The G-Men will begin interviews for their vacant general manager position next week, and whoever takes over Big Blue’s front office will have some major decisions to make in the coming months.
The New York Giants have 19 impending free agents entering the 2018 offseason.
There’s always player turnover from season-to-season. Super Bowl winners have their rosters picked apart, while franchises among the bottom look to rebuild from scratch.
The NFL is commonly known as the “Not For Long” league, and multiple players on Big Blue’s roster won’t be returning in 2018. The Giants newly named general manager will have to a decisive plan as to how to turn the franchise around, starting with a rebuild of the team’s 53-man roster.
Giants cornerbacks Janoris Jenkins and Eli Apple could both be on the chopping block. But it seems unlikely New York’s next general manager would want to get rid of both corners. Jenkins has an opt-out clause in his contract this offseason. And Apple has been inactive for the past four games and has clearly been a distraction to the team.
While keeping Jenkins is likely the smart move, the Giants will also have some major decisions to make along the offensive line. Giants starting offensive linemen Justin Pugh and Weston Richburg are both set to test free agency in 2018. Both linemen along with Jenkins have had their season cut short due to injury.
Of course, Eli Manning’s future with Big Blue will be the first subject brought up when Giants owners John Mara and Steve Tisch hire the organization’s next general manager. But the real rebuild will start in free agency, as those decisions can lay the foundation for the franchise’s future success as well as their upcoming draft strategy.
#5 – RB Orleans Darkwa
Ross Cockrell or Kerry Wynn could have taken this spot, but Darkwa’s play this season had to earn him a spot on this list. The undrafted running back out of Tulane is leading Big Blue’s backfield with 580 rushing yards and has three of the team’s four rushing touchdowns this season. Manning has the other one.
Darkwa is likely not a long-term solution to New York’s derailed rushing attack, but he has proven himself the most viable option this season. Giants former general manager Jerry Reese used a fifth-round draft selection on Paul Perkins and fourth-round draft selection on Wayne Gallman in back-to-back years, but only Darkwa has shown the physicality Giants fans have been missing.
The Giants 6-foot, 210-pound tailback is the only player to record a run of 20 yards or more this season and has done so five times. New York’s offensive line surely deserves to shoulder the blame for the team’s pitiful ground game, but Darkwa continues to make the most of his opportunities.
It will come as no surprise if the G-Men select a running back in the draft or add another playmaker to their backfield in free agency. But that shouldn’t prevent Big Blue’s next general manager from retaining Darkwa, especially given the amount of impending free agent running backs this offseason.
#4 – DT Jay Bromley
The Giants are surely happy with the play of rookie Dalvin Tomlinson this season, but Bromley continues to prove himself a valuable asset despite limited snaps.
Big Blue’s 2014 third-round draft selection is in the final year of his rookie contract but has only started in four games. Bromley has recorded 74 combined tackles, two sacks, four tackles for a loss, and one blocked field goal attempt in four seasons.
While re-signing a 6-foot-3, 314-pound rotational defensive tackle isn’t likely to garner much noise, Bromley has arguably played better than some teams’ starters. He is sure to draw interest on the free agent market.
The Giants have already invested in starting defensive tackles Damon Harrison and Tomlinson, but keeping impact rotational defensive linemen should be a priority. The G-Men have other issues that need to be addressed, and they may not be able to match offers extended to Bromley in free agency. But that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t try.
#3 – LB Devon Kennard
It’s no secret that Big Blue’s linebacking corps is the weakest part of the team’s defense. Reese struggled to find talent at the position but his selection of Kennard in the fifth-round of the 2014 draft was a steal given his play through his first four seasons.
The Giants 6-foot-3, 249-pound strong-side linebacker has started a career-high 10 games this season. He has recorded 37 tackles, three sacks, three tackles for a loss, and one fumble recovery in 12 games played.
Kennard has missed multiple games due to injuries since joining Big Blue, but when healthy he has been one of the team’s best pass rushing linebackers. He’s also arguably the most well-rounded linebacker on the Giants roster in terms of his play against the run and pass.
The Giants next general manager will likely look to add some young talent to the team’s linebacking corps in the mid-to-late rounds of the draft, but re-signing Kennard should be a priority on the defensive side of the ball.
There will be plenty of free agent linebackers on the market that could potentially fill Kennard’s role, but at 26-years-old, the fourth-year linebacker has plenty of football left in the tank.
#2 – C Weston Richburg
Reese’s biggest downfall was the G-Men’s offensive line. But his selection of Richburg with the 43rd overall pick in the 2014 draft was arguably his best pick in terms of value for an offensive lineman.
Richburg, 26, has started 50 games and only missed one game in his first three seasons before ending up on injured reserve in 2017. The Giants placed the 6-foot-3, 298-pound center on IR last month after he suffered a concussion in Week 4.
Big Blue’s next general manager will have to have a plan in place for the offensive line and quarterback position, but will likely have to let the market determine Richburg’s future contract. It’s unknown how much interest the fourth-year center will garner after missing the final 12 games of this season.
Richburg looked to be in line for a major payday after his first three seasons, but the two sides could potentially work out a deal, depending on Big Blue’s cap space. The Giants are currently slated to have the 20th most cap space this offseason, but the franchise’s next general manager may look to make roster decisions to free up space.
While retaining Richburg should be a top priority, it may come down to the Giants plans in the draft and the offer they make to next player on this list.
#1 – OL Justin Pugh
Richburg’s future in the Big Apple could hinge on Pugh’s future contract. There are multiple factors in determining whether Pugh and Richburg return in 2018, including a possible contract extension for Odell Beckham Jr.
While locking up Beckham long-term and re-signing Richburg are priorities this offseason, Pugh should be considered the first and foremost concern. The Giants shouldn’t overpay for the 6-foot-5, 311-pound offensive lineman. But Pugh’s ability to play both guard and right tackle will likely drive up his price on the open market.
The G-Men picked up Pugh’s fifth-year option on his rookie contract during the 2016 offseason, but he only played in eight games this season. The Giants officially announced on Thursday that they would be placing him IR due to a back injury.
There are some concerns with signing Pugh to a massive long-term deal given his injury history. He hasn’t completed a full 16-game season since his rookie year. That, in turn, could help Big Blue’s next general manager.
Pugh has not shown the same consistency as Kevin Zeitler or T.J. Lang, who were both considered the top free agent offensive linemen last offseason, according to NFL Network.
The Giants will first have to decide their plans for the left tackle position, and whether they believe Ereck Flowers can fill the void at right tackle. Ideally, the G-Men could move Flowers to right tackle, re-sign Pugh and Richburg and select their future franchise left tackle in the 2018 draft.
Of course, multiple things have to fall into place for that to happen. And while the offensive line is the team’s biggest need, the quarterback position is sure to draw the most attention this offseason.