance to emerge as the top option. That could mean the end for Runyan in the Big Apple.

"Jon Runyan Jr., he's more of a technician. I'm not so sure that he is the type of offensive lineman that John Harbaugh typically has gone for," Traina added. "You can save $9 million if you move him off the roster."

Traina didn't go as far to say that Runyan is a lock to be cut, but let's be real here: he hasn't been good his first two years with the Giants.

This wouldn't be something that no one saw coming. There has bene talk of New York potentially parting ways with Runyan since the beginning of the offseason, so if the Giants did end up releasing him, it wouldn't come as much of a surprise.

New York did shore up the interior of its offensive line in the NFL Draft by selecting Francis Mauigoa with the 10th overall pick. Mauigoa will be starting at right guard. John Michael Schmitz will be at center, for better or for worse.

The problem is the Giants don't really have any incredibly appealing options to replace Runyan. Faalele is huge at 6-foot-8, 370 pounds, and he started all 34 games for Harbaugh in Baltimore between 2024 and 2025. But he wasn't great.

Neal is similar to Faalele in that he stands 6-foot-7, weighs 340 pounds and was drafted as a tackle. The difference is that Neal was a first-round selection while Faalele was taken in the fourth round. The result, though, have been similar, as Neal failed at tackle and was moved inside to guard. He hasn't played since 2024.

Former third-round pick Joshua Ezeudu is also a possibility, but again, he doesn't inspire a whole lot of confidence.

Unfortunately, Runyan may comprise the Giants' best option at left guard. The question is whether or not New York feels it would be worth it to pocket the $9.25 million it would stand to save if it releases him.

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