If you thought the New York Giants were done fixing their roster after the initial chaos of free agency, think again. They made a grocery list of moves, but this makeover is still far from finished, and some of the holes are still pretty obvious.
That’s why Pro Football Focus’ Dalton Wasserman taking a swing at the Giants’ remaining needs deserves some attention. And to be fair, he’s not totally off. Linebacker, defensive line, and wide receiver all make sense at a glance, especially with how last season went.
But leaving out cornerback and offensive line has me making like a jigsaw and feeling puzzled.
Here’s what Wasserman had to say:
“The Giants have made several moves under new head coach John Harbaugh to fill out their roster. There are still needs at multiple key positions, though, including at linebacker, where they could be in a position to find a starter in the draft to pair with newly acquired ex-Bear Tremaine Edmunds. ...
Defensive tackle could also be an area of focus despite the presence of Dexter Lawrence. ... Improvement at wide receiver is also an option for them, particularly with the fifth overall pick, where Ohio State’s Carnell Tate and Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson could be under consideration.”
Giants still have some pretty clear needs after free agency frenzy
Linebacker being on that list makes some sense. Tremaine Edmunds helps, and bringing back Micah McFadden gives them something to work with, but that room still feels one injury away from becoming an absolute nightmare again.
McFadden is coming off a lost season, and behind those two, it’s a lot of “hope this works out.” We literally just sat through an entire season of that last year, so I can see the vision there.
Defensive line is another one that doesn’t need much explaining. Dexter Lawrence is doing everything he can in the middle, but asking him to carry that unit by himself again feels like setting him up to get double- and triple-teamed into irrelevance once again.
They’ve tried the patchwork approach next to him before, and it hasn't gone well. At some point, they need a real running mate in there so offenses can’t just key in on him every snap, and he doesn't lose the motor that makes the Dexy sexy.
Wide receiver is a little more layered. Malik Nabers is coming back from a torn ACL, and Darnell Mooney is on a prove-it deal. Same with Calvin Austin. There’s no clear, reliable No. 2 or 3 option right now, which makes the idea of adding another weapon make sense, whether that’s early in the draft or via trade.
But this is where the list feels incomplete.
The offensive line is still shaky, especially on the inside. Inserts obligatory "bringing back Evan Neal and Joshua Ezeudu was not on my bingo card," comment.
And then there’s cornerback. Losing Cor’Dale Flott stings a lot, and asking Greg Newsome II to suddenly figure it out in Year 6 isn’t exactly a sure thing. Also, Paulson Adebo did nothing last year to suggest he's worthy of being a starter, either. And nickel corner Dru Phillips took a step back after an impressive rookie season. The unit is moving in the wrong direction.
The G-Men do need help at linebacker, defensive line, and wide receiver. They need help everywhere. But if this offseason is really about building something special in Year 1 under Harbaugh, taking care of the more pressing needs might be a better use of their effort.