New York Giants veteran Jon Runyan Jr. will enter the 2026 season in the third and final year of his contract, which he signed during free agency in 2024.
Runyan will command a cap hit of $11.75 million in 2026, and the veteran is expected to play a critical role at left guard for now. The Giants signed a plethora of offensive linemen at both guard and tackle positions this offseason despite Runyan’s presence, and the veteran could quickly find himself facing serious competition for the starting role this summer.
The Giants signed former Baltimore Ravens guard Daniel Faalele to a one-year deal this offseason. New York also opted to bring back offensive guard Evan Neal on a one-year veteran minimum deal, and the duo could compete with Runyan for the starting role moving forward.
Sports Illustrated’s Patricia Traina recently shared her thoughts on what the competition at left guard could look like throughout the remainder of the offseason. Trainia believes both Faalele and Neal could emerge as legitimate contenders for the role.
“They drafted Mauigoa, and I think we can safely say he’s going to be the right guard,” Traina told Talkin’ Giants. “But they brought back all these other guards. You think they just brought them back for good measure? Jon Runyan Jr., he’s more of a technician. I’m not so sure that he’s the type of offensive lineman that John Harbaugh typically has gone for. You can save $9 million if you move him off the roster.
“Now, I don’t know if they will. But I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a competition. Is it going to be Faalele? Is it going to be Evan Neal? Those guys are probably better fits in terms of what Harbaugh looks for. I think there’s going to be a competition because they brought in all these offensive linemen.”
Both Neal and Faalele have struggled immensely over the last few seasons. The duo will now look to bounce back and establish themselves as everyday contributors on the Giants’ offensive line. Still, they will need to outplay Runyan throughout training camp and the preseason to solidify a starting role on New York’s offense.
The Giants would ultimately save $9.25 million in cap space should they decide to release Runyan and name either Neal or Faalele as the starter. Both players will need to be at their best throughout training camp, and an impressive showing from either lineman could lead to Runyan’s tenure in New York ending earlier than expected.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants’ Jon Runyan Jr. may face fierce competition for starting job
Reporting by Jake Boico, Giants Wire / Giants Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jake Boico, Giants Wire | USA TODAY Network
