The NY Giants’ roster will look much different in 2021, and the organization has plenty of tough decisions to make as the rebuild continues this offseason after once again missing the NFL Playoffs.
Despite toppling the Dallas Cowboys 23-19 on Sunday afternoon, the NY Giants’ bid for an NFC East championship and its accompanying berth in the NFL Playoffs came up just short.
Because the Washington Football Team held on to beat the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night, the Giants are left out in the cold, extending its postseason drought to four straight years and eight of the last nine seasons.
After going 6-10 in head coach Joe Judge’s first season, this offseason promises to bring many changes.
The Giants will face several difficult decisions this offseason, but here’s a look at where things should stand with every player currently on the roster:
Defensive line
Leonard Williams: STAY
Williams was among the Giants’ most disruptive defenders this season, producing 57 tackles and a career-high 11.5 sacks. Williams saved his most dominant performance for last, a three-sack effort against the Cowboys on Sunday afternoon. Set to be an unrestricted free agent, Williams could command upwards of $20 million per season on a new four-year deal, but as contending teams across the league have shown, and the fact that the Giants’ defense was at its best when the line played its best, the Giants should make a concerted effort to keep him.
Dalvin Tomlinson: STAY
Another difficult, and expensive, decision that the Giants will face will be whether to retain Dalvin Tomlinson. Tomlinson is coming off the most productive season of his career with 49 tackles and 3.5 sacks. He’s also a home grown talent and the type of player that a defense can be built around. Sources around the league believe Tomlinson’s price tag could fall between $10-15 million annually, and if that’s the case, the Giants need to keep their two disruptive linemen together.
Dexter Lawrence: STAY
A foundational centerpiece of the NY Giants’ defense, and one of the most productive players drafted during GM Dave Gettleman’s tenure, Lawrence nearly doubled his sack total from his dominant rookie campaign, added 53 tackles, and proved to be the type of ascending player that offensive coordinators must game plan against.
Austin Johnson: GO
Johnson signed a one-year contract with the Giants this summer, but rarely cracked the defensive line rotation, playing just 21 percent of defensive snaps.
B.J. Hill: STAY
Hill is the type of player the Giants could explore trading this offseason, but short of finding a suitor, he proved to be a capable rotational player in the 33 percent of defensive snaps he appeared in in his third NFL season.
R.J. McIntosh: GO
Chosen by the Giants in the fifth-round of the 2015 NFL Draft, McIntosh has never really carved out a role for himself. McIntosh produced just six tackles in his first two seasons and did not play a snap in 2020.
Niko Lalos: STAY
Lalos, above all else, is cheap. The undrafted free agent out of Dartmouth produced a critical fumble recovery against the Seattle Seahawks and intercepted a pass against the Bengals. Depending on what the Giants do in the NFL Draft, Lalos could carve out a nice niche for himself in the defensive end rotation next season.
Linebackers
Lorenzo Carter: STAY
The Giants had hoped that Carter would take a significant leap in his third NFL season and emerge as a dominant edge presence, but that didn’t happen as he ruptured his Achilles tendon in Week 5 against the Dallas Cowboys. Prior to his injury, Carter logged just one sack. Next season will make-or-break whether the Giants commit to Carter long-term.
Jabaal Sheard: STAY
A ten-year veteran, Sheard appeared in 23 percent of the Giants’ defensive snaps, and produced a 66.2 run defense grade and 61.4 pass rush grade. His prior experience with Joe Judge in New England, combined with his 13 total pressures and two sacks in 151 pass-rush snaps could be enough to earn him a second go-round with the Giants next season.
Tae Crowder: STAY
Crowder, Mr. Irrelevant from last spring’s NFL Draft, showed plenty of promise in an injury-riddled rookie season. 46 total tackles, one sack, one fumble recovery that he returned for a touchdown, and one pass breakup. But, this is an area where the Giants must dramatically improve in 2021 and Crowder will likely have competition for snaps as an NFL sophomore.
David Mayo: GO
Mayo battled through various injuries throughout the season and seemed miscast in his role during a blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The Giants need to upgrade the talent and athleticism at linebacker this offseason and that will likely mean moving on from Mayo.
