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Greg Van Roten

OL Notes: Broncos, Wattenberg, Raiders, Cowboys, Beebe, Patriots, Giants, Neal

August 22nd, 2024 at 8:14pm CST by Sam Robinson

The center position sticks out on Denver’s offensive line. Four eight-figure-per-year contracts populate the Broncos‘ front, giving Bo Nix a solid batch of blockers as he begins his career. But the team did not bring in a starter-caliber player to replace Lloyd Cushenberry, who signed a big-ticket deal with the Titans. A matchup of recent Day 3 picks in training camp is close to being resolved. Luke Wattenberg has started Denver’s two preseason games, and the coaching staff views the 2022 fifth-rounder as having made great strides ahead of his third season. Wattenberg should be considered the favorite to start over 2023 seventh-rounder Alex Forsyth (despite the latter having been Nix’s 2022 center at Oregon), per the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson.

A Washington alum already going into his age-27 season, Wattenberg has two seasons left on his rookie contract. He has played 128 career snaps. This will be an adjustment for the Broncos, who used Cushenberry as a starter for four seasons. But Wattenberg’s fifth-round contract will mesh well on a line with Garett Bolles, Ben Powers, Mike McGlinchey and now Quinn Meinerz on pricey deals.

Here is the latest from the O-line ranks:

  • The Patriots will of course look into additions on the waiver wire, when hundreds of cut players will be available come Wednesday, but de facto GM Eliot Wolf said (via MassLive.com’s Karen Guregian) the team is content with its current mix up front. In addition to being without left guard Cole Strange, the Pats have not named their starting tackles. It appears to be trending toward 2023 late-August trade pickup Vederian Lowe at LT and street FA addition Chukwuma Okorafor at RT, the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed writes. Jerod Mayo both said he had wanted an O-line settled before the third preseason game and that Drake Maye‘s short outing in the preseason opener came from an uneasiness about the front five. This does not paint a picture of stability entering the season, which would make it rather interesting if Mayo and Wolf opted to open the year with Maye starting.
  • Cooper Beebe had been mentioned as a strong candidate to replace Tyler Biadasz as the Cowboys‘ center, but Brock Hoffman — a 2022 UDFA who started two games last season — had worked exclusively in that spot during most of training camp. Beebe, however, has received first-team work recently, Saad Youself of The Athletic notes (subscription required). Since that insertion, Beebe looks to be moving toward landing the gig. The third-round rookie appears the more likely starter, Yousef adds, with Hoffman — despite his weeks-long run with the first unit — seemingly ticketed for a backup role.
  • After a shoulder injury kept Jackson Powers-Johnson out of OTAs, and a concussion sustained at minicamp sidelined the second-round pick for months. Powers-Johnson only returned to Raiders practice recently. The team had hoped the Oregon center would win its LG job from the jump, but the time off will likely delay his start to the season. Antonio Pierce said (via The Athletic’s Tashan Reed) Powers-Johnson is unlikely for Week 1. Free agent signing Cody Whitehair has worked as Las Vegas’ starting LG and is poised to keep that role to open the season. The Bears demoted the longtime starter midway through last season, making his Raiders fit — with ex-Bears OC Luke Getsy calling the shots — interesting. But the 32-year-old blocker looks like a Week 1 starter.
  • Last year’s Raiders RG starter, Greg Van Roten is reprising his right-side tandem with Jermaine Eluemunor in New York. If Giants center John Michael Schmitz misses time, however, The Athletic’s Dan Duggan expects the recently added guard to slide to center. Free agent pickup Aaron Stinnie would replace Van Roten, 34, at guard in this scenario.
  • Duggan drops another concerning nugget about Evan Neal‘s status as well, indicating the displaced RT starter is not a lock to be active on gamedays due to only taking reps at right tackle since coming back from ankle surgery. Joshua Ezeudu, who has worked at both left and right tackle spots during camp, would be the Giants’ swing tackle if Neal’s transition from top-10 pick to healthy scratch actually happens.

OL Notes: Raiders, Giants, Brewer, Nijman

August 14th, 2024 at 10:36am CST by Sam Robinson

The Raiders had been planning to have Thayer Munford replace Jermaine Eluemunor at right tackle, but a hand injury early in camp created a competition. Third-round rookie DJ Glaze has earned more first-team reps upon Munford returning. While The Athletic’s Tashan Reed notes Munford — a 2022 seventh-rounder who competed with Eluemunor for the RT job last summer and saw action at both tackle spots during the season — still has the edge, Glaze has created a position battle (subscription required). Glaze’s chances at earning this job may also have increased Tuesday, with Reed adding Munford sustained an injury to his other hand.

