The New York Giants have several players on their roster who could be considered breakout candidates in 2025. Last year's first-round pick Malik Nabers could ascend into superstardom this season, while second-round pick, Tyler Nubin, has a chance to become a household name by midseason.
But the folks over at Pro Football Focus have a different idea. Their top candidate to breakout for the Giants in 2025 comes from a position that rarely gets much fanfare: center John Michael Schmitz Jr.
New York Giants offensive line on verge of breakout season
"After a poor rookie season in 2023 as the lowest-graded center in the league, Schmitz showed important improvement in 2024, playing nearly 1,000 snaps and moving up to 31st (of 43) in offensive grade for his position," PFF's Jonathon Macri wrote. "Schmitz improved mostly as a run blocker, ranking 17th at the position (67.0) after ranking 34th (of 37) as a rookie. As a pass blocker, Schmitz was more effective, allowing fewer pressures and just one more sack on 162 more pass-blocking snaps. Year 3 is often important for offensive linemen, as most will have their best season to date, and Schmitz is on the right track to follow suit."
Schmitz, who joined the Giants as a second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, is a critical factor in New York's offensive line stabilizing in front of QB-next Jaxson Dart. If he fails, the rest of the offensive line will follow, making a breakout campaign for the third-year center more than just an expectation; it's a must.
