Every offseason comes with difficult decisions to make for the NY Giants and the front office. With new personnel looking to push their new operation, there are likely going to be some unexpected departures. In recent months, this included Logan Ryan, Jabrill Peppers, James Bradberry and Evan Engram leaving town.
This is a normal event when there is a new general manager. It is something the Giants’ fans have become accustomed to as well. With that being said, most new general managers don’t tear the entire project apart. They try to refine and top what the previous front office attempted with the roster. Not long ago, the Giants went from Jerry Reese, who had a very successful stint leading the Giants to two Super Bowls, to Dave Gentleman – who did not have nearly as successful of a stint.
Joe Schoen looks to be trying his best to not be put in the same regard as Gettleman. With this, he must adapt the team to match his vision, which comes with some unfortunate departures down the road. Here’s a look at four players who likely won’t be back at this point next year.
4. NY Giants WR Darius Slayton
A former fifth-round pick in 2019, Darius Slayton only has one year remaining on his rookie deal. Slayton seemed to be loaded with potential and a steal following his surprisingly productive rookie season. He put up 740 yards and eight touchdowns – Slayton was tied for the most receiving yards by a rookie in 2019.
Sadly, Slayton has all but been forgotten following his poor 2021 season and a 2020 campaign that did not break the highs he set in his rookie year. Thus, the Giants appear to have already prepared to move on following 2022. Signing Kenny Golladay was one thing, but then drafting Kadarius Toney was another. Add Wan’Dale Robinson to the list too.
Slayton will (likely) still get a chance to show what he can do for the Giants in 2022. This may come with less snaps than he received in by far the worst campaign in his career so far. There is still a slight chance Slayton returns to the Giants in 2023, but it’s not looking likely at this point. There’s still talks of the G-Men cutting him this summer as well.
3. NY Giants LB Blake Martinez
One of David Gettleman’s key defensive additions ahead of the 2020 season, Blake Martinez now only has one year left on his contract. He originally signed a three-year, $30 million contract joining the Giants project and leaving the Packers in 2020. Martinez restructured his deal to come back for this fall.
Martinez was a cog in the Giants defense that was not far off from leading the team to a playoff appearance in 2020 under now-departed defensive coordinator Patrick Graham – now the defensive coordinator for the Las Vegas Raiders. Don ‘Wink’ Martindale will have no issue fitting the tackling machine into his scheme.
Before becoming the defensive coordinator for the Ravens, Martindale was the linebackers coach and worked closely with Ray Lewis. This means Martindale knows his linebackers. Martinez is a talented player and a fan favorite, but he will be recovering from an ACL injury that typically takes you up to two years to fully recover from.
This means the 28-year-old linebacker is not entering the 2022 campaign at his fullest. Not only that, but most players do not reach the level they were once at prior to such an injury. This may lead to the Giants possibly taking their chance at moving on and signing or drafting another linebacker. Martinez has some work to do if he wants to return in ’23.
2. NY Giants QB Daniel Jones
It is exceedingly obvious that NY Giants starting quarterback Daniel Jones is entering a decisive year. With one season left on his contract and seemingly not living up to where he was selected, the pressure is on. If there is any time for Jones to prove he is the guy for the Giants, there is no better time than now.
If he does not do that, the Giants will likely move on, as Schoen did not draft him. General managers who did not draft the starting quarterback typically do not have a hard time moving on. The Giants recently signed Tyrod Taylor to a two-year deal. People think Taylor could end up having Jones benched 4-6 weeks into the season.
Several NFL Mock Drafts already have the Giants using their first-round pick on a new quarterback next spring too. New York has been linked to Alabama’s Bryce Young and Kentucky’s Will Levis. Both would be exciting new quarterbacks for the Giants, but Jones is hoping to make enough noise to land a new deal from the team. That’s not looking likely, however.
1. NY Giants S Julian Love
Julian Love has been an undervalued player for the Giants. The former fourth-round pick in 2019 was drafted the same year as Jones and Slayton, who are also entering big seasons. So far, for the Giants, he has been a very quality depth piece. This year, he is looking to be a starter come the start of the season.
This comes as the Giants cut Ryan and let Peppers walk. Those are some big shoes to fill. The Giants did bring in Dane Belton in the draft to help relieve these departures. Within one offseason, the Giants went from seemingly having a stacked secondary to it becoming a position of need. That is if guys like Xavier McKinney, Adoree’ Jackson, Love, Darnay Holmes and Cardale Flott don’t have something to say about that.
This is the first season Love is set to be a full-time starter. It is his time to capitalize and prove he is more than a versatile depth piece. If he shows he can handle the pressure of being a starter in New York, the Giants could bring him back. On the other hand, if he does not show he can be a consistent starter, the chances become slim.