Elsewhere on the Raiders’ front, second-round rookie Jackson Powers-Johnson remains on the active/PUP list. The Oregon product has been out of Raiders practice since early in OTAs, with a concussion sidelining him. Considering the timeline here, it is concerning how long the rookie has been out. Antonio Pierce did say (via Reed) he expects Powers-Johnson and LT Kolton Miller to begin practicing next week, but the former’s chances of winning the LG job — which the Raiders appeared to have earmarked for the Day 2 draftee — have taken a hit. The team does have veteran options in Cody Whitehair and Andrus Peat; the latter has been working at tackle while Miller has rehabbed.

Here is the latest from the O-line ranks around the league.

Giants Sign OL Greg Van Roten

July 30th, 2024 at 6:10pm CST by Adam La Rose

6:10pm: Van Roten inked a one-year deal worth up to $3MM, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The veteran will earn the entirety of that total if he appears in at least 50 percent of his team’s offensive snaps.

10:15am: Greg Van Roten‘s recent Giants visit has produced a deal. The veteran lineman signed on Tuesday, as first reported by Art Stapleton of NorthJersey.com. Head coach Brian Daboll has since confirmed the move.

Van Roten met with the team last week, and his visit clearly went well. The 34-year-old will now compete for playing time at guard as the Giants continue to sort out a number of starting spots up front. Left tackle Andrew Thomas and center John Michael Schmitz are set to remain in their respective places in 2024, but both guard positions and the right tackle gig are yet to be determined.

Jon Runyan Jr. came to the Giants after his new team outbid the Jets in free agency. The former Packers starter is set to handle first-team duties, although Daboll said that with Van Roten now in the fold, Runyan could be used at left (rather than right) guard. Much will depend on the performance of free agent signing Jermaine Eluemunor and the health of Evan Neal with respect to the right side of the line being worked out, but Van Roten will now be in the mix. The latter is a veteran of 71 starts, including 17 last year with the Raiders.

To make room for Van Roten, the Giants waived cornerback Aaron Robinson. One of several recent third-round cornerback additions, Robinson made 11 appearances and four starts during his first two years in the league. He missed the 2023 campaign in its entirety while recovering from ACL and MCL tears. The 25-year-old joined Neal in beginning training camp on the reserve/PUP list, and today’s move suggests he has a long way to go in recovery. Daboll’s most recent comments on Robinson pointed in that direction, and it would thus come as a surprise if a team were to make a waiver claim.

The Giants entered Tuesday with roughly $11.5MM in cap space. Today’s moves will lower that figure to an extent, but Van Roten settled for a low-cost deal last offseason. Doing so again could pave the way to a starting gig in New York, a team in need of improvement at multiple positions up front in 2024. They will have a number of options to choose from once the unit is fully healthy.

G Greg Van Roten To Visit Giants

July 22nd, 2024 at 1:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

Among the players meeting with prospective teams at the onset of training camps is Greg Van Roten. The veteran guard has a visit lined up with the Giants, as first reported by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

This summit will take place today, veteran insider Josina Anderson adds. Van Roten, 34, is among the most experienced offensive linemen still on the market with 110 games under his belt. He served as a full-time starter with the Raiders last season, logging over 1,000 snaps at right guard.

Van Roten did not sign with Vegas until last May, inking a one-year, $1.6MM deal. That proved to be a team-friendly accord considering his career-high PFF grade of 75.3. The former UDFA’s value presumably saw an increase as a result, but he remains unsigned. Van Roten visited the Seahawks in April before Seattle elected to add Laken Tomlinson along the interior.

A native of Rockville Center, New York, Van Roten would be returning to familiar territory if he were to join the Giants. He played for the Jets in 2020 and ’21, then spent the following campaign with the Bills. A return to first-team duties on a permanent basis during his one-and-done Raiders stint could allow him to compete for a starting gig in New York.

The Giants have considerable room for improvement along the O-line compared to last season. Left tackle Andrew Thomas is positioned to remain the anchor of the unit, and 2023 second-rounder John Michael Schmitz is on track to remain in place at center. The right tackle position (in the wake of Evan Neal‘s struggles) as well as both guard roles are up for grabs during training camp, however. Van Roten would join the likes of Jon Runyan Jr. and Jermaine Eluemunor as new faces up front if he were to sign. The Giants currently have roughly $11.5MM in cap space.

Seahawks To Meet With G Greg Van Roten

April 3rd, 2024 at 12:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

Losing Damien Lewis to the Panthers, the Seahawks have placed guard as a priority. A few veteran starters remain available. One of them is heading to Seattle for a visit.

