NFL

New York Giants OT Andrew Thomas agrees to five-year, $117 million extension

By Sports Desk July 26, 2023

The New York Giants and tackle Andrew Thomas have agreed to a five-year extension that reportedly contains the largest amount of guaranteed money for an offensive lineman in NFL history.

NFL.com reports that Thomas' new deal, which runs through the 2029 season, has a maximum value of $117.5 million and includes $67 million in guarantees. The previous high in guaranteed money for an offensive lineman was the $64 million the Baltimore Ravens granted left tackle Ronnie Stanley in his 2020 extension.

Thomas becomes the second highest paid offensive lineman in terms of average annual value at $23.5 million, surpassed only by the three-year, $75 million extension the Houston Texans gave tackle Laremy Tunsil in March.

"Ecstatic about that," Giants general manager Joe Schoen told reporters Wednesday about locking up Thomas. "He played at a high level. He's our type of guy."

Thomas has emerged as one of the NFL's premier left tackles since being selected by the Giants with the fourth overall pick of the 2020 draft. The 24-year-old has started 44 games over his three seasons and was named a second team All-Pro in 2022.

He's also the latest core player the Giants have signed to a multi-year contract this offseason. The team retained starting quarterback Daniel Jones with a four-year, $160 million deal and Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence on a four-year, $90 million extension.

The Giants were unable to reach a long-term agreement with star running back Saquon Barkley, who instead received the franchise tag and signed his one-year, $10.1 million tender offer Tuesday.

Thomas is one of two offensive linemen that agreed to an extension Wednesday. The Houston Texans reached a three-year, $56 million deal with right tackle Tytus Howard that contains $36.5 million guaranteed, according to NFL.com. 

A first-round pick of Houston in 2019, Howard has started 54 games over his four seasons and was entering the final year of his rookie contract. 

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