The Giants had one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL for most of the 2023 season, but showed some improvement in 2024, despite Pro Bowl LT Andrew Thomas missing 11 starts due to injury.
If Thomas returns and stays healthy, the Giants should have an even better unit in 2025, but they probably need to upgrade at least one starter if they want to have an above average unit.
Will Fries is regarded as one of the top available free agent offensive linemen this year.
New York may view him as a clear upgrade over Greg Van Roten, who is out of contract having started all 17 games last season, but is he a realistic target?
Let’s break down the pros and cons…
Pros
On-field ability
Fries was only a seventh-round pick and was a backup until midway through his second season, but he settled in well with the Colts and started every game during his third season. Last year, Fries appeared to have taken his game to another level only to suffer a season-ending injury in October.
He has good size and strength along with the movement skills to hold up in pass protection or dominate in the running game. While the Colts’ run scheme was primarily zone-based and the Giants tend to run more gap and power plays, both systems are diverse so he should be able to fit into New York’s system seamlessly.
A player on the rise
As noted, Fries took a few years to develop into a full-time starter, but he has shown improvement each year and is still yet to hit his prime at only 26 years old.
At the time of his injury last season, Fries was grading out as one of the top guards in the NFL, according to analysis site Pro Football Focus. They had him ranked 2nd overall and 5th best in terms of run blocking after five games.
Positional flexibility
Although he played some tackle in college, Fries has basically only played right guard in regular season action at the NFL level. However, that’s not necessarily an issue for the Giants because they have Jermaine Eluemunor who can play guard or tackle at a consistent level.
If Thomas starts at left tackle, that will free up Eluemunor to start at right tackle. Along with left guard Jon Runyan Jr. and center John Michael Schmitz, this could give the Giants a solid first unit with five linemen who each have plenty of starting experience.
Cons
Potential cost
Fries is expected to command a huge contract in free agency with forecasts, including one from PFF themselves, projecting him to receive a contract worth upwards of $14 million per year.
The Colts are believed to be keen to sign Fries to an extension and reports indicate that the Bears and Vikings are also preparing for a bidding war, so the market for him is clearly expected to be strong.
Injury recovery
Reports indicate that Fries is expected to make a full recovery from his serious injury last season. However, it’s still a cause for concern. Fries fractured his tibia last October and immediately had season-ending surgery.
Prior to that, he had been durable in the past, with 42 starts in college. He also played over 1,100 offensive snaps in 2023. Anyone signing him will be hoping the 2024 leg injury was a one-off and won’t create any ongoing issues when he returns to action.
Lack of experience
While Fries has shown some signs of high-level play and appears to be trending upwards, it should be noted that he has only had one full season as a full-time starter. This shouldn’t necessarily dissuade teams from being interested in him based on his body of work to date, but it could make some of his suitors wary about making such a large commitment.
Verdict
Signing a player on the rise such as Fries could elevate the Giants’ offensive line to another level for the next few seasons. He won’t come cheap, but the Giants do have plenty of cap flexibility to make competitive offers if he’s someone they’ve earmarked as a priority target.
Once again, the challenge is going to be convincing players like Fries that the Giants franchise is heading in the right direction.