The Seahawks are meeting with Greg Van Roten today, Brady Henderson of ESPN.com tweets. While the team has been connected to potential interest in Laken Tomlinson and Cody Whitehair, Van Roten joins this duo in having extensive starting experience. Despite joining the Raiders in late May last year, he worked as a 17-game starter last year in Las Vegas.

Representing the only notable Raiders O-line addition last year, Van Roten commandeered the starting right guard job and played there throughout the season. The veteran offered Las Vegas some stability, logging 1,024 snaps at the position in 2023. Lauding Van Roten’s pass-blocking work, Pro Football Focus rated the journeyman guard seventh at the position last season. That certainly brought good value for the Raiders, who had him on a one-year, $1.6MM deal.

Last year’s Raiders work ran Van Roten’s start count to 71. Prior to his Nevada stay, the former UDFA spent time with the Packers, Panthers, Jets and Bills. Not all of these seasons brought regular starter work, but a few of them did. The Panthers and Jets used Van Roten as a frequent starter from 2018-21. The Bills deployed the veteran primarily as a backup in 2022, but the Raiders demoted Alex Bars ahead of last season and stuck with Van Roten throughout.

Turning 34 earlier this offseason, Van Roten is on the older side and certainly would profile as a rental for the Seahawks. But the team passed on paying Lewis, who signed a four-year Panthers deal worth $52MM, and have not re-signed right guard starter Phil Haynes. The team may need to turn to a stopgap blocker in Ryan Grubb‘s first year as OC, and Van Roten profiles as one of the top names available on this year’s market.

AFC Notes: Raiders, Pats, Jets, Bengals

August 25th, 2023 at 9:48pm CST by Ely Allen

As we inch closer to the start of the regular season, the Raiders‘ eventual 53-man roster is starting to come into focus. Two players in particular appear to be securing their positions for the team’s lineup come Week 1, according to Tashan Reed of The Athletic.

Wide receiver DeAndre Carter has definitely taken advantage of his opportunities throughout camp this preseason. In the team’s second preseason game, Carter started in the slot in place of Hunter Renfrow, who sat out for the game. He didn’t put up notable stats from the position, but he really shined in a special teams role. He had a strong opening kick return and was inches away from a punt return for a touchdown, as well. The coaches’ faith in him to start in place of Renfrow combined with his return ability has virtually cemented his spot on the roster, according to Reed.

Another player on the rise is veteran guard Greg Van Roten, who seems to have surpassed Alex Bars for the starting job at right guard. Van Roten started the team’s most recent preseason game at right guard for a single series before being replaced by Bars, signifying the changing of the guard, pun not intended. Bars, who started most of last season for the team at right guard, may be in danger of failing to make the 53-man roster if he keeps sliding down the depth chart.

Here are a few more roster rumors from around the league as the preseason begins its close:

  • The Patriots have struggled as of late with drafting wide receivers. They’re looking to buck that trend this season. In a room that was originally looking weak when the team missed out on free agent De’Andre Hopkins, New England is newly flushed with possibilities. The team lacks elite top end talent, but behind JuJu Smith-Schuster and DeVante Parker, the Patriots have a surprising number of options. Kendrick Bourne has seemingly secured a role as the team’s third wideout with a great camp, according to Ben Volin of The Boston Globe, and behind Bourne, rookie sixth-round picks Demario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte have made strong cases for roster spots themselves with impressive camps. Even undrafted rookie quarterback Malik Cunningham has reportedly shown enough versatility and promise on offense and special teams to make a case for a roster spot.
  • With the recent acquisition of free agent Dalvin Cook, the Jets top-two running backs are clear as day, but in the process, the extra body has made things a bit crowded in the position room. Brian Costello of the New York Post believes that rookie fifth-round pick Israel Abanikanda is likely safe, leading to a battle for the likely last roster spot between Michael Carter and Zonovan Knight. Seemingly, Carter is safe. He’s got more starting experience on the team than Knight and didn’t suit up for the Jets’ most recent preseason game, a likely indication that the coaches have seen what they need to see. Knight played last week and fumbled. He’s had good moments throughout training camp, but his future may lie on the practice squad this season.
  • The Bengals have a clear TE1 and a likely TE2 coming into the end of the preseason in Irv Smith Jr. and Drew Sample, but there’s a chance that TE3 isn’t on the roster, according to The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. Last season’s TE3 Mitchell Wilcox has a decent shot at a roster spot, as does the undersized Tanner Hudson, who has impressed with some nice hands throughout camp. Devin Asiasi, Nick Bowers, and Christian Trahan remain as options, as well, but don’t have the strongest chances at a roster spot. Dehner predicts that Cincinnati may take to the open market after cut day, aiming to pull in any of several experienced tight ends that may find themselves on the roster bubble.