TJ Brunson: GO
Brunson appeared in just two snaps this season. If the former South Carolina linebacker can’t get on the field in a relatively thin linebacker corps as a rookie, it’s difficult to envision him improving enough next season to play a more significant role if the talent level around him rises.
Blake Martinez: STAY
Martinez emerged as one of the Giants’ most consistently dominant defensive players after signing on the first day of free agency this spring. As steady as they come, Martinez led the Giants with 140 total tackles, intercepted a pass, forced two fumbles and recovered one. The 26-year-old was the quarterback of the Giants’ defense and playing in coordinator Patrick Graham’s scheme seemed to bring out the best in him.
Devante Downs: GO
Downs, when he was on the field, was frequently a liability in coverage and at times took really poor angles when in pursuit as an open-field tackler. This is a spot the Giants must aim to upgrade next year.
Cam Brown: STAY
Brown showed plenty of promise when he was on the field, and his athleticism combined with his position versatility could give him a chance to succeed in 2021 and beyond. The sixth-round rookie out of Penn State produced 11 total tackles, one forced fumble, and three quarterback hits while playing just 7.9 percent of the Giants’ defensive snaps.
Kyler Fackrell: GO
The Giants signed Fackrell to a one-year “prove it” deal hoping that he would recapture what propelled him to a double-digit sack season in 2018, but injuries and inconsistency limited Fackrell to just three sacks and 31 tackles in 11 games. If Fackrell is the Giants’ top pass rusher in 2021, that means the offseason was a complete failure.
Cornerbacks
James Bradberry: STAY
The defense’s most gifted player, and arguably the Giants’ 2020 MVP, James Bradberry was the most impactful addition to the roster during Dave Gettleman’s three-year tenure as general manager. Bradberry held opposing quarterbacks to a meager 71 passer rating when targeting him, intercepted three passes, and was Pro Football Focus’ fifth-highest graded cornerback in the NFL. Bradberry is the type of player that a secondary can be built around.
Isaac Yiadom: GO
Yiadom provided a modicum of stability opposite Bradberry down the stretch, but it remains to be seen if he’s capable of developing into a full-time starting caliber player. Opposing quarterbacks still produced a 128.7 passer rating when tarting him and receivers averaged 13.3 yards per reception. Outside cornerback is a position the Giants desperately need to upgrade this offseason.
Madre Harper: GO
Harper was at times a frequent target of opposing quarterbacks and at times made reckless, undisciplined mistakes. A stopgap option amid injuries at the position and the need to move on from DeAndre Baker in the days leading up to training camp this summer, Harper did little to inspire that he should be part of the Giants’ long-term plans.
Darney Holmes: STAY
Holmes, the Giants’ fourth-round pick, showed moments of promise as a rookie. While quarterbacks frequently targeted the UCLA alum with some success, he still produced 30 total tackles, intercepted a pass, and recovered a fumble as a rookie. Holmes should have a chance to compete for the starting nickel job next summer.
Seam Beal: GO
Beal opted out of the 2020 season, but it becomes more apparent by the day (just as it was at the time) that it was foolish for the Giants to forfeit a third-round pick to choose Beal in the 2018 supplemental draft. Only healthy for one season, Beal has made minimal impact. It’s time to cut the cord.
Safeties
Jabrill Peppers: STAY
Peppers had his finest season as a professional in Graham’s scheme, producing a career-high 83 tackles, a career-high 2.5 sacks, while adding one interception, one fumble recovery, and one forced fumble. Playing alongside veteran Logan Ryan brought out the best in Peppers this season and the pair have the potential to be one of the game’s top safety duos in 2021.
Xavier McKinney: STAY
The Giants’ second-round pick in April’s NFL Draft did not get on the field until Week 12, after fracturing his foot back in August, but his athleticism and position versatility gave him the chance to make an impact once he returned. McKinney produced a 63.5 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, and should have the opportunity to push for the starting nickel cornerback or third safety job next season.
Logan Ryan: STAY
Ryan provided much-needed stability and veteran leadership to the Giants’ secondary that severely lacked both when he was signed in the days leading up to the season. It remains to be seen whether Ryan’s three-year contract will be an albatross around the Giants in coming years, but Ryan is among the most talented and productive players on the Giants’ defense and can contribute either at safety or nickel cornerback.
