The NY Giants entered free agency as an afterthought – not expected to be big players in the frenzy. That’s not the case now – the team filled glaring holes with stars after going shopping at the top of the market.
They set themselves up well – not just for the upcoming season, but the future as a whole. They intelligently structured their deals in ways that fit them under this year’s low salary cap number, with the idea that the number will balloon in the coming years.
After fans watched teams around the league manipulate the caps for years, it was a welcome change seeing the ‘old-school’ Giants’ front office do the same.
This years free agency haul feels different from 2016’s spending spree – one that famously blew up in the team’s face after the first season. General manager Dave Gettleman and coach Joe Judge worked together to find players who fit their team in every aspect before paying them – their scheme, identity and culture.
The NY Giants made a multitude of positive moves – but which ones stand above the rest?
Here’s a ranking of the NY Giants’ best moves in free agency
Honorable Mention: Low risk, high reward signings
This year, the front office made a point of bringing in players with talent who just didn’t fit the team they were drafted to. It’s an old trick that smart teams do – like Judge’s former employer, the New England Patriots.
It started when the Giants signed former ninth overall pick, wide receiver John Ross, to a one year, $2.5 million contract. Ross possesses blazing speed – he broke the record for the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine in 2017, running a 4.22 in the event.
Injuries and inconsistent play led to him falling out of favor with the Cincinnati Bengals, but if the Giants’ offensive staff can bring out what made Ross so impressive at the University of Washington, $2.5 million is a steal.
The team also brought in a bevy of defensive stand-outs from one of Judge’s stops along his career – the University of Alabama. They bolstered their defensive depth with players like linebackers Reggie Ragland and Ryan Anderson.
Both players are familiar with the team’s newest defensive coach – former Alabama defensive coordinator, Jeremy Pruitt. Pruitt even recruited Anderson to Tuscaloosa – if he can help get the best out of his former players, the two signings may be as impactful as any.
The Giants banked on players who showed potential in their careers, but were yet to put all their intangibles together. Judge believes in his coaching staff – if they can get the most out of these low risk signings, the reward will be a team with talent to spare.
We’ve seen the Giants spend money in much worse ways.