Raiders Eyeing Thayer Munford For RT Job

August 4th, 2023 at 5:26pm CST by Sam Robinson

After receiving some surprising returns up front last season, the Raiders largely stood pat this year. Only Greg Van Roten arrived as a notable free agent along the offensive line. No draft choices were allocated to the position.

The Raiders do, however, look to be strongly considering an internal shakeup. Thayer Munford has taken most of the team’s first-string right tackle reps during training camp, and the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vincent Bonsignore notes the Raiders are confident the 2022 seventh-round pick is ready for a bigger role.

Jermaine Eluemunor primarily manned that position last season, and the veteran resides as one of many ex-Patriots on Josh McDaniels‘ roster. Eluemunor has extensive guard experience as well, having played there for the Raiders in 2021. A potential move back inside has been on the Raiders’ radar for a bit now, and the team has a potential opening there. Incumbent Alex Bars, who rated as one of Pro Football Focus’ worst guards in 2022, has been taking most of the first-team reps during camp, per Bonsignore. Van Roten, whom the Raiders signed after the draft, has not seen many first-team cameos.

The Raiders re-signed Eluemunor to a one-year, $3MM deal in March. He has started 20 games since coming to Las Vegas, including all 17 last season. The seventh-year veteran, who played for McDaniels in New England from 2019-20, could serve as a swingman as well. This would give the Raiders some proven depth, as Eluemunor has started 31 career games, provided Munford is truly ready to move into the starting lineup.

Pro Football Focus viewed Eluemunor’s work fondly last season, rating him 21st among tackles; the advanced metrics site slotted Munford 52nd. But the team was high on the Day 3 pick’s progress before his rookie year. Munford played 370 offensive snaps as a rookie. Munford saw time at right tackle, left tackle and left guard at Ohio State, a program that has certainly seen its share of O-linemen make their way into the NFL in recent years. Enough improvement between Year 1 and Year 2 looks like it would trigger a lineup change in Vegas.

After rotating O-linemen during camp last year, the Raiders are sticking with their front five in this year’s camp. Munford and Bars have joined Kolton Miller, Dylan Parham and Andre James on the first-unit line. PFF ranked the Raiders’ line 10th last season, as it helped Josh Jacobs win the rushing title. Observing how they construct the right side of this year’s O-line, as the injury-prone Jimmy Garoppolo is now in place at quarterback, will be a storyline worth following in Vegas. A Bars-Munford right side would be light on experience, but Eluemunor and Van Roten also provide experienced depth — in the event the former Buckeyes blocker seizes the RT job.

Raiders Sign G Greg Van Roten

May 19th, 2023 at 4:54pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Raiders have made their first addition of the offseason along the interior of their offensive line. The team announced on Friday that they have signed veteran guard Greg Van Roten.

Las Vegas will represent Van Roten’s fifth career team, after he spent time with the Packers, Panthers, Jets and Bills. Overall, his 93 appearances in the NFL have included 54 career starts, and he has seen at least some first-team work in every season since 2017. He saw time at center in 2022 with Buffalo, but the majority of his time has been spent at either left or right guard.

The 33-year-old had a run of 23 starts in two seasons with the Jets, but was released last offseason. That led him to sign with the Bills in June, where he served in a backup capacity aside from four starts at center. His time there resulted in a career-worst PFF grade of 57.6, a notable drop from his consistent (if unspectacular) ratings for much of the rest of his career. Usage at guard could help lead to a return to form with the Raiders.

Van Roten represents an expected addition for the Raiders, a team which had only re-signed in-house linemen to date. They also elected not to use any draft capital at the position, despite the unit’s inconsistent play last season. Prior to today, right guard Alex Bars was set to face competition from Jermaine Eluemunor and Netane Muti for playing time at the RG spot; all three signed new deals with Vegas this offseason.

Now, however, Van Roten could compete for a starting role, given Bars’ struggles in 2022. Having that pair atop the depth chart in one order or another could also give the team more depth at right tackle, particularly if Eluemunor were to primarily play on the outside. If Van Roten were to be able to earn the starting job, he could line himself up for another, more lucrative deal next offseason on the open market.

