Andrew Buller-Russ
There’s a new head coach leading the New York Giants, and John Harbaugh wants to see what his new players are capable of. Just because a player was a starter in 2025, it doesn’t mean they’ll remain in the starting lineup when the 2026 season gets underway or by the time it wraps up.
Training camp figures to be a competitive atmosphere at The Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia, where the Giants will hold practices under coach Harbaugh later this fall. By the time the Giants break camp, tough decisions will have to be made. Possibly even moving on from a $30 million player.
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The Giants have brought in several new players who have previously played for coach Harbaugh. Most of those players will likely be in line to receive a significant amount of playing time this season. Could that include Daniel Faalele, who is set for a backup role after drafting Francis Mauigoa in the first round?
Recently, The Athletic‘s Giants insider Dan Duggan suggested that Faalele could potentially push or snatch the starting job away from left guard Jon Runyan Jr. If so, it could mean the Giants release the soon-to-be 29-year-old to get over $9 million in cap savings.
“I don’t see any real competition for Schmitz at center, and Runyan is the heavy favorite at left guard. Runyan got every first-team rep in the only open practice reporters have viewed so far this spring; there’s no competition until someone else gets reps with the starters. The scenario in the back of my mind is that if someone emerges — Harbaugh favorite Daniel Faalele is the obvious candidate — Runyan could land on the chopping block for cap savings ($9.25 million) around cut day.”
Dan Duggan on New York Giants Offensive Line
While Runyan started 13 games in Year 1 of his three-year, $30 million contract, he started 16 last season. But now he’s headed into the final year of his contract, and he hasn’t quite lived up to his salary.
In addition to having Faalele competing, the Giants still have former first-round pick Evan Neal too. Internally, the Giants are hoping both players can make the type of leap that could push them into a starting role.
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