The New York Giants may have finally found their franchise center on Friday night with the selection of Minnesota’s John Michael Schmitz with the 57th overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft in Kansas City.
What does this mean for the Giants and how will Schmitz fit in?
Giants offensive line coach Bobby Johnson has to be doing cartwheels down Paterson Plank Road this morning after Schmitz — widely regarded as the top center in this year’s draft class — fell into the Giants’ lap in the second round.
“I love Coach Johnson. Spent a lot of time with him, obviously with the pro day and a dinner before that. It was amazing to connect with him. He’s a good coach and just what he’s doing with that offensive line, I’m so excited to be a part of it,” Schmitz told reporters.
Schmitz is clearly a first-round talent who reminds this writer of Bart Oates, the three-time Super Bowl champion and five-time Pro Bowler who anchored the Giants’ “Suburbanites” offensive line of the 1980s.
The center job is basically Schmitz’s to lose as he is the closest thing the Giants have to a center on their roster. They were masquerading Ben Bredeson and Jack Anderson as center prospects before inking free agent J.C. Hassenauer a few weeks ago. All of that is water under the bridge now that Schmitz is here.
Schmitz has the size, speed, and acumen to become a plug-and-play Day 1 starter and make all the calls along the offensive line. The Giants literally stepped in it when this kid fell to them. He is well-schooled in the run-blocking phase but may have to hone his pass-blocking skills. That is nothing to be concerned about as all rookie linemen get an education when it comes to pass blocking in the NFL.
Should Schmitz fill his potential, he will anchor the line at center that will look like this on opening day:
Andrew Thomas at left tackle, Evan Neal at right tackle, Mark Glowinski at right guard, and the winner of the wide-open competition at left guard between Bredeson, Joshua Ezeudu, Shane Lemieux, Marcus McKethan, and Wyatt Davis.
The addition of Schmitz could transform the Giants’ offensive line into a strength after years of being a liability.
