John Harbaaugh gave a recent assessment of what will be the heartbeat of the offense. "I think the offensive line is like our team," he said. "It's a work in progress."

With 193 victories as evidence, including a Super Bowl title, the head coach knows games are won and lost at the line of scrimmage. He is out to build the New York Football Giants in that vein, with the best units on both sides of the ball.

"Maybe it's a one-year proposition, maybe not," Harbaugh said. "We're going to sure try to be the best in football on both sides this year, but we have work to do in there. We still have free agency available to us. We still have the draft. We also have really good players already, really good players that are going to play really well that we're going to get ready to play really well. So I'm very optimistic about both sides of the lines."

In the buildup to the first night of the draft on April 23, Giants.com is taking a position-by-position look at the roster. We begin with the offensive line, which currently has four of its five starters from 2025 returning for 2026. Below is a detailed look at the coaches, newcomers, incumbents, departures, and prospects at the position.

First, here is a refresher on the game-by-game starters from the 2025 season:

The Coaches

Offensive Line Coach Mike Bloomgren

Previous: Cleveland Browns (Offensive Line Coach)

Bloomgren has 26 years of coaching experience, most recently serving as the Browns' offensive line coach in 2025. Prior to that, he was head coach of Rice University for seven seasons and led the team to consecutive bowl games (2022-23) for just the third time in program history.

He also spent seven years at Stanford University, where he initially coached the offensive line before serving as offensive coordinator from 2013-17 and adding associate head coaching title in 2014. He also helped Stanford to one of its most successful stretches in program history as the team won eight or more games in each of his seasons and reached the Pac-12 Football Championship four times, winning three titles.

He helped develop 12 NFL Draft selections and 11 All-America selections at Stanford, including first-round offensive linemen in David DeCastro, Andrus Peat and Joshua Garnett, who won the 2015 Outland Trophy.

• 2025: Cleveland Browns - Offensive line
• 2018-24: Rice University - Head Coach
• 2014-17: Stanford University - Offensive Coordinator/Associate Head Coach
• 2013: Stanford University - Associate Head Coach
• 2011-12: Stanford University - Offensive Line
• 2010: New York Jets - Assistant Offensive Coordinator
• 2009: New York Jets - Offensive Assistant
• 2007-08: New York Jets - Offensive Quality Control Coach
• 2005-06: Delta State - Offensive Coordinator
• 2002-04: Catawba College - Co-Offensive Coordinator
• 1999-2001: University of Alabama – Graduate Assistant

Assistant Offensive Line Coach Grant Newsome

Previous: University of Michigan (Offensive Line Coach)

A former Wolverine offensive tackle, Newsome moved into coaching after his playing career ended prematurely due to a serious injury that forced him to medically retire. He was a two-year letterman (2015-16), earning those letters as a true freshman and sophomore. Newsome played and coached under Jim Harbaugh at Michigan (2015-23), helping the offensive line became the first-ever group to win consecutive Joe Moore Awards (2021-22). Michigan went on to win the national championship in 2023.

• 2024-25: Michigan - Offensive Line Coach
• 2022-23: Michigan - Tight Ends Coach
• 2020-21: Michigan - Graduate Assistant (Offensive Line)
• 2018-19: Michigan - Student Assistant (Tight Ends)

The Newcomers

Daniel Faalele

Previous Team: Baltimore Ravens

Career: 66 G, 35 GS (34 at RG, 1 at LT)

Faalele started every game for Baltimore over the last two seasons at right guard.

Faalele would be the third member from the Ravens' 2022 draft class – all taken in the fourth round – to sign with the Giants, joining punter Jordan Stout (No. 130) and tight end Isaiah Likely (No. 139).

Overall, the 6-foot-8, 370-pound Faalele has appeared in 66 regular-season games with 35 starts, 34 of which have been at right guard. Faalele started one game as a rookie at left tackle. He has also appeared in five postseason games, including two starts at right guard.

Last season, Faalele helped pave the way for an offense that ranked No. 1 in the NFL in yards per rush (5.3), No. 2 in rushing yards per game (156.6), and No. 3 in rushing touchdowns.

In 2024, Baltimore ranked No. 1 in yards per game (424.9), yards per play (6.8, third-best single-season mark in NFL history), and red zone efficiency (74.2%), while setting a franchise single-season record with 7,224 net yards. Baltimore's rushing attack also averaged 5.76 yards per carry, the best figure in a single season in NFL history.

Faalele grew up in Melbourne, Australia, where he originally played basketball and rugby when he was younger. He moved to the United States (Bradenton, Fla.) to attend IMG Academy and began playing football in 2016.

He went on to play right tackle at the University of Minnesota and started 31 of the 34 career games.

Lucas Patrick

Previous Team: Cincinnati Bengals

Career: 113 G, 65 GS (28 at C, 19 at LG, 18 at LG)

The 6-foot-3, 313-pound lineman has played in 113 games with 65 starts since entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2017. Patrick has spent time with the Green Bay Packers (2017-2021), Chicago Bears (2022-2023), New Orleans Saints (2024) and Cincinnati Bengals (2025).

