The Giants went into free agency determined to bolster their offensive line, determined to add at least one starting guard and insurance at right tackle.
On the first day in the open market, they added two players to fill these needs.
They agreed to terms with Jon Runyan Jr., who never missed a game in four years with the Packers, to start at one guard spot and brought in Jermaine Eluemunor from the Raiders, a player who has experience at both guard and tackle.
Runyan’s three-year deal is worth $30 million, with $17 million in guaranteed money, The Post confirmed.
Eluemunor received a two-year contract worth $14 million.
Runyan, 26, will step in as an immediate starter.
He played 925 snaps at right guard for the Packers in 2023, allowing only two sacks and six quarterback hits in 568 pass-block snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. His pass rush win rate in 2023 of 94.2 percent was the ninth best among guards.
To say this addition addresses a need is to say water is liquid, the desert is dry and Giants quarterbacks are often in peril.
The Giants last season allowed a franchise-high 85 sacks, the second-highest total in NFL history.
Runyan in 2022 played 680 snaps at right guard and 370 at left guard.
The 6-foot-4, 307-pound Runyan was a 2020 sixth-round draft pick out of Michigan and he played in all 67 regular-season games for the Packers, starting 50 games.
His father, also named Jon, was an offensive tackle for the Eagles who regularly engaged in battles with Michael Strahan — battles usually won by Strahan.
This was the expected mid-level addition to the offensive line.
The Giants received immediate information as to what top-tier guards would command in this market, as Landon Dickerson re-signed with the Eagles on a four-year deal worth $84 million, with $50 million in guaranteed money.
Jonah Jackson, one of the top guards to hit the market, was thought to be a player the Giants would make a play for but he left the Lions to sign with the Rams on a three-year, $51 million deal with $34 million in guaranteed money.
Robert Hunt got a five-year, $100 million package ($63 million guaranteed) to go from the Dolphins to the Panthers. The Giants were not shopping in these departments.
Runyan is the first step in yet another offensive line rebuild for a franchise that cannot get this position group right.
Andrew Thomas is set at left tackle and John Michael Schmitz will return for his second year at center. Evan Neal, recovering from ankle surgery, will be given a shot to retain his starting right tackle spot. Last season’s starting guards, Ben Bredeson and Justin Pugh, are both free agents.
Eluemunor, 29, is a seven-year veteran with 45 NFL starts, playing for the Ravens, Patriots and Raiders.
He started 17 games at right tackle for the Raiders in 2022 and last season played 779 snaps at right tackle and 125 at left tackle. He will provide competition for Neal and can also fill in at guard.