If you were scrolling through New York Giants roster updates back in March 2025, you probably saw the name Stone Forsythe and thought, "Finally, some real tackle depth." Honestly, it made a ton of sense at the time. The Giants were coming off another season where the offensive line felt like it was held together by duct tape and hope. Andrew Thomas is a stud, but behind him? It was a disaster movie.
Enter Stone Forsythe.
The guy is a literal mountain. We’re talking 6-foot-8, over 300 pounds, with the kind of reach that makes edge rushers have to take the long way home. He had just finished a four-year run with the Seattle Seahawks, where he basically became the ultimate "break glass in case of emergency" player. When the Giants signed him on March 13, 2025, the vibe was that he’d be the perfect swing tackle to compete with Evan Neal or at least provide a safety net.
But then, things got weird. Or maybe just "typical NFL business" weird.
Why the New York Giants Stone Forsythe Experiment Ended So Fast
Most fans expected Forsythe to be a lock for the 53-man roster. You don't usually sign a veteran with 14 NFL starts and a massive frame just to cut him before the season starts, right? Well, Joe Schoen and the Giants front office had other ideas.
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During the 2025 training camp, the competition in the trenches was brutal. The Giants were desperate to see if Evan Neal could finally figure it out—rumors were even swirling about moving Neal to guard—and they brought in other veteran bodies like James Hudson III. As the preseason dragged on through August, Forsythe found himself sliding down the depth chart.
It wasn't necessarily that he played badly. It’s just that in the NFL, "good enough" often loses out to "cheaper" or "higher upside." On August 26, 2025, as part of the final roster cuts to get down to 53 players, the Giants waived Stone Forsythe.
Just like that, the "Stone Era" in New York was over before it even had a regular-season snap.
The Las Vegas Raiders Swoop In
If you're wondering where he is now, he didn't stay unemployed for long. Literally the next day, August 27, the Las Vegas Raiders claimed him. It’s kinda funny how the NFL works—one team’s "roster bubble" guy is another team's "we need this guy to start Week 1" guy.
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In Vegas, Forsythe found a familiar face. Pete Carroll, the legendary Seahawks coach, had taken over the Raiders and was busy turning them into "Seattle South." He knew exactly what he had in Forsythe: a reliable, massive human being who could step in at right tackle when things got hairy.
What Made Stone Forsythe an Attractive Target for the Giants?
To understand why the Giants wanted him in the first place, you have to look at his tape from Seattle. In 2024, the Seahawks' offensive line was a revolving door of injuries. Forsythe ended up starting five games at right tackle and proved he could handle high-pressure situations.
- Size and Reach: At 6'8", his wingspan is a nightmare for speed rushers.
- Versatility: He played both left and right tackle in college at Florida and in the pros.
- The "Lions Game" Legend: Back in 2023, he had to start against Aidan Hutchinson and the Detroit Lions. Everyone thought he’d get eaten alive. Instead, he held his own, helping Geno Smith throw for over 300 yards in a win.
The Giants saw a guy who had protected Kyle Trask’s blindside at Florida and survived the NFC West gauntlet. They thought they were getting a steal.
The Reality of the Giants' Offensive Line Struggles
Let’s be real: the New York Giants Stone Forsythe signing was a symptom of a much larger problem. For a decade, the Giants have been trying to fix the offensive line. They’ve spent high draft picks (Andrew Thomas, Evan Neal, John Michael Schmitz) and brought in endless waves of free agents.
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When Forsythe was cut, it signaled that the coaching staff—led by the new regime under John Harbaugh (who the Giants were finalizing a deal with around that same time)—wanted a specific type of mobility that maybe a 6'8" giant didn't quite offer in their new scheme.
A Quick Look at Forsythe’s Journey
- 2021: Drafted by Seattle in the 6th round.
- 2021-2024: Becomes the primary swing tackle for the Seahawks.
- March 2025: Signs with the New York Giants.
- August 2025: Released by the Giants, immediately signed by the Raiders.
- 2025 Season: Becomes a key contributor for Las Vegas, appearing in 17 games.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Move
A lot of fans think that because a player gets cut in the preseason, they "bust." That’s not really the case with Forsythe. The Giants' decision was likely more about contract structure and the emergence of younger players like Marcus Mbow (a 2025 5th-rounder) who showed out in camp.
Forsythe actually had a decent PFF (Pro Football Focus) grade in pass blocking during his limited preseason action. But "decent" doesn't always save you when a team is trying to rebuild its entire identity under a new head coach.
Actionable Insights for Giants Fans Following the O-Line
If you’re still trying to keep track of who is actually protecting the quarterback in New York, here is the reality of the situation moving forward:
- Monitor the Swing Tackle Spot: The Giants are clearly moving toward a "plug and play" mentality. If a veteran like Forsythe can't make the cut, it means they are prioritizing youth and specific scheme fits over raw experience.
- Watch the Waiver Wire: The fact that Forsythe was claimed within 24 hours shows his value. If the Giants' current depth struggles early in the 2026 season, expect them to be aggressive in poaching similar veteran tackles from other teams' practice squads.
- The Evan Neal Factor: Everything the Giants do with tackles like Stone Forsythe is a reaction to Evan Neal. As long as Neal’s status as a reliable starter is up in the air, the Giants will continue to cycle through these types of players.
Stone Forsythe’s time in East Rutherford was a "blink and you'll miss it" moment. He’s currently carving out a solid career in the desert with the Raiders, proving that sometimes a change of scenery—and a coach who already knows your name—is the only thing a 6'8" tackle needs to thrive.