Analysis
2/22/22
3 min read
New York Giants Free Agency Outlook
After finishing the 2021 season with their worst record since 2017, the New York Giants decided to move on from their Head Coach Joe Judge. In two seasons Judge finished with a 10-23 overall record but the Giants showed decline in 2021, finishing with a 4-13 record. They finished with their worst point differential since 1980, with a point differential of -158. They finished last place in the NFC East. As they move into the offseason, they currently are ~$12 million over the cap. They need to find out if former first round pick Daniel Jones is their franchise guy for the future as he enters the fourth year of his rookie contract and must make a decision on if they should exercise his fifth-year option soon. Despite their recent struggles on the field and a somewhat murky current cap situation, they have significant draft capital. The Giants will have 9 draft picks in the 2022 draft, including; two picks inside the top 10 and five picks inside the top 100. The key to their offseason is simple; surround Daniel Jones with the proper tools to find out if he’s the franchise quarterback.
Update: The Giants are now $7,647,520 over the cap.
Giants' Impending Free Agents:
- RG Will Hernandez
- C Billy Price
- LT Nate Solder
- LG Matt Skura
- TE Evan Engram
- IDL Austin Johnson
- EDGE Lorenzo Carter
- LB Reggie Ragland
- QB Mike Glennon
- LS Casey Kreiter
- LB Jaylon Smith
- IDL Danny Shelton
- S Jabrill Peppers
- WR John Ross
- CB Jarren Williams (ERFA)
- LB Benardrick McKinney
- RB Elijhaa Penny
- QB Jake Fromm (ERFA)
- LT Korey Cunningham
- WR David Sills (ERFA)
- WR Dante Pettis
- WR C.J. Board
- S J.R. Reed(ERFA)
- S Steven Parker (RFA)
- CB Keion Crossen
- IDDL Woodrow Hamilton (SFA)
- FB Cullen Gillaspia (RFA)
- S Dwayne Johnson Jr. (SFA)
- RG Kyle Murphy (ERFA)
- S Joshua Kalu (RFA)
- S Nate Ebner
- TE Levine Toilolo
- RB Devontae Booker
Of the 32 free agents listed above, seven played more than 50% of the Giants' snaps this past season. Four of the seven players played along their offensive line – Will Hernandez, Billy Price, Nate Solder, and Matt Skura. New York will need to find a way to either re-sign parts of their offensive line in free agency, which may be difficult considering the current cap situation or fill the upcoming holes in the draft. Some potential cap casualties include Darius Slayton (save $2.54M), James Bradberry ($12.14M), and Blake Martinez ($8.53M)
Franchise Tag:
- N/A
Currently, the Giants have nobody who is quite worthy of the franchise tag. Right guard Will Hernandez could be a potential franchise tag candidate for New York, but he’s struggled since 2020, allowing 63 pressures in 1,012 pass blocking snaps bu. With a new coaching staff and a fresh environment, he could progress at just 26 years old. His franchise tag number would be $16.70 million.
Update: The Giants indeed elected to not use their franchise tag this offseason.
Top Team Needs:
- Right Tackle
- Right Guard
- Interior Defensive Line
- Tight End
Offensive line is the Giants’ number one need this upcoming offseason and it starts at right tackle. Those who played snaps at right tackle for them this past season allowed a combined 58 total pressures. Right guard is another top need with Hernandez hitting free agency. Behind Hernandez remains only Ben Bredeson, a 2nd year guard out of Michigan who is already on his second team. Their interior defensive line needs a new nose tackle with Austin Johnson and Danny Shelton set to become free agents with no other nose tackle currently on their roster.
