The New York Giants spent free agency looking for bargains, and in some areas improved the roster but holes remain across the depth chart
As expected, the New York Giants largely sat out the first wave of free agency, adding a couple of bargain signings one year removed from an ill-conceived spending spree that turned out to be a colossal disappointment.
New Giants general manager Joe Schoen entered the offseason upwards of $12 million over the cap, before parting ways with veterans like running back Devontae Booker, tight end Kyle Rudolph, and restructuring the deals of linebacker Blake Martinez and Sterling Shepard, just to get cap compliant and able to afford some players to fill literal holes on the roster.
To date, the New York Giants have signed veteran quarterback Tyrod Taylor, offensive linemen Mark Glowinski and Jon Feliciano, tight end Ricky Seals-Jones, running back Matt Breida, and linebacker Jihad Ward.
Since it would appear the New York Giants have made all of the major moves they intend to make between now and next month’s NFL Draft, this seems like an apt time to take stock of the roster.
Where have the New York Giants gotten better, or worse, in free agency?
Tight end
Key losses: Evan Engram, Kyle Rudolph, Kaden Smith
Additions: Ricky Seals-Jones
In the hours before Ricky Seals-Jones signed, the New York Giants did not have an NFL-caliber tight end on the roster.
Seals-Jones, at least, has game experience, though he is far from a game-breaker.
This was exactly the kind of signing that Schoen and the Giants needed to make this offseason, as clearing cap space and looking ahead to long-term salary cap health significantly trumped any efforts to build a roster capable of pushing for a Super Bowl this season.
Seals-Jones will at least provide some sort of veteran competence, having caught 30 passes for 271 yards and a pair of touchdowns last season.
However, depending on what the Giants do in the NFL Draft, this might be the worst tight end room in the NFL. By a wide margin.
Verdict: Worse
Offensive guard
Key loss: Will Hernandez
Key addition: Mark Glowinski
All things considered, Will Hernandez in the second-round ranks highly on the most disappointing draft picks of the colossally disappointing Dave Gettleman era.
Not only did Hernandez seemingly regress each year since his mediocre rookie campaign but he quickly fell out of favor with Joe Judge’s coaching staff, en route to becoming a part-time player over the past two seasons.
Despite Gettleman vowing to make fixing the offensive line his top priority during his introductory press conference in 2018, Schoen is tasked with replacing as many as four starters up front.
Hernandez was the first to be replaced.
Enter, Glowinski, an eight-year veteran who has experience playing along the Colts’ offensive line, one of the NFL’s most consistently excellent groups.
Last season, Glowinski allowed only two sacks but 38 quarterback pressures.
By comparison, Hernandez surrendered seven sacks but 36 pressures.
So, as would be expected given the cap constraints left behind by Gettleman, Glowinski is a modest upgrade over Hernandez, at best.
Verdict: Better … Marginally
Center
Key addition: Jon Feliciano
Given the uncertainty surrounding Nick Gates’ future, following a significant leg injury suffered in Week 2 last season, the New York Giants needed to do something at center.
Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll wound up bringing former Bills interior lineman Jon Feliciano with them to East Rutherford.
Feliciano brings experience in and knowledge of Daboll’s scheme, and of course has significant familiarity with offensive line coach Bobby Johnson.
Last season, Feliciano didn’t allow a sack, and now has the chance to walk into a starting role.
Verdict: Better
Quarterback
Key loss: Mike Glennon
Key addition: Tyrod Taylor
If anyone saw even a quarter of a game from the last quarter of the 2021 New York Giants season, it was painfully obvious this team needed an upgrade at backup quarterback behind Daniel Jones.
Given Jones’ mediocrity to date, and this regime’s experience with Tyrod Taylor with the Buffalo Bills, would it be the least bit surprising if Taylor is given the chance to compete for the starting job this summer?
Even if Jones is the New York Giants’ starting quarterback come September, Taylor brings experience in the scheme and has proven capable of winning games in this league, should Jones go down with another injury.
Plus, because Taylor signed a two-year deal, if Jones underachieves, again, and the Giants go in a different direction at quarterback next year, Taylor is an ideal bridge-starter to a rookie in 2023.
Verdict: Better
Edge rusher
Key loss: Lorenzo Carter
Key addition: Jihad Ward
Lorenzo Carter never quite lived up to his billing as a third-round pick, and a strong argument can be made that both Azeez Ojulari and Quincy Roche offer more upside than the former Georgia bulldog.
But, Carter’s departure all but assures that the New York Giants will use one of their two first-round picks on one of the premier edge rushers in this year’s class.
Carter was a homegrown talent who played some of the best snaps of his career over the final four games of last season, but will be playing his next one elsewhere, in Atlanta.
Ward is a rotational player, who produced two sacks last season, and will see snaps on passing downs at defensive end. He’s exactly the type of cost-efficient signing the Giants should be making, but don’t expect him to have Lawrence Taylor-like or even Carter-like production in 2022.
Verdict: Worse
Running back
Key loss: Devontae Booker
Key addition: Matt Breida
Things could be about to get interesting for the New York Giants and Saquon Barkley.
Schoen has mounted a posture suggesting the Giants are open to trading Barkley all offseason, and while the trade market, according to sources, would be tepid for the former No. 2 overall pick, signing Matt Breida seems to suggest New York is at least open to the idea.
Breida is a slasher with the ability to make plays as a receiver out of the backfield, simliar to Barkley, and also has experience in Daboll’s offense.
At minimum, Breida arrives as a worthy complement to Barkley, in a similar role to the way the Dallas Cowboys use Tony Pollard alongside Ezekiel Elliott. However, Breida also could be a suitable replacement to Barkley, to pair with an incoming rookie later this spring in a move that would be incredibly cost-effective into the future.