Julian Love: GO
The Giants have tried to get Love on the field at nickel cornerback, safety, and special teams, and he winds up more often than not being a liability rather than a player that can be relied on. According to Pro Football Focus, Love has allowed opponents a 130.7 passer rating, and receivers are averaging 15.6 yards per reception against him.
Nate Ebner: GO
Ebner was signed in hopes that he would give the Giants’ special teams a boost, but that didn’t happen, and when he was on the field as a safety, he was a liability frequently giving up big plays.
Offensive line
LT – Andrew Thomas: STAY
Thomas’ rookie season was wildly inconsistent. But, there was a spell where he was the Giants’ most consistent offensive lineman, particularly during a stretch of games where he reverted to the technique he used at Georgia.
LG – Will Hernandez: STAY
Hernandez regressed dramatically in his third NFL season, largely because of diminished playing time. He’s only allowed 25 pressures and one sack, but appeared in just 54 percent of the Giants’ offensive snaps. At minimum, Hernandez should be given the opportunity to compete for a starting job next summer.
C – Nick Gates: STAY
The Giants signed Gates to a two-year contract extension worth $3.4 million per season through 2022, so the 25-year-old likely isn’t going anywhere. However, center is a position the Giants could look to upgrade this offseason, at minimum Gates could return as a swing lineman option.
RG – Kevin Zeitler: GO
The Giants tried to trade Zeitler at the deadline, but the Giants can free up $12 million in cap space while absorbing a $2.5 million dead money hit if they move on from the veteran guard this offseason. That cap savings will likely be more valuable than what Zeitler has done on the field this season.
RT – Cam Fleming: GO
Fleming was signed by the Giants to be the swing-tackle, in part because of his experience playing for offensive line coach Marc Colombo. Rotating throughout the season with rookie Matt Peart, and with Colombo gone, there’s little reason to bring Fleming back in 2021 after the veteran allowed 35 total pressures, six sacks, and four quarterback hits in 874 snaps.
OT – Matt Peart: STAY
It remains to be seen if Peart can develop into a starting bookend tackle opposite Thomas, but played well in his rotational snaps as a rookie. Peart produced an 81.7 run-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus, and allowed two sacks in 143 total snaps. At minimum, Peart is the ideal swing tackle should the Giants draft an offensive tackle in the first-round next spring or sign one of the best available in free agency.
OG – Shane Lemieux: GO
The Giants hoped that Lemieux would push for the starting center job, or at least be competent at guard as a rookie, but that didn’t happen. Lemieux chosen in the fifth-round of April’s draft, has been a turnstile in his 456 snaps, allowing five sacks and 24 pressures while consistently looking overmatched. This is a spot the Giants must look to upgrade
OT – Nate Solder: GO
Solder opted out of the 2020 season, on the heels of his most disappointing season as a professional in 2019. The Giants are on the hook for two more years with Solder, but can free up $6 million in cap space while absorbing a $10.5 million dead-money charge in 2021. That might be the most prudent move.
C – Spencer Pulley: STAY
Pulley is cheap, counting just $2.75 million against the cap, and while the organization purely views Pulley as a center he has the versatility and experience to play all three interior line positions.
Tight ends
Evan Engram: GO
It’s time. Despite making the Pro Bowl, Engram caught only 61 passes for 637 yards and a career-low one touchdown. Engram had another drop Sunday, his 15th of the season, that was intercepted and the Cowboys converted for a touchdown. For all the promise Engram’s athleticism shows, he’s far too often a liability in the passing game rather than a reliable target. Engram drew some interest at the trade deadline, and if a team offers an asset and change of pace for Engram in a trade this offseason, the Giants should jump at the chance to move on.
Kaden Smith: STAY
The Giants had hoped that Smith would breakout as a pass catcher this season, but that didn’t happen. However, Smith was the Giants’ highest-graded run-blocker, with a 73.6 mark. With Saquon Barkley’s return next season and the Giants’ commitment to running the football, Smith provides some value.
Levine Toilolo: GO
Toilolo was among the most disappointing offseason additions, and his signing was made even more puzzling by his inability as a run-blocker. This is a spot the Giants must try again to upgrade this offseason.
Wide receivers
Darius Slayton: STAY
Slayton didn’t take the leap the Giants hoped and expected he would in his second season, catching just 48 of his 90 targets for 729 yards and three touchdowns. But, Slayton has shown enough that he can be a solid and reliable No. 2 or No. 3 option with a more talented receiving corps around him.
