Wave 1 of free agency brought in some fun names for the New York Giants and their fans: tight end Isaiah Likely, linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, All-Pro punter Jordan Stout, and fullback Patrick “Pancake Pat” Ricard.
And while general manager Joe Schoen is probably done making the splashy moves, Wave 2 of free agency could be the perfect opportunity for him to shore up the rest of the roster with some high-value additions.
Wave 2 of free agency usually turns into the value-shopping portion of the offseason. But if Schoen finds the right veterans still floating around the market, a few Giants currently penciled into roles might suddenly find themselves on much shakier ground.
Five Giants players who could feel the heat in Wave 2 of free agency
Roy Robertson-Harris, DL
Robertson-Harris is currently a starter on Big Blue’s defensive line alongside Darius Alexander and Dexter Lawrence. While neither Robertson-Harris nor Alexander feels like a long-term answer, the 32-year-old is probably the one in the most danger as Joe Schoen looks to keep adding to the roster in Wave 2.
The nine-year veteran signed a two-year, $9 million deal with the Giants in 2025, but with the team placing a clear emphasis on improving its run defense and several solid free agents still available, he’s officially on notice. Calais Campbell, D.J. Reader, and Shelby Harris are all savvy veteran options on the back nine of their careers who could come in on a cheap, short-term deal and immediately shake up the depth chart Robertson-Harris currently sits atop.
Jake Kubas, OG
Jake Kubas is the current starting right guard. That’s a problem for a team trying to build a stronger offensive line in front of franchise quarterback Jaxson Dart. Former Giants lineman Greg Van Roten is still sitting out there in free agency, and he started all 34 games for New York over the last two seasons.
Van Roten isn’t the only option who could challenge Kubas for that job. Former Browns guards Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller are both intriguing possibilities, and so is former Lions guard Kevin Zeitler. Giants fans should remember Zeitler well after his stint in New York from 2019 to 2020, and he also played under Harbaugh in Baltimore from 2021 to 2023.
Jalin Hyatt, WR
Jalin Hyatt’s job security was already shaky entering the offseason, and that was before the Giants added wide receivers Calvin Austin III and Darnell Mooney. There’s still a chance Big Blue’s GM could sneak in another receiver addition as Wave 2 of free agency rolls along.
Jauan Jennings, Stefon Diggs, Deebo Samuel, and Hollywood Brown are among the bigger names still floating around, but there are plenty of other options available too. Through three seasons, the 2022 Biletnikoff Award winner has just 36 receptions for 470 yards and zero touchdowns.
Paulson Adebo, CB
Adebo’s inclusion on this list might feel like a stretch, especially with Cor’Dale Flott gone, but if Schoen has a chance to upgrade a position that’s been a headache for the Giants for years, nobody’s spot is completely safe. The 26-year-old signed a three-year, $54 million deal last offseason, and one year in, it hasn’t exactly looked like a home run.
Schoen already brought in Greg Newsome, but what the Tennessee Titans just did with L’Jarius Sneed could complicate things even more. Tennessee surprisingly released the 29-year-old, which suddenly gives New York an interesting opportunity to add a legitimate top-tier corner later in free agency.
Kayvon Thibodeaux, LB
Thibodeaux is firmly entrenched as Big Blue’s third pass rusher behind Abdul Carter and Brian Burns. That makes the 25-year-old somewhat expendable, especially for a player who already has an 11.5-sack season on his résumé. It also means his name tends to pop up whenever trade rumors start floating around.
With multiple roster holes still left to fill, Thibs could become a valuable trade chip if Schoen wants to clear cap space or bring back another piece to help round out the roster.