He’s only 25 years old, so it makes sense to think of Andrew Thomas as a grizzled veteran on the Giants’ offensive line.
Yes, Thomas is the longest serving member of this group, and he’s by far the most accomplished player on offense.
In some ways, it seems like Thomas has only just arrived, yet he is in his fifth training camp with the Giants and is well into the prime of his career.
“Yeah, I would say it goes by quickly,” Thomas said. “I remember being a rookie. I remember COVID, just the struggles and everything. But it’s what made me who I am today, and I embrace my role as a leader and try to do the best I can to coach guys along with me.”
The guys desperately need Thomas to lead the way.
Last season was a football atrocity along the offensive line, with an often-rotated unit allowing a franchise-record 85 sacks — the second-most allowed in a season in NFL history.
Thomas, according to Pro Football Focus, was responsible for four of those sacks in 376 pass-blocking snaps.
He was never fully fit after suffering a serious hamstring injury while chasing a blocked field goal return in the season-opening 40-0 loss to the Cowboys.
He missed the next seven games and the Giants’ offensive line became a disaster without him.
When he returned in Week 9, the Giants were 2-6 and all the positive buzz about the surprising 2022 playoff team was replaced with a feeling of “here we go again.”
It’s a new year and Thomas seems full of energy.
He’s been sweating after a humid first day of training camp and appears to be in great shape.
“I feel really good,” he said. “Obviously I had a hamstring injury last year, but I feel really good. I’ve been doing a lot of rehab, a lot of Nordic sports and stuff like that, just to build that strength, but I feel pretty good. I won the competition this year for biggest body fat loss and stuff like that, building muscle, so I’m doing a good job.”
It was a constant climb for Thomas.
He was far from an immediate star, and his first year was filled with learning, growing pains and rumors around the league that the Giants had made a mistake in taking him with the fourth overall pick (the first offensive lineman) in the 2020 draft — ahead of Jedrick Wills Jr., Mekhi Becton and Tristan Wirfs.
Thomas said at the time, “I run my own race,” and that’s exactly what he did. In 2022, he increased his PFF grade to 89.1 (it was 62.4 and 79.8 in his first two years, respectively) and was named a second-team All-Pro.
Heading into the 2023 season, PFF has Thomas ranked as the fourth-best tackle in the NFL, behind Trent Williams, Lane Johnson and Laremy Tunsil.
The new regime of general manager Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll inherited Thomas, and it took just one season to convince them that the ultra-mature, business-minded youngster was a keeper.
Last July, Schoen gave Thomas a five-year, $117.5 million contract extension, with what was then an NFL record $67 million guaranteed to an offensive lineman.
Schoen, explaining the contract, said Thomas “played at a high level. He’s our type of player.”
Thomas is under contract through the 2029 season, which seems like an eternity.
Thomas’ reputation took a hit last season and he wants his name back in the left tackle discussion. To do that, he understands what he has to do.
“I would say the finer details, just when it comes to going pro[tection]“My set, my approach,” Thomas said. “Then I think a lot of it comes down to how I take care of my body, rehab, pre-rehab, my diet, all those things, and I’ve done a better job of improving myself, just making sure I can be at my best. I think when I’m at my best, I’m one of the best.”
There is yet another voice that Thomas must listen to.
Carmen Bricillo is Thomas’ fifth offensive line coach in five years, a ridiculous lack of continuity.
There was Marc Colombo, Dave DeGuglielmo, Rob Sale and Bobby Johnson.
Bricillo is on a mission to turn last year’s leftovers into this year’s feast.
The team signed two veterans, Jon Runyan Jr. and Jermaine Eluemunor, to fill starting roles. John Michael Schmitz had an uneven rookie season at center, but he should improve in his second year.
If the right tackle position (Evan Neal or Eluemunor if Neal doesn’t make it) can be solved, there are the makings of a solid five-man line.
“I would say we have a lot of new faces, obviously,” Thomas said. “A new offensive line coach, so it’s different, but I think we’ve added some veterans to the group, so I think we have a little more experience in the room. And then, just for me personally, I want to stay healthy and try to step up this year with my play and my leadership.”
