HUNTING FOR BIGS
Lions guard Jackson, Vikings edge Hunter among players Giants like at priority positions
INDIANAPOLIS — Offensive guard and edge rusher have emerged as two premium positions that Giants GM Joe Schoen will prioritize and possibly pay for in free agency this March.
Detroit Lions left guard Jonah Jackson and Minnesota Vikings pass rusher Danielle Hunter, in particular, are among the top-tier free agents at those positions that the Giants like, sources at the NFL Combine say.
Versatile Patriots tackle/guard Michael Onwenu, who played for new Giants O-line coach Carmen Bricillo in New England, is another attractive O-line possibility if he hits free agency.
Liking a player and winning his services on a competitive open market are two different things, obviously. The Carolina Panthers, Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers are among the other teams big-game hunting at guard, for example.
The Steelers also had a lot of love at January’s Senior Bowl for Illinois guard Isaiah Adams, a player the Giants spent a ton of time with in Mobile, Ala.
Schoen has a major need at a minimum three positions on his starting five, however, plus a lack of depth.
He needs a starting left and right guard. He needs to fix or find his starting right tackle. He needs a reliable, backup swing tackle. And he needs better reserves.
So he has to land at least one big fish in free agency and add more O-line talent in the draft, and he knows it.
“We need to improve as a starting five, and we need to improve the depth,” Schoen said here this week. “And that’ll be a priority this offseason.”
Guard has emerged as the likely financial priority over the tackle position in part because, sources say, the Giants want to give Evan Neal one more run at playing right tackle before going to the last resort of kicking him inside to guard.
So hypothetically, Schoen could spend on a left guard like Jackson, 27, and also sign Raiders veteran tackle Jermaine Eluemunor. Then Schoen could attack right guard and supplement his depth in the draft. Jackson excels pulling out into space in the run game.
Eluemunor, 29, played for Bricillo in both New England and Las Vegas. He could compete with Neal and either win the starting right tackle job outright or serve as a steady swing tackle behind Andrew Thomas and Neal.
Conversely, landing the versatile Onwenu, 26, instead of Jackson, could give Schoen and Brian Daboll other intriguing options in building their puzzle in front of quarterback Daniel Jones.
Edge rusher, meanwhile, is also a priority opposite Kayvon Thibodeaux in Shane Bowen’s new defensive scheme.
Schoen said this week that “the upfield pass rush is going to be more of a premium” in the Giants’ 2024 defense. That means a stronger four-man pass rush while playing more zone on the back end.
Titans veteran defensive end Denico Autry would be a nice addition, given his production (11½ sacks last season) and familiarity with the scheme. But making a big splash for Hunter to headline the D-line’s restoration is a tantalizing possibility.
He posted 16½ sacks last season in Minnesota, and the Vikings can’t franchise tag him, unlike the Jaguars’ Josh Allen and the Panthers’ Brian Burns.
Azeez Ojulari is still a pass rusher that the Giants are trying to keep healthy to take advantage of his athleticism and edge explosiveness. But they need to add a proven player who can immediately upgrade that side to bookend Dexter Lawrence in the middle.
Safety Xavier McKinney and running back Saquon Barkley, of course, represent the Giants’ top internal free agent priorities. And Schoen has $32.6 million in cap space, which certainly doesn’t represent unlimited resources.
But Schoen knows from experience that protecting the quarterback and sacking the quarterback are imperative. The O-line’s poor play, injuries and lack of depth crippled the team’s chances last season, in particular. And he can’t let that happen again.