The NFL is a what have you done for me lately business, and in East Rutherford, the clock is ticking faster than usual. With John Harbaugh now calling the shots, the days of keeping guys around just because of their draft pedigree or past flashes are officially over.
I present to you, the new New York Giants.
However, there’s a fine line between trimming the fat and cutting into the muscle. The Giants' roster has undergone a massive overhaul this offseason, but as the roster starts to take shape, a few names are hovering dangerously close to expendable territory. While the temptation to fully pivot to the "Harbaugh era" guys is tempting, general manager Joe Schoen needs to be careful about who he inevitably parts ways with.
Consistency has been the Achilles' heel for this team, but these four players possess specific traits that -- if utilized correctly -- could be the difference between a playoff push and another top-five pick situation. Here are four players the Giants simply cannot afford to give up on just yet.
4 Giants players who shouldn’t be written off just yet
Chauncey Golston, OLB
Chauncey Golston is, by all means, a luxury item. Even after the Giants signed him to a three-year, $19.5 million contract last offseason, they used him sparingly, showing just how little they cared about throwing money away at a position they didn't need to upgrade, all seemingly for the sake of it. Well, that shouldn't be the case anymore with Harbaugh and new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson calling the shots.
The 28-year-old isn't two years removed from putting up career-high numbers in Dallas -- 5.5 sacks, 56 tackles, five passes defensed, and eight quarterback hits. His size suggests he's a tweener -- 6-foot-5, 277 pounds -- but that really means Harbs has the ultimate put-him-anywhere-along-the-front guy to expose matchups and give the defense an underrated chess piece it's been missing for years.
Golston’s role won’t come easy. This room is loaded now, and snaps aren’t going to be handed out. If he carves out a spot in that rotation, it probably means he’s doing something right.
Jason Pinnock, SAF
Welcome back, Jason Pinnock. After a year of trying -- and failing -- to find himself outside of North Jersey, he’s back in Giants blue looking to put a miserable 2025 season behind him. Pinnock isn’t the best safety in the league, but he does one thing really well, and that’s make plays in the ground game.
He’s a downhill thumper who isn't afraid to muck it up at the line, and with Big Blue's secondary currently all over the map, his return couldn't have come at a better time. Wilson's system thrives on safeties who can disguise their intentions. Pinnock’s ability to play deep or move closer to the line provides a level of versatility that isn't easily replaced.
Both Jevón Holland and Tyler Nubin struggled last year, which leaves the door wide open for the 26-year-old to do something crazy.
Micah McFadden, ILB
Swayze Bozeman already got the axe earlier this offseason, presumably to make room for incoming rookies Arvell Reese and Jack Kelly, and while Micah McFadden's employment in East Rutherford isn't up for debate, his role will be. It doesn't help that the team signed free agent Tremaine Edmunds to a long-term deal this offseason, either.
It's unfortunate, because when healthy, he can be a difference maker for this defense. Before a Lisfranc foot injury wiped out his entire fourth year, the 26-year-old was looking for his third straight 100-plus tackle season. He's been a good, not great, run defender, which has been the biggest question mark holding this defense back. If Wilson gives more 3-4 base looks, McFadden should be a fixture for one of those middle spots where his diagnostic skills can shine.
Kayvon Thibodeaux, OLB
If you thought Golston was a luxury, wait until you make your way to Kayvon Thibodeaux. Consider this the 1,000th time I stand by the 25-year-old pass-rusher, but a lot has been made about the redundancy of Thibodeaux's role in East Rutherford. But I say a team can never have too many pass-rushers.
The bust talk surrounding KT is exhausting, but there's an argument. If Harby can tap into that elite motor we saw during his 11.5-sack campaign back in 2023, Thibs could go from perennial trade candidate to long-term defensive cornerstone. Giving up on a former top-five pick just as he enters his prime could be a catastrophic mistake that might haunt the Giants for years to come. If they were to move on from him, he screams next former Giant to thrive elsewhere.
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