Sterling Shepard: STAY
Shepared remains one of the game’s most effective slot receivers, catching 58 of 78 targets for 544 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while only dropping one pass. Likewise, the Giants’ offense has been its most effective when Shepard was on the field this season.
Golden Tate: GO
Tate has been a colossal disappointment since signing with the Giants in 2019, and his tumultuous 2020 should be enough to end his tenure in North Jersey. Suspended for one game and missing the final two weeks due to a calf injury, Tate was held to 35 receptions on 51 targets for 388 yards and two touchdowns.
Austin Mack: GO
Mack, a former undrafted free agent, caught 6 of his 11 targets for 82 yards, but had one drop and struggled to create much separation. If upgrading wide receiver is the organizational priority that it needs to be, adding talent at the top of the depth chart could push guys like Mack off the roster next season.
Dante Pettis: STAY
Pettis showed some promise over the final two weeks, and his ability to contribute as a returner should punch his ticket to return in 2021. Sunday, Pettis had his coming out party, catching two passes for 43 yards and a touchdown, perhaps offering a glimpse of what’s to come.
Running backs
Saquon Barkley: STAY
When healthy, Barkley is among the most dominant and versatile running backs in the NFL, and he’ll look to bounce back and prove he’s worthy of being paid among the top running backs in the league upon returning from a torn ACL.
Dion Lewis: GO
Lewis was among the biggest disappointments for the Giants. fumbling twice, providing little spark on special teams, while logging just 28 carries in 15 games as he fell to the bottom of the running back timeshare.
Wayne Gallman: STAY
Gallman’s play, particularly over the second half of the season, proved that he’s a worthy complement to Barkley and plenty capable of being an every-down running back. Set to become a free agent after this offseason, the Giants certainly won’t be getting into any bidding wars for Gallman, but given the Cleveland Browns’, Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ success with a running back by committee and the Chiefs’ bountiful RB depth, the Giants would be wise to at least make an effort to bring Gallman back.
Alfred Morris: GO
Morris provided a bit of a spark and turned back the clock at age 32, but he still averaged only 4.5 yards per attempt and scored just one rushing touchdown.
Devonta Freeman: GO
Freeman appeared in just five games after signing with the Giants in the aftermath of Barkley’s injury. He averaged just 3.2 yards per carry, reinforcing thoughts around the league that perhaps his better days as a runner were behind him.
Quarterback
Daniel Jones: STAY … For now
Jones’ dramatic regression in his second season raises questions about not just the future of offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, but Jones’ potential to develop into a franchise quarterback. Following Sunday’s loss, the Giants quarterback finishes the season with just 11 touchdowns but 10 interceptions as the offense finishes ranked No. 31 in the league in scoring.
The Giants should bring Jones back, unless they have the opportunity to draft either Ohio State’s Justin Fields or BYU’s Zach Wilson and view them as having a higher ceiling than Jones.
Arizona wasted little time, aggressively trading Josh Rosen one year after drafting him to select Kyler Murray No. 1 overall. It has become clear in the NFL that until a team has an elite franchise quarterback, it is that much more difficult to win. The jury remains out on whether Jones has that type of potential but if the Giants view one of the quarterbacks in this year’s class as that caliber a player, it’s more foolhearted to stick with Jones hoping he develops than it would be to move on.
Colt McCoy: GO
The Giants must upgrade the backup quarterback position this offseason. While McCoy engineered the offense well enough to beat the Seattle Seahawks, his limitations were evident in a start against the Cleveland Browns.
Specialists
K – Graham Gano
Save for James Bradberry, Gano might be the Giants’ MVP this season and he is one of the most impactful additions that Gettleman has made. The Giants signed Gano to a three-year contract extension earlier this season, and he has been worth every penny.
P – Riley Dixon
Riley Dixon had another stellar season, and while he averaged just 39.5 yards per punt, he did plant 26 inside the 20-yard line, which was fifth most in the NFL. Originally acquired for a sixth-round pick in a trade with the Denver Broncos, Dixon has been a legitimate weapon on special teams.
Matt Lombardo is the site expert for GMenHQ, and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday for FanSided. Follow Matt on Twitter: @MattLombardoNFL.