Giants OL John Michael Schmitz Selected to NFL All-Rookie Team

New York Giants center John Michael Schmitz was selected to the 2023 NFL All-Rookie Team by NFL.com.

NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks, who compiled the list, had this to say about Schmitz:

The scrappy pivot performed well as a first-year starter in the middle of the Giants' line. Schmitz's intelligence, athleticism, and competitiveness showed up repeatedly as he held his own against the monstrous nose tackles opposite him.

Schmitz, the Giants' second-round draft pick last year, stepped into the lineup as a Day 1 starter and held his own, at least initially. But then, a shoulder injury in the team's Week 4 loss to the Seattle Seahawks during a tush-push attempt seemed to affect his play to the point where he lost more snaps than he won.

Per Pro Football Focus, Schmitz tied for sixth in total pressures allowed (30) and was charged with five sacks by the popular analytics site, which tied him with several other entries for fifth in the league.

Still, Schmitz, who missed three games with the shoulder issue and one game due to a shin injury, battled hard out there and repeatedly put his high football IQ on display.

Like all rookies, he needs to improve his strength and power. The Giants hired Carmen Bricillo to be their new offensive line coach, replacing Bobby Johnson, who was fired the day after the season. Seeing how Bricillo works with Schmitz to improve his technique shortcomings will be interesting.