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The New York Giants' roster is still far from complete. While Joe Schoen pulled off plenty of quality moves to fill out the roster this offseason, he wasn't able to patch every hole. Key weaknesses on defense are still enough to keep fans up at night. The interior of the defensive line is shaky after the departure of Dexter Lawrence II, and the cornerback room is an ever-present issue.
But the biggest problem left on the roster may be on the offensive side of the ball. According to Matt Okada of NFL.com, the G-Men should be worried about starting center John Michael Schmitz Jr.
Okada said, "Schmitz surrendered five sacks and 23 QB pressures last year, per Next Gen Stats, and was also subpar in the run game. Unless he makes a surprise fourth-year jump, he might be a liability in Harbaugh’s new offense."
Giants' John Michael Schmitz is the weak link of a strong offensive line
Schmitz has had a rollercoaster of an NFL career so far, with some inexcusable moments mixed in with mostly passable play. He's held down the starting center job since he was drafted and allowed pressures on less than 2% of his pass-blocking snaps last season, per PFF.
He's been stronger as a run blocker, helping the Giants post the league's fifth-best rushing attack in 2025. However, a change in scheme could spell trouble for the fourth-year pro. Schmitz is more effective in zone run-blocking schemes than in gap schemes and played over 60% of his run-blocking snaps in zone looks last season.
Harbaugh's staff is expected to lean more heavily on gap schemes, which emphasize physicality over lateral movement. Dating back to his collegiate days, Schmitz has struggled to block on the move when pulling. That weakness could be exposed in this system.
The center's surroundings have improved this offseason, as rookie Francis Mauigoa is set to take over the right guard position. Both players could help each other shine in 2026. Their teamwork on combo blocks will be important in New York's rushing attack.
Schmitz is entering the final year of his rookie contract. With a strong season, he could earn a new deal in the $10 million annual range. But if he fails to adjust, the Giants won't hesitate to move on next offseason. Still, if he's the weakest link on the roster, New York is in a better position than most teams entering the season.
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This article was originally published on gmenhq.com as Giants’ biggest remaining roster issue isn’t getting enough attention.
