Giants Country

Giants Likely Eyeing Draft for Future Center

Minnesota center John Michael Schmitz is widely regarded as one of the top centers in the draft--a position the Giants need after losing Jon Feliciano and Nick Gates in free agency.

Quinn Slaven

Giants Likely Eyeing Draft for Future Center
Giants Likely Eyeing Draft for Future Center /
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New York Giants General Manager Joe Schoen has thus far addressed the team's run defense and has added some weapons to support quarterback Daniel Jones on offense.

However, Schoen has yet to address another glaring need on the team: the interior offensive line, which has become more of a concern since the start of free agency after the team lost Nick Gates and Jon Feliciano, the latter last year's starting center, in free agency.

With few starting-caliber centers currently in the free agency market and (as of now) depleted salary cap space, the expectation is that the Schoen will turn to the 2023 NFL Draft to find the team's center of the future, and one such prospect who figures to be considered is Minnesota’s John Michael Schmitz.

Widely considered the best center in the Draft, Schmitz draws an early second-round projection from Bleacher Report and Pro Football Network. Some draft analysts believe Schmitz could even come off the board on the first night.

Regarding production and athleticism, scouts compare his ability to NFL veteran Ben Jones of the Tennessee Titans. His performance throughout the 2023 Reese’s Senior Bowl preparation and the game received praise from coaches and experts in attendance.

At 6-foot-3, 301 pounds, Schmitz has the frame to compete in the NFL. According to the staff at Minnesota, he also has the IQ to play the position. The five-time Academic All-Conference honoree made all calls and adjustments to the Gophers protection unit.

Playing center in the NFL is a massive responsibility. Described as the ‘quarterback of the offensive line,’ centers must be vocal, intelligent leaders. Schmitz’s pre- and post-snap recognition will face a steep challenge in the NFC East. Dallas Cowboys Defensive Coordinator Dan Quinn relies on stunts more than anyone in the league to confuse offensive linemen and force them out of their assignments.

Speaking to reporters at the combine last month, Schmitz said he prioritizes communication to adjust to varying defensive fronts. He also looks forward to taking the reins of an offensive line unit at the next level.

“I take a lot of pride. I mean, you’re truly the middle guy in the group. You got your left and right sides, and you’re the guy who sees the whole picture. You’re the guy who lets everyone know that you’re in command, you’re the leader, and you’re in charge of all the communication that goes up front,” he said.

While Schmitz takes pride in being a leader and excels at dissecting defensive schemes, he says he would be willing to fill other roles as necessary.

“I’m comfortable playing all three interior positions. Whatever a team needs me to play, or whatever a team needs me to do, I’ll do it,” he said.

Schmitz saw time in three seasons in six years at the University of Minnesota, earning an All-Big Ten honor in each. In 31 games and 801 pass-blocking snaps, Schmitz allowed only two sacks.

A former wrestler, Schmitz uses leverage and his understanding of movement to knock defenders off balance and gain advantageous positioning. In a recent interview, he noted his ability to apply pressure is a big part of his game.

“[Through wrestling, you understand] your body position and weight distribution, how to fight pressure with pressure, kind of that push and move technique that offensive linemen like to use,” he said. “Understanding the pressure you need to have in your feet while in your stance or exploding out of it.”

So far this offseason, Schoen has made hefty investments in skill positions, including quarterback Daniel Jones and his four-year, $160 million contract. Drafting Schmitz early makes sense to protect the team’s most expensive assets.

With Schmitz, the Giants would potentially have three definitive starting offensive linemen--tackles Evan Neal and Andrew Thomas, a center, and potentially Josh Ezeudu if he wins the starting left guard job--on rookie contracts for 2023.

More importantly, the Giants could finally get a core unit up front that has a chance to build continuity, a rarity among NFL offensive lines these days.

 

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Quinn Slaven
QUINN SLAVEN

Quinn Slaven comes to Giants Country from Chicago Sports Nation where he has covered the Chicago Bears since April of last year. Born and raised in Iowa, he played four years of football at Simpson College as a safety and long snapper. While at Simpson, Quinn also covered a variety of sports for the college’s newspaper, The Simpsonian, and co-hosted a weekly radio show. Today, he coaches at the high school level in North Carolina. Outside of football and journalism, Quinn has spent the last several years working in media relations, serving as a spokesperson and advising major companies on public relations strategies. 

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