Will Ben Bredeson Retain the Giants' Starting Left Guard Role?

Ben Bredeson, IOL

Height: 6-foot-5 | Weight: 315 pounds
2022 stats: GP 11 / GS 8. 542 offensive snaps, zero sacks allowed

Ben Bredeson was originally selected in the fourth round of the 2020 draft by the Baltimore Ravens. He played one season for them, appearing in 10 games with no starts as a rookie. After a limited role in his first season, Bredeson was traded to the Giants, along with 2022 fifth & seventh-round picks, in exchange for the Giants’ fourth-round pick in 2022.

Since then, Bredeson has been in the mix primarily at left guard for the Giants. During the 2022 season, he stepped in as the starting left guard after incumbent Shane Lemieux suffered what would become a season-ending turf toe and sprained foot. Bredeson initially rotated at the position with rookie draft pick Joshua Ezeudu for the first seven weeks.

Bredeson suffered a sprained knee in Week 7 and was sidelined for six games. During that time, Ezeudu, Jack Anderson, and Nick Gates filled in for him in the position. When Bredeson was healthy enough to return, by then, Ezeudu had landed on injured reserve with a neck issue, and Gates was more of a rotational player who sometimes filled in at center.

Bredeson, who can also play center, is considered the incumbent for the starting left guard spot. Still, he will have some competition for the job from Ezeudu, Lemeiux, Anderson, and Wyatt Davis, just to name a few.

Best Case Scenario

The Giants made one key move to help the interior of the offensive line: drafting center John Michael Schmitz in the second round. The best case scenario for Bredeson in his quest to hold down the starting job is to develop chemistry with his new center and not look back.

Bredeson's versatility--he can play both guard spots and center--will keep him on the roster this year. Signed through 2023 at a cap hit of $1.01 million, Bredeson's experience and decent play should, at the very minimum, ensure he has a spot on the 53-man roster.

Worst Case Scenario

The one downfall with Bredeson is that he’s suffered an injury in each of his first three years in the league. Besides the previously mentioned MCL sprain in 2022, Bredeson suffered an ankle and hand injury in 2021 and a knee injury in 2020.

Time missed for Bredeson will open the door to guys like Joshua Ezeudu and Marcus McKethan, who were both draft picks by Joe Schoen. If Bredeson’s injured again and loses ground in the competition this summer or at any point, it would likely be a long road for him to make up the lost ground.

What to Expect in 2023

Ben Bredeson will be a hot name to watch as he’s a part of one of the top training camp battles this summer. The left guard spot is anyone’s for the taking. It just so happens that Bredeson proved he could be a viable option at that position, as he proved early last season before the MCL sprain.

The strength of Bredeson’s game is above the neck and in his chest. He plays with heart and has an admirable intensity and attention to detail.

Physically, the 25-year-old lacks any one dynamic trait, specifically in power and athleticism. He’s susceptible to mobile interior players and has a very similar style of game to that of Glowinski on the other side of the line.

If Ezeudu, who seems to be the quiet favorite to win the starting job, can hold on and stay healthy, Bredeson will become a valuable and experienced backup at all three interior offensive line positions.