The veteran lineman has started 28 games at center, 19 games at left guard and 18 games at right guard in his career, with over 1,000 snaps played at all three spots.

Prior to signing with the Packers, Patrick played four seasons at Duke after redshirting as a true freshman in 2011. He appeared in 44 games with 26 starts, including a streak of 21 consecutive starts at left guard to finish his career. Patrick was named honorable mention All-ACC by the league's coaches as a senior in 2015.

The Incumbents

Jermaine Eluemunor

Career: 118 G, 76 GS (57 at RT, 13 at LT, 6 at RG)

Jon Runyan

Career: 96 G, 79 GS (51 at LG, 28 at RG)

Andrew Thomas

Career: 74 G, 73 GS (All at LT)

John Michael Schmitz Jr.

Career: 41 G, 41 GS (All at C)

Aaron Stinnie

Career: 64 G, 16 GS (All at LG)

Joshua Ezeudu

Career: 33 G, 10 GS (7 at LT, 2 at LG, 1 as extra OT)

Evan Neal

Career: 29 G, 27 GS (All at RT)

Marcus Mbow

Career: 13 G, 3 GS (2 at LT, 1 at RT)

Bryan Hudson

Career: 2 G, 0 GS

Jake Kubas

Career: 5 G, 3 GS (2 at RG, 1 at LG)

Reid Holskey

Career: 0 G

Free agency is also about re-signings, which the Giants proved this offseason. One of the big pieces to come back was Jermaine Eluemunor, providing continuity as a bookend with Andrew Thomas. Eluemunor, who played 1,000+ snaps for the first time in his career in 2025, was set to become an unrestricted free agent.

Eluemunor's return also marks a reunion with Harbaugh, whose Ravens originally selected him in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He was named to the Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie Team in his first of two seasons with Baltimore.

"Well, I'm nowhere close to the player I was back then, I can tell you that," Eluemunor said. "Coach Harbs is the type of guy that's going to love you hard, but he's going to coach you harder. And like I said, he's going to hold you accountable for everything. He's going to hold you to a certain standard and a certain expectation when you're practicing out there, the way you carry yourself, the way you represent the franchise, and just the way you are as a person. He wants great players, but he also wants great men and great people, and he's a big believer in that. I think that's something he's done great job of throughout his career and how long I've known him.

"As for the player, obviously I wasn't a good enough player back when I was in Baltimore, that's why they traded me. But again, standing in front of Harbs and telling him the player I've become and the player I'm going to be in the future, it was really cool just to be able to sit in front of him and just see him again and let him see the man I've become. Because I was, back when I got drafted, obviously that was almost 10 years ago now, or I guess it will be 10 years ago this season. So, I've grown a lot, matured a lot, and coming into my own as a player and as a person, and I'm just really glad that Coach Harbs gets to see that."

The Giants re-signed three other offensive linemen in Evan Neal, Joshua Ezeudu, and Aaron Stinnie.

Neal, the former seventh overall pick, and Ezeudu, a third-round choice, are motivated to rewrite their stories.

"They haven't broken through yet, but why can't they?" Harbaugh said at the NFL Annual League Meeting. "George Bernard Shaw [said] some men see things as they -- you ready for this one? Let me make sure I get this right: Some men see things as they are and they ask why. We see things as they aren't and ask why not. That's what I kind of say with those two guys. I could have said that better but you get the point, right? Why not? Why not give them an opportunity?"

Harbaugh added: "They came to the office and sat down and laid out a plan and a vision of the type of players they want to be. They showed us what they're doing to make that happen right now. So let's give them a shot. Let's give them an opportunity. They're talented. They're tough. They want to be great. They have dreams. They have big dreams. So if they're going to dream big, I would like them to do it right here in our building and try to realize those dreams with us. We will give them a shot to do that."

The plan for Neal is to continue his switch from tackle to guard, a process that was derailed with an injury in training camp.

"Evan is still 25," general manager Joe Schoen said. "He's a big human being that played at a high level at 'Bama and played well for us Year 1, and for whatever reason it didn't work out. At the end of the day, you take 14 offensive linemen to training camp, and with the way the deal is structured, the deal that we got him at, he is motivated. He's been working hard all offseason. He's another guy that gets a fresh start with a new staff and in a familiar environment."

Ezeudu also dealt with an injury last year but still brings versatility with experience at both guard and tackle spots.

"Those types are good to have on the roster," Schoen said.

Meanwhile, Mbow, a fifth-round choice, gained 324 snaps of experience as a rookie. He made his first career start at right tackle in place of Eluemunor, who missed one game with a pectoral injury, in the middle of the season and then two more at left tackle to end the season.

