New York Giants center John-Michael Schmitz, a second-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, had a disappointing rookie season, missing four games due to injury and being rated as the worst center in football.
But it wasn’t all Schmitz’s fault: Injuries caused constant replacements at guard and the team had similar issues at tackle.
After all, the Giants finished the 2023 season with the second-worst offensive line in NFL history, allowing 85 sacks and resulting in injuries to all three quarterbacks.
A recent ranking by Pro Football Focus listed Schmitz as one of the worst in the league.
26. John Michael Schmitz Jr., New York Giants
Schmitz struggled as the Giants’ starting center in his 2023 rookie season, receiving the lowest overall grade and worst pass-blocking grade at the position, and the environment around him wasn’t ideal, so the Giants will be hoping the former second-round draft pick improves in Year 2.
The Giants signed veteran guards John Runyan Jr. and Jermaine El-Emno to start on either side of Schmitz in an effort to address some of the issues that plagued the team last season.
“It’s really nice to play next to John Michael. If I came here not knowing his history, I would have thought he was a five-year veteran. He comes here and takes it seriously. He’s perfect at what he does. He rarely makes mistakes and gets everyone on the offensive line ready,” Runyan said.
“It’s great to have a center like that. He helps all five guys. He helps the quarterback and the running back when they’re all ready to go. So it’s really important to have John Michael there.”
Schmitz struggled as a rookie, but the Giants are hoping he’ll make a big leap this season.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire
