Giants 2024 UFA Primer: OL Ben Bredeson
Ben Bredeson, IOL
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 315 lbs.
Age: 25
NFL Exp.: 4 Years
College: Michigan
The New York Giants’ offensive line was a carousel of rotating pieces throughout the 2023 season. No player on the front lines felt the brunt of this challenge worse than guard Ben Bredeson.
A fourth-year lineman out of Michigan, Bredeson landed in East Rutherford on August 31, 2021, when he was traded to the Giants and a couple of late-round draft picks in exchange for a fourth-round pick sent to Baltimore. The move ensured extra depth for the offensive line after early injuries. It became necessary once Bredeson was thrown into the mix at left guard in relief of Nick Gates, who suffered a season-ending leg injury.
Before that, Bredeson was drafted by the Ravens with the 143rd selection of the 2020 NFL Draft and was rarely used on their offensive line, most of his debut work coming in a reserve and special teams role. He suited up for ten games for Baltimore but only saw 48 total snaps, with all but one coming as the inline tight end on jumbo packages.
Playing collegiately at the Big House in Ann Arbor, Bredeson got his first taste of the guard position after Michigan switched him there despite playing tackle throughout his high school career. That move didn’t degrade his performance over four seasons, as the 25-year-old was named to several All-Big Ten teams in 2017-19 and picked to be a Second-team All-American in his senior year.
Bredeson’s first season in New York got going quickly but was also cut short by a hand injury suffered in Week 4. In relief of the injured Gates, he appeared in 281 snaps at left guard and didn’t see many more snaps beyond that as an inline tight-end weapon again. He was named the starting left guard the following year after Shane Lemieux went down in the preseason but again saw his campaign riddled by a knee injury that limited him to 542 total snaps.
The incumbent would win the job for the second straight season after beating out Joshua Ezeudu in training camp last summer. Little did he know he would not stick in that position the entire way, as the Giants needed him to cover three different spots amid another wave of injuries to the offensive line.
2023 Recap
Bredeson’s third year with the Giants was the most challenging of his NFL career, and that was due to him being asked to play three different roles along the starting offensive line, including two that he had rarely played.
Bredeson played in 1,014 total snaps over 17 games for New York, which began at the left guard spot after he was the preseason victor in training camp. That responsibility lasted for two weeks before he was thrust into the starting center role in Weeks 4 through 7 in relief of the injured starter and rookie John Michael Schmitz.
By Week 9, the Giants had some of their starting blockers back and added Justin Pugh off the couch. Pugh went to left guard, and Bredeson shifted to the right guard spot, where he stayed for the rest of the season until the season's finale when he played at center against Philadelphia.
Regardless of where he played, Bredeson had his battles keeping the pocket clean for the quarterback. Per PFF, he allowed 39 total pressures, including 33 hurries, which were good for career-high numbers. The opposing sack stats also went through Bredeson on occasion, as he was responsible for 5 of the many takedowns that placed the Giants toward the bottom of the league in that category.
Bredeson was also penalized at the largest rate in his 17 games last season, posting six infractions, which could have been a factor of playing in multiple positions of unfamiliarity. He finished the season with 641 snaps in pass blocking and 373 protecting against the run defense and earned a 96.4 percent efficiency rating, the second lowest of his career.
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Why the Giants Should Keep Him
The one reason that stands out for keeping Ben Bredeson around the Giants' locker room is the need for depth and his versatility, which tested decently well in the 2023 season.
As it stands, Bredeson and Shane Lemieux are the only guards on the roster set to become unrestricted free agents, and it’s reasonable to believe the Giants will move on from the latter, who has disappointed since being drafted the same year as the former. The rest of the position’s seven players have either dealt with injury troubles or aren’t at a level that is ready enough to be consistent gameday contributors.
While Bredeson has suffered his share of ailments early in his career, he was very reliable for New York this past fall, and his blocking performances improved as the season wore down to the end. After allowing three sacks in his first nine games, the veteran allowed just two the rest of the regular season, and only one quarterback hit down the middle.
Even if his pass blocking—his more abundant snaps—can be suspect at times, Bredeson’s most important element is his flexibility, which blossomed in the Giant's offense this past season. The 25-year-old played 479 snaps at the right guard position for which he hopes to return next season, but also took on 345 at center and 189 on the opposite side of the offensive line.
Bredeson showed arguably his best protection playing in the center spot, which should be occupied again by John Michael Schmitz, barring injuries don’t take their toll. Still, the Giants could rest a little easier knowing they have a versatile asset in Bredeson, who they could plug into numerous positions on the offensive front and at least remain balanced in the heat of a game.
Why the Giants Shouldn’t Keep Him
There is no hiding the fact that the Giants’ offensive line has been a weak point for most of the past decade, and the guard positions have been at the center of that blemish. The franchise must prioritize its assets towards strengthening the offensive line and ensuring it has proven blockers in the first line of defense and beyond.
Bredeson was serviceable, but the Giants offensive line starters and depth need to be more than that. Bredeson had problems with keeping up with the athletic defenders they went against. He was also a party to the struggles against stunts and just couldn't hold up against speed.
Although he has been assigned clean during his time in New York, his inability to sustain contact in pass protection and run blocking is enough of a concern to make a case for the Giants to move on from Bredeson.
Keep or Re-sign?
Bredeson has done his best to display professionalism and versatility as the Giants have called on him to serve several roles on their carousel of an offensive line. At times, Bredeson has been the glue that has kept the front from completely collapsing, and that can’t be discounted for a guy who was thrown into situations unfamiliar to him.
However, the Giants still haven’t garnered the results they are looking for in their offensive line, which has consistently sat at the bottom of the NFL in the major pass and run-blocking metrics. They hope to have their permanent pieces at the tackle spots, but the guards have been a lingering problem that not even Bredeson’s slight heroics can solve.
Short of reliable depth and the willingness to be versatile, the Giants are better off passing on Bredeson for their long-term goals and searching for the right player to assume his place.
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