The NY Giants turned heads with their big spending in free agency – putting the NFL on notice that they expect to be in the post-season this year. New York picked their players carefully – instead of handing out checks like candy, they made sure players fit their mold.
Only two teams outspent the Giants in free agency – the New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers. Both teams missed the playoffs last season, but have been perennial contenders in recent years – something the Giants are aspiring to become.
This isn’t the first time the Giants spent big in free agency. In 2016, Jerry Reese’s last hurrah was a spending spree where the team gave out a whopping $106.3 million in guaranteed money – over $30 million more than the next team.
While early results were tremendous, eventually it blew up in their face. After one playoff appearance, the team cleaned house – leading to one of the darkest eras in the team’s history.
Dave Gettleman’s 2021 spending spree doesn’t feel like his predecessors. The Giants were cerebral this time around – not letting the opportunity to let young, proven players they were high on sign somewhere else.
The Giants’ brass has kept their plans close to the vest since the arrival of coach Joe Judge, but free agency helped us learn a lot about their thinking. By looking at the position, character and ability of the players they signed, they painted a picture of the team they want to build.
Here are 5 thoughts on the NY Giants big free agency spending:
They believe in Daniel Jones
Many have been bearish on Giants’ quarterback Daniel Jones, since he was drafted in 2019 – not the team’s front office.
Since the day they shocked the collective football world by making Jones the sixth overall pick of the draft, they’ve never wavered in their support of him.
While Jones made it tough at times last season, the team’s spending spree proved that Judge’s commitment to Jones wasn’t just coach speak.
Jones rewarded the Giants’ faith his rookie season – passing for 24 touchdowns and showing some serious arm talent. Naturally, he was expected to improve upon that last season – instead, his statistics plummeted.
After watching Buffalo Bills star, Josh Allen, go from potential bust to MVP candidate in one season, the Giants are hoping for the same from their signal caller.
The Bills put all their chips on the table and gave Allen every chance to succeed – the Giants have done the same. After inking Kenny Golladay and Kyle Rudolph to contracts, Jones will have all he needs to enter a higher tier of quarterbacks.
The weapons the team brought in, along with the signing of career back-up quarterback Mike Glennon, signal one thing – the Giants believe in Daniel Jones.