The Departures

James Hudson III (released)

Hudson, who was signed as a free agent a year ago, appeared in 11 games and made two starts at left tackle at the beginning of his first and only season with the Giants. A former fourth-round draft choice by the Browns in 2021, Hudson has played in 60 career games with 19 starts. He missed the majority of the 2024 season after suffering a shoulder injury.

Austin Schlottmann (signed with Titans)

Schlottmann was part of a contingent of former Giants who joined the Titans, whose offensive coordinator is now Brian Daboll. Schlottmann played a career-high 17 games last season for the Giants and started four games at center, including the final two games.

Greg Van Roten (free agent)

The veteran started every game in his two seasons with the Giants, with all but two of them at right guard (started the final two games of the 2024 season at center). At the NFL Annual League Meeting two weeks ago in Phoenix, Schoen said Van Roten was still on their board and, while he is "no longer here," he is "not out of the mix." However, those comments were made before the team signed Faalele, who was Harbaugh's starting right guard for the past two seasons in Baltimore.

The Prospects

The top five tackles in the 2025 draft class, according to NFL.com's Bucky Brooks:

1. Spencer Fano, Utah
2. Francis Mauigoa, Miami
3. Caleb Lomu, Utah
4. Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
5. Monroe Freeling, Georgia

"Teams looking for trench warriors will have plenty to choose from in the 2026 class. Although questions persist on whether there is a true franchise OT in the group, the mix of quality left and right tackles will enable teams to quickly rebuild their bookends. Spencer Fano is a barroom brawler possessing the athleticism and body control to thrive in any scheme. With polished technical skills as a run blocker and pass protector, the 6-6, 311-pounder is a top-10 player in this class. Francis Mauigoa is a mauler with the heavy hands and nasty temperament to dominate defenders at the point of attack. While the Miami product must play with better pad level, the 6-6, 329-pound junior is a Day 1 starter at right tackle. Caleb Lomu is a natural left tackle with the athleticism and movement skills to shadowbox elite pass rushers on the edge. The two-year starter must refine his run-blocking technique, but it is hard to find athletic bookends with elite footwork and movement skills. Kadyn Proctor is a massive edge blocker with the talent and potential to star at the next level. Although his weight issues could impact his play, there is no denying the Alabama star's talent and potential if he refines his game under a detail-oriented coaching staff. Monroe Freeling is an ultra-talented edge blocker with the physical tools to blossom into a franchise left tackle. The long-limbed blocker's elite movement skills and athleticism will prompt a team to draft him early despite his inexperience and need for skill refinement."

Brooks' top five guards:

1. Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State
2. Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M
3. Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon
4. Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech
5. Ar'maj Reed-Adams, Texas A&M

"The talent and depth at offensive guard could lead to a late-Day 1/early-Day 2 run on the position. Olaivavega Ioane excels at bully ball at the point of attack, utilizing his violent hands and superior lower-body strength to maul opponents. With few defenders capable of matching the Penn State star's toughness and tenacity, teams could rate the 6-4, 320-pounder as a top-15 overall prospect in this class. Chase Bisontis is a talented technician with textbook footwork and fundamentals. The Texas A&M standout shadowboxes defenders like a heavyweight champion, utilizing stunning jabs and power maneuvers to win his battles. Emmanuel Pregnon is an ultra-physical blocker with a nasty temperament that routinely shows up in his phone booth battles. The Oregon standout is a mauler who sets the tone for the front with physicality and feistiness at the line of scrimmage. Keylan Rutledge is a designated bully at the line of scrimmage who excels in the pull/kick-out game. The Georgia Tech product routinely nails defenders on the move, displaying outstanding balance, body control and agility while executing blocks on the second level. Ar'maj Reed-Adams is a hulking road grader who wins with toughness and tenacity instead of technique. His pass-protection flaws are fixable, and the supersized Aggie could earn high marks from scouts as the best run blocker in the 2026 class."

Brooks' top five centers:

1. Connor Lew, Auburn
2. Logan Jones, Iowa
3. Jake Slaughter, Florida
4. Sam Hecht, Kansas State
5. Brian Parker II, Duke

"This draft will feature a nice mix of starting-caliber centers who could come off the board by the end of Day 2. Connor Lew is an athletic pivot with the quick hands and feet to dance with defenders at the line of scrimmage as a position blocker. Logan Jones is a highly experienced prospect (50 starts at Iowa) who excels in a zone-based system. With his movement skills enabling him to effectively cut off linebackers at the second level, the Hawkeye could outplay his draft slot. Jake Slaughter is an effective box-out/screener at the point of attack, with the athleticism and agility to also lead around the corner on toss sweeps. The Florida product's versatility enables him to play effectively in zone or gap-based schemes. Sam Hecht is the type of agile center offensive coordinators covet in movement-based blocking schemes. Brian Parker II is a high-IQ blocker with positional flexibility, having spent his entire college career at tackle. But like his former Duke teammate Graham Barton, Parker is poised for a transition to the pivot in the pros. He's a technician with enough athleticism to effectively screen or shield defenders at the line."