Jon Runyan Jr. came up as a cap-casualty candidate, and while the Giants made other such moves to free up cap space this offseason, their two-year left guard starter remains on the roster.
It should not be considered a lock Runyan stays for a third season, but The Athletic Dan Duggan views the veteran as the frontrunner for the LG job. With the Giants set to plug No. 10 overall pick Francis Mauigoa in at RG, a competition is on tap for Runyan’s post. But Runyan has more experience than his competitors.
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New York made a mid-offseason move to add another ex-John Harbaugh Baltimore charge, signing Daniel Faalele to a one-year deal. Faalele will be tied to just $1.4MM, per Duggan, who adds the deal includes $688K guaranteed. The Giants, though, also added veteran interior lineman Lucas Patrick. The recent Bengal signed for one year and $1.49MM, Duggan adds; only $262K is guaranteed.
These moves came after the Giants bowed out of the Alijah Vera-Tucker sweepstakes, allowing the Patriots to sign the ex-Jets starter (for three years and $42MM). The team did not view the Zion Johnson, David Edwards, Isaac Seumalo and John Simpson prices as aligning with their talent levels. Although Mauigoa was a college right tackle — and sits as the likely Giants Jermaine Eluemunor RT successor — the Miami product became New York’s big 2026 guard investment.
While Runyan’s contract (three years, $30MM) signifies a much bigger commitment, no guarantees remain on the deal — one authorized during Brian Daboll‘s HC tenure. Harbaugh is running the show now, with GM Joe Schoen — who authorized the Runyan contract — seeing his power greatly reduced. Although Runyan (79 career starts, including 29 as a Giant) is the most proven option the Giants have at guard, the team could save $9MM in cap space by cutting or trading him.
A team taking on Runyan’s full $9MM base salary may be difficult to envision, but prime guard starters are valuable. An injury elsewhere could certainly make Runyan an attractive trade chip, as Faalele — due to his two-year Ravens starter run — would profile as the top challenger. Patrick, 32, has made 65 career starts but may be a more logical swing backup — as he has seen extensive time at both guard and center — at this stage of his career. The Giants could also carry Runyan’s contract even if he loses the position battle or ask him to take an ill-timed pay cut, thus creating depth at a position the team has struggled to staff for many years.
The team also re-signed Evan Neal and Joshua Ezeudu. Neal received no guarantees after an unremarkable rookie-contract showing, while Ezeudu is guaranteed $410K. Ezeudu will also have a chance at guard, per Schoen (via SNY’s Connor Hughes). Mauigoa’s status as the near-certain RG starter will leave a crowded competition for the other starting spot. Runyan may need to fend off four challengers. This full group may not all make Harbaugh’s first 53-man Giants roster, though practice squad spots will be available. That said, Neal and Ezeudu’s tackle experience could make them swing options there as well.
Pro Football Focus ranked Runyan 65th among guards last season and 58th in 2024, though the advanced-metrics site has never viewed the former Packers sixth-rounder as a top-35 option at the position. That did not stop Runyan, even in a crowded 2024 guard market, from fetching a $10MM-per-year deal. Like fellow potential cut Devin Singletary, Runyan has survived (Singletary accepted a pay cut to stay). Unlike Singletary, though, Runyan saw the Giants make a major addition at his position in the draft. New York’s LG competition will be one to monitor once OTAs begin.