With just a few weeks left in the 2024 season, the New York Giants are looking to put this disastrous campaign behind them and look ahead to the offseason. That said, whoever runs the Giants' front office next season will have their hands full, as the team will reevaluate every position.
Ryan Dunleavy from The New York Post recently examined 12 "this-or-that" players that the Giants must evaluate for 2025. The article listed nine draft picks and three veterans. This doesn't necessarily mean the Giants will move on from these players at the end of the season, but they will need to determine their futures with the franchise in what will be one of the most eventful offseasons in team history.
Dunleavy names wide receivers Jalin Hyatt and Wan'Dale Robinson, offensive linemen Evan Neal, John Michael Schmitz, and Jermaine Eluemunor, linebackers Kayvon Thibodeaux, Micah McFadden, and Bobby Okereke, cornerbacks Dru Phillips and Deonte Banks, safety Jason Pinnock, and tight end Theo Johnson as players about whom the Giants can ask, "What is he really as a player?" When these next three games are over, the answer will determine each player's future in New York.
Who are these #Giants?
— Ryan Dunleavy (@rydunleavy) December 18, 2024
Building blocks? Or Just A Guy?
Whoever is running #Giants100 in offseason is going to have to make some difficult projections on what these 12 players are supposed to be vs. what they have shown so far (good and bad extremes). https://t.co/1gKEMnO98o
The Giants will have a new quarterback under center in 2025 and possibly a new head coach, but here are three more players who may or may not be suiting up for Big Blue next year:
Three players fighting for their Giants' lives at season's end
3: Micah McFadden, LB
One player whose stock is rising is inside linebacker McFadden. This season, he has 102 tackles, three sacks, and a forced fumble, resulting in a breakout campaign for the veteran. With so many injuries in the Giants' pass-rush unit right now, the 2022 fifth-rounder will be a player to monitor closely over the next three weeks. We can expect McFadden to continue to get opportunities, which will determine his role with the G-Men going forward.
We can expect the former Indiana linebacker to give Michael Penix Jr. some problems in his NFL debut this Sunday, which could establish his spot on next year's 53-man roster. With Azeez Ojulari likely not re-signing with the Giants in free agency this offseason, McFadden will take on a more prominent role on defense next season for the Giants—and rightfully so.
2: Evan Neal, OT
You can never have enough offensive linemen, but it might be time to put the Neal hype to bed. Is it finally time to officially call the 2022 first-rounder a bust? After losing his starting right tackle job last season, Neal has played seven games and started the past five this season. In the last five games, Neal has allowed two sacks and 12 pressures, which makes it safe to say he won't be starting at RT next year.
Fans have scrutinized Neal for his lack of performance and inability to stay healthy during his time with the Giants. The former Alabama lineman faced backlash from fans following a Week 4 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the 2023 season for comments he made about the Big Blue faithful after Daniel Jones was sacked 11 times. So, not only has Neal's stock gone down for his on-field performance, but he has also not been well-liked among Giants fans.
We can expect the Giants to either try Neal at guard next season or look to trade him. Regardless, he will not be starting for New York unless injuries dictate otherwise. We may witness Neal's last games with the Giants over the next few weeks.
1: Jalin Hyatt, WR
Joe Schoen traded up in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft to select Hyatt after he was almost drafted in the second round, and he was a highly touted wide receiver prospect out of Tennessee. During his rookie campaign, Hyatt had some bright spots, posting 23 receptions for 372 receiving yards. While many believed Hyatt would emerge as the Giants' top target following last season, he has significantly underperformed, though it may not be entirely his fault.
This year, the second-year wideout has seven catches for 53 yards and zero touchdowns in 30 career games. In his defense, Hyatt has appeared in just 35 percent of the offensive snaps and has been used on 16 or fewer snaps seven times this year, which falls on Brian Daboll, the team's head coach and primary play-caller this season.
It will be interesting to see if the Giants use Hyatt in a different role next year with a new coaching staff or let the young receiver go after just two seasons. Still, New York must devise a plan to get Hyatt more involved on offense in 2025.