AFC Roster Rumors: Van Roten, Jefferson, Scharping, Reed

July 7th, 2022 at 7:58pm CST by Ely Allen

As the calendar year ticks away the days, NFL teams are having to start thinking about the difficult decisions they will have to make to eventually get their rosters down to 53 players to start the season. While the teams still have almost two months to make all the necessary cuts, many veterans are entering training camp on roster bubbles.

Here’s a breakdown of some of the players who may find themselves looking for a new team by the time the season begins:

  • The Bills brought in free agent offensive guard Greg Van Roten to solidify their depth on the interior of the offensive line. The 32-year-old veteran has starting experience with the last two clubs he’s spent time with, the Panthers and Jets, but he may not even make it to the final 53-man roster in Buffalo, according to Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN. As the Bills figure out just who will receive their coveted roster spots, the final spot will likely become a battle between Van Roten, Greg Mancz, whose experience at center could give him an edge, and rookie sixth-round pick Luke Tenuta.
  • The Ravens are overloaded with talent at the safety position. With free agent addition Marcus Williams, first-round pick Kyle Hamilton, and incumbent starters from last year Chuck Clark and Brandon Stephens all crowding the depth chart, veteran Tony Jefferson may find himself on the outside looking in, according to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley. Jefferson was released by Baltimore two offseasons ago, following a season mostly lost to a torn ACL, but was brought back last year after starting safety DeShon Elliott went down with a season-ending injury and Baltimore needed another veteran presence in their defensive backfield. Unfortunately, with the influx of new talent combined with the presence of last year’s starters, the Ravens may find that rostering Jefferson is not crucial to their depth at the position.
  • After trading cornerback Lonnie Johnson Jr. to the Chiefs this offseason, the Texans‘ 2019 draft class is down to two remaining players: first-round tackle Tytus Howard and second-round guard Max Scharping. While Howard has established himself as a starter on the line, Scharping is not a lock for the 53-man roster, according to Sarah Barshop of ESPN. Scharping stepped up as a starter during his rookie season but could not manage to hold onto the spot in his second year. The 2021 season saw Scharping struggle enough that his roster spot is now in question.
  • Over the past three seasons, pass rusher Malik Reed has been a lifesaver for Denver as the Broncos saw stars Von Miller and Bradley Chubb each miss time over the 2019, 2020, and 2021 seasons. Some roster moves by the Broncos, though, seem to be pointing toward some roster danger for Reed, according to ESPN’s Jeff Legwold. Free agent Randy Gregory was brought in on a $70MM contract, Denver drafted rookie Nik Bonitto in the second round this year, and the Broncos moved Baron Browning to outside linebacker after he played his entire rookie season on the inside. That trio will all be under contract until at least 2025, while Reed is in a contract year. This doesn’t necessarily spell doom for the former undrafted free agent, who has done a lot to earn his spot. But, with only one roster spot likely to be available at the position, Reed will potentially be duking it out with 2021 seventh-round pick Jonathon Cooper for the final OLB roster spot.

Bills Sign G Greg Van Roten

June 13th, 2022 at 2:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Jets opted not to retain Greg Van Roten this offseason, releasing the veteran guard despite his 23-start run with the team. The Bills are giving the 10-year blocker a landing spot.

Van Roten agreed to a deal with Buffalo on Monday. This will continue to crowd the Bills’ O-line with veterans. They have also signed Rodger Saffold and David Quessenberry this offseason.

Although the Jets bailed on Van Roten’s contract shortly after the draft, Robert Saleh said the team was open to bringing him back. The Jets believed Van Roten had the potential to start for other teams. After they had signed Laken Tomlinson to pair with Alijah Vera-Tucker, the 32-year-old blocker was not in line to keep starting for the Jets. A northward trek to a superior team should represent a better opportunity for Van Roten to stay a starter. If that does not end up taking place, the Bills still have a strong depth piece in a player who has 50 starts to his credit.

Pro Football Focus viewed Van Roten as a midlevel guard last season and deemed his 2021 work slightly superior to what he offered in 2020. Van Roten came to the Jets after a three-year run with the Panthers, the final two as a starter. He began his career with the Packers, catching on with Green Bay as a UDFA in 2012. While Van Roten does have a Panthers past, his stay did not overlap with ex-Panthers exec-turned-Bills GM Brandon Beane.

Saffold’s career-long run as a starter puts him in position to claim one of Buffalo’s first-string guard gigs, despite this being his age-34 season. The team also retained Ryan Bates by matching a Bears RFA offer sheet, giving the young guard some momentum to build on the six-start season he finished. Buffalo has Ike Boettger (17 starts from 2020-21) and former second-round pick Cody Ford under contract as well.

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