NY Giants: The 3 best and worst free agent signings by Dave Gettleman
Since Dave Gettleman took the reins as NY Giants’ general manager, he’s transformed the team’s roster.
The Jerry Reese era has been expunged – Gettleman erasing the roster of many of his predecessor’s acquisitions.
There’s been so much turnover on the roster that only four players – Sterling Shepard, Wayne Gallman, Evan Engram and Dalvin Tomlinson, weren’t brought to town by Gettleman. Everyone else has been either drafted by, traded for or signed by the man who succeeded Reese.
When he took the job, Gettleman knew it was going to be a long road ahead – but he certainly didn’t foresee himself going 15-33 in three years. After almost being run out of town numerous times, he enters his fourth season as the general manager of the Giants – his leash getting shorter with every move that doesn’t work out.
“I want them to know that we’re going to use every avenue to get this thing fixed,” said Gettleman – at his introductory press conference. “Just hang in there with us, and we’re going to get it fixed.”
Gettleman has been true to his word – he’s swung big in every possible avenue. Trading Odell Beckham Jr., drafting a running back second overall, going on huge free agent spending sprees – he hasn’t shied away from any possibilities.
Free agency has been especially controversial for Gettleman – before last year, his free agent classes were fireable offenses. He’s brought in everyone from unheralded players to experienced veterans – nobody has been off-limits.
So, with his fourth chance to dip into the free agent pool as Giants’ general manager – will Gettleman’s 2021 mimic his impressive 2020, or his duds in 2019 and 2018?
Before we get there, let’s take a look at his three best and worst signings since taking over control on the team’s roster.
No. 3 worst: Patrick Omameh, 2018
From the get-go, Gettleman made it clear his intentions were to fix the offensive line. He proclaimed it in press conferences, the term hog-molly became a staple in any Giant fan’s dictionary – his acquisitions in his first off-season as general manager reflect that.
Omameh was brought in to be a staple among the Giants’ line for the ensuing years – he was signed to a three year, $15 million contract. It only took seven games for the team to realize they were better off setting the money on fire.
The Giants’ thought they were getting a player that just was never in the right situation to succeed – it turned out that their situation was no better. Omameh and Ereck Flowers making up the right side of the offensive line was malpractice on the Giants’ part.
The one saving grace about the signing is that Gettleman cut bait quicker than anyone expected. Just 242 days after the signing, Omameh was released from his contract.
Since then, Omameh has been a member of five different franchises – not being able to stick anywhere. At least those teams didn’t give him $5.5 million guaranteed.