5 NY Giants players who likely played their final game with the team

The dream is dead for the NY Giants. After the team proved so many people wrong throughout the year, they weren’t able to get things done against Philly and they suffered a season-ending loss. Despite no miracle Super Bowl this campaign, that doesn’t take away from the great year.

However, this roster needs a bit of a makeover and there are several areas where the Giants will need to improve, specifically at wide receiver, linebacker and on the offensive line. With that said, here’s a look at five guys who we don’t anticipate suiting up for the Giants next season:

5. Linebacker Jaylon Smith

When Jaylon Smith was signed for his second stint with the Giants, a lot of eyebrows were raised – but in a good way. At inside linebacker, the Giants had a rough go of things throughout the year, but Smith was expected to make a strong impact. With the LBs as a whole, as soon as Blake Martindez was released, someone needed to step up.

While Smith had some decent showings, he’s been among the group of guys who looked nothing short of terrible as well. The former second-round pick over-pursued too many times and RBs took advantage of it. Fans were sick of Tae Crowder, who was released earlier in the year and closed the regular season with the Steelers. Then, Smith became LB enemy No. 1. Look at his angle here:

Smith ended up posting 88 tackles in 13 regular season games for the Giants this year. Wink Martindale spoke highly of Smith late in the season, but Schoen needs to make an upgrade here for next fall. Smith is a free agent this offseason and he just didn’t do enough to earn another go with the G-Men. He just couldn’t be trusted to make big plays.

4. Offensive lineman Jon Feliciano

The offensive line as a whole was a nightmare for the Giants this year – a complete and total nightmare. Center Jon Feliciano was brought in to try and help the overhaul of the unit, but he disappointed time and time again for Brian Daboll during the regular season. Feliciano got better in the second half and looked sharp at times in the postseason, but the inconsistency is a worry.

The fact that he was a Pro Bowl alternate is something we couldn’t believe when it was announced and we’re still in shock to be perfectly honest. Feliciano was brought in on a one-year deal to prove himself. People were hoping he’d be able to step in as a veteran up front and provide Daniel Jones with some great protection. At times he did. At others, well, he didn’t.

Instead, Feliciano, along with basically every other linemen execept for Andrew Thomas, was disappointing to watch. In 2023, Feliciano will be suiting up for his ninth NFL season. Schoen should focus on finding a different starting center as part of improving the offensive line. Maybe bring back Nick Gates and give him the job? Who knows, Feliciano could ink a new deal with NY, but we feel like his time with the squad should come to a close.

3. Wide receiver Richie James

Just like the offensive line, the wide receivers room needs a total makeover and a lot of guys will have to look for new homes later this year. Richie James needs to be on that list. The fact that James made it all the way through until the end of the campaign is a bit of a surprise, as a lot of people were calling for him to get cut midway through the year.

Whether it be his two fumbles against Seattle or disappointing drops, James just couldn’t be trusted. Remember on Christmas Eve when on third down Jones hit James with a perfect throw and then he somehow let the ball hit the turf? Fans couldn’t believe that terrible mistake from No. 80 when it happened.

Then in the Divisional Round loss to the Eagles, Jones tossed a ball deep down the field, with a James touchdown written all over it. However, James once again posted a disheartening drop and fans were left speechless. If NY wants to take the next step next season and in the future, the offense needs to bring in some playmakers for Jones and James just won’t cut it.

2. Pass-rusher Oshane Ximines

Back on defense, the end very well could be near for Oshane Ximines with the Giants. Ximines is a free agent this offseason and he’s coming off a down season. In 2022, the 6-4, 255-pounder ended up appearing in 15 games, but he posted 24 tackles and two sacks. A lot of people were hoping the fourth-year pass-rusher would have a strong fall and winter to remember.

However, his production ended up being pretty average. With Azeez Ojulari and Kayvon Thibodeaux being the future on the outside for the Giants, Schoen doesn’t need to worry about the edge spots for quite some time. However, one thing to worry about would be Ojulari’s health, as he missed a large chunk of this season with various injuries.

As for Ximines, he could be a good rotational option for a defense, but the Giants could look to add some quality pass-rush depth in the upcoming draft. If Ximines is looking for a new deal, potentially a multi-year one, he’ll need to try and find it with a different squad.

1. Wide receiver Kenny Golladay

It’s time to say goodbye to Kenny Golladay. Sooner than later, Schoen is going to make the easy decision to release the veteran wideout. Before the 2021 season, former Giants GM Dave Gettleman inked Golladay to his head-turning four-year, $72 million contract to be a superstar for the NFC East side.

Things never got off and running. Golladay only finished with one touchdown with Big Blue, hauling in an unreal pass in the Week 18 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. In his two years with the Giants, Golladay finished with 43 receptions for 602 yards and the lone touchdown at Lincoln Financial Field.

When this move does happen, the Giants will end up saving $6.7 million in cap space while taking the $14.7 million dead money hit. It’s all worth it, though, as Golladay just wasn’t a fit in East Rutherford from the start. He had his nice TD grab and unreal block vs. the Vikings, but Golladay will surely be remembered as a bust with NY.

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