FREE FOR ALL
Giants have lot of holes to fill heading into open market
Time to get to work. The Giants have needs. So many needs. Pick a position and there is a good chance the Giants require A) one of them, B) some of them, or C) all of them. There has been so much focus, conjecture and debate about which direction this team should go in the draft, but that remains more than a month away. Much of what the Giants decide to do in the draft will be predicated on what comes first, as the free-agent market beckons, and they must get busy and get better. Monday is the first day teams are allowed to engage in contract talks with unrestricted free agents, with Wednesday the first day they can actually sign players who played elsewhere in 2023. The Giants have about $38 million in salary-cap space to work with, and can add to that space by restructuring the mega-contracts of Andrew Thomas or Dexter Lawrence.
Paring down the wish list as conservatively as possible, the Giants need the most help in six areas: offensive line, wide receiver, tight end (if Darren Waller retires) and running back (if Saquon Barkley signs elsewhere) on offense, and edge rusher, cornerback and safety (if Xavier McKinney leaves) on defense.
It does not take great ingenuity to identify these deficiencies. Filling the gaps is the job of general manager Joe Schoen and his staff.
“The roster could look a lot different in three weeks from now based on what we do in free agency,’’ Schoen said. “So, that’s evolving. That’ll help set our plan as we go into the draft.’’
A year ago, Schoen hit big with the signing of inside linebacker Bobby Okereke, who looks like a bargain (four years, $40 million) based on his impressive 2023 showing, on and off the field. For much less of a financial outlay, Schoen swung and missed on receiver Parris Campbell. Schoen made a solid offer to safety Julian Love, but he left and signed with the Seahawks (for slightly less money when the Giants’ offer no longer existed).
The other significant decision by Schoen last offseason was extending the contracts of Thomas (five years, $117.5 million) and Lawrence (four years, $90 million), securing two impact players at premium positions (left tackle, interior defensive line) for the foreseeable future.
“I think in terms of free agency, I think the process went well,’’ Schoen said. “We were able to sign some guys that were valuable contributors. Now, there’s some guys that we wish maybe we would have — we thought they would have contributed a little bit more. But I think it was a sound process, and every year is different.
“We don’t have that many young players that we’re looking to extend like we had last year. So, it’s balancing signing those guys outside the building that can be role players or starters, but also understanding we want to build this through the draft. When we took the job, we still wanted to build the team through the draft and supplement it with free agency. And that’s still going to be the case.’’
There is no doubt the Giants will sign a starting guard, and that could be their biggest-ticket expenditure in this cycle. Mike Onwenu’s price could be cost-prohibitive, and the Giants hope Jonah Jackson’s value does not skyrocket out of their reach.
Dalton Risner and Robert Hunt should also be available.
There is also no doubt the Giants want to add a pass rusher, but that could be difficult. Veteran Danielle Hunter is the best one out there, but he will command big bucks. Bryce Huff, Josh Uche and longtime Giants target Leonard Floyd are options.
If Barkley must be replaced, there are plenty of running backs to choose from — including Tony Pollard, Zack Moss and A.J. Dillon. At present, Eric Gray, after an unimpressive rookie year, is the only returnee.
The door is still open on McKinney — he wants to return — but if he hits the open market, all it will take is one team to knock the Giants out of the water. Without him, the Giants have Jason Pinnock and Dane Belton as possible starting safeties. Kamren Curl (Commanders) and Geno Stone (Ravens) are available. And after being released a few days ago, so is Jordan Poyer, a 32-year old who was with Schoen and coach Brian Daboll in Buffalo. The Giants will meet with recently cut Jaguars cornerback Darious Williams on Sunday. Williams could be a starter replacing Adoree’ Jackson, who is not expected to return.
The Giants will sign a backup quarterback, and the résumé of that player will give us a preview of how serious they are about finding Daniel Jones’ eventual successor in the draft, where the Giants own the No. 6-overall pick.
Tyrod Taylor might be back. Josh Dobbs played well against the Giants last season. Jacoby Brissett and Sam Darnold also qualify as insurance for Jones, who is coming off reconstructive knee surgery. Meeting with Russell Wilson made sense, considering he will come cheap, thanks to the Broncos paying his $39 million salary for this season.