The New York Giants did just about everything they needed to on a totally chaotic first unofficial day of free agency. Sure, not coming to terms with cornerback Cor'Dale Flott stung, but overall, it was a good day in the office.
Isaiah Likely helps bolster the tight end room and gives new head coach John Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Matt Nagy a versatile 6-foot-4, 245-pound weapon they can move all over the field. But the Giants’ biggest move of the day was re-signing right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor to a three-year, $39 million deal, which feels like an absolute steal for a guy some thought could push close to $20 million per season on the open market.
Even with Eluemunor back in the fold, the offensive line still needs help, especially on the interior. Building out that group was Big Blue’s biggest need entering the offseason, and while a new tight end, punter, and middle linebacker are nice additions, the next move feels pretty obvious: It’s time to go find a guard or two.
We’ll call it a changing of the guard. Literally.
Giants still need to finish rebuilding the offensive line in free agency
There’s an argument that can be made for another cornerback here, but good teams live or die by their quarterback, and quarterbacks live or die behind their offensive linemen. And with a handful of good remaining guards out there on Day 2, general manager Joe Schoen should be ready to make a move ASAP.
New England-bound Alijah Vera-Tucker would have been a great pick-up, but talks fell through. Meanwhile, Elgton Jenkins and Browns Wyatt Teller are two options that come to mind. Jenkins isn't exactly a spring chicken at 30 years old, and he’s also coming off one of the worst seasons of his seven-year career, but that could provide a great opportunity for Big Blue to strike while his value is low.
As for Teller, the three-time Pro Bowler’s best days are likely behind him, but he fits exactly what Harbaugh wants in his new-look, physical, run-heavy offense. Offensive line coach Mike Bloomgren previously coached the 31-year-old in Cleveland, which would make the transition to New York pretty seamless.
He has battled injuries over the past couple seasons, but he’s also only two years removed from his last Pro Bowl campaign. He would likely cost significantly less than Jenkins, which could ultimately factor into whether the G-Men take a run at one or the other, or if they decide they can afford both.
But Teller feels like the safest bet to pivot to.
The Giants did a lot of good work on Day 1, but the job clearly isn’t finished yet. Even though they brought in over $128 million worth of talent, the next step is obvious: Go get another guard (or two) and finish investing in their franchise quarterback's future.