4 free agents NY Giants GM Joe Schoen still has time to sign before camp

The NY Giants and general manager Joe Schoen have been busy this offseason signing and trading for two-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Brian Burns, drafting LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers at No. 6 overall, and addressing all positional needs, which we'll get a behind-the-scenes look at in Hard Knocks this summer. However, the Giants may still have work to do before head coach Brian Daboll finalizes his roster before training camp.

After veteran tight end Darren Waller announced his retirement before mandatory minicamp, Big Blue gained $11,625,200 in cap space per Over the Cap. The Giants still have some money left and could use this time to sign a veteran. With that said, let's take a look at four free agents Schoen and the Giants can still target:

4. Pass-rusher Yannick Ngakoue

The Giants did a great job at upgrading their pass rushing this offseason with the addition of two-time Pro Bowler Burns, who they'll pair opposite of edge-rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux and two-time Pro Bowl nose tackle Dexter Lawrence. The G-Men have talented linebackers, including Bobby Okereke, Darren McFadden, Isaiah Simmons, and rookie Darius Muasau. That looks solid, but more depth is needed at pass-rusher.

An excellent fit for Big Blue would be veteran Yannick Ngakoue, who most recently played with the Chicago Bears. The veteran was tremendous with the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he was the league's forced fumble leader and a Pro Bowler in 2017. Ngakoue was also a member of the PFWA All-Rookie Team in 2016. Last season with the Bears, the 29-year-old pass-rusher had 13 solo tackles and four sacks in 13 games. The veteran has 224 career sacks and has had an unbelievable career as a member of several teams around the NFL. He could provide the depth and experience the G-Men need to improve on the outside.

While Ngakoue might not be the cheapest option for the Giants, it's a no-brainer that Schoen and the front office should offer him a short-term deal. If the Giants can sign Ngakoue, they might break a couple of sack records. Adding him would provide insurance too in case Azeez Ojulari gets hurt again.

3. OG Greg Van Roten

We don't want to sound like a broken record, but the Giants can never have enough offensive linemen. The Giants countered last season's poor performance by beefing up their offensive line with the additions of veterans Jon Runyan Jr. and Jermaine Eluemunor in free agency. The team also addressed its disappointing offensive scheme by hiring former Las Vegas Raiders offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo to take over at the helm of the offensive line.

One veteran we like who is still looking for a new home is Greg Van Roten. The free-agent offensive guard most recently played with the Raiders and has an existing relationship with Eluemunor and Bricillo. Not only does the guard have chemistry with some of the Giants' linemen, but he's a New York native. He is from Long Island and played at Chaminade High School.

The 34-year-old OL provides depth that the Giants could never have enough of and provides a plethora of experience throughout the league as a member of several teams. Last season, as the Raiders' starting right guard, Van Roten started all 17 games and earned a 75.3 overall grade from Pro Football Focus.

2. S Justin Simmons

The Giants found their replacement for Xavier McKinney in the NFL Draft with Minnesota safety Tyler Nubin, who was selected by the team at pick No. 47. The Giants have also seen progression with fourth-year safety Jason Pinnock, who is expected to start this season, but it may not be too late to add even more help at the position.

Former Denver Broncos starting safety Justin Simmons is still a free agent after the team waived him at the start of free agency after eight seasons to save $14.5 million. The four-time All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowler has been unsigned since March, which may surprise many - he is one of the best players still available ahead of training camp.

Last year with the Broncos, Simmons had 53 solo tackles, two forced fumbles, three interceptions, and eight passes defended in 15 games. The 30-year-old safety was the NFL's interceptions co-leader in 2022 and has been a reliable player for the Broncos since he was drafted in 2016. While it's unclear who will sign the DB this season, whichever locker room he joins, Simmons will bring valuable experience and leadership in 2024. Hopefully, Schoen and Daboll can make it happen for the Giants.

1. CB Stephon Gilmore

Stephon Gilmore makes sense for the Giants because he brings veteran leadership and experience. The 33-year-old DB has played with the Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, Carolina Panthers, Indianapolis Colts, and, most recently, the Dallas Cowboys. Gilmore played best with the Patriots, winning the Defensive Player of the Year award and contributing to the team's Super Bowl LIII win in 2019. Although Gilmore is at the back end of his career, the five-time Pro Bowler should still be a valuable asset to any team's secondary that he joins this campaign.

In case you were wondering, Gilmore can still perform at a high level. The veteran cornerback had 54 solo tackles, one forced fumble, two interceptions, and 13 passes defended last season with the Cowboys. If the G-Men offer Gilmore a short-term deal, we can expect the veteran to post similar numbers at CB opposite second-year defensive back Deonte Banks. Gilmore could also mentor the team's young talent within the secondary, a role previously held by Adoree' Jackson.

While Daboll and Schoen are still finalizing this year's roster, it's still to be determined if they decide to bring in another veteran cornerback to boost their secondary or not. After gaining salary cap money from Waller's retirement, the Giants recently signed Tre Herndon to a one-year deal worth up to $1.125 million. With money left over from the tight end's departure, we'll see if the Giants decide to spend their remaining camp space this offseason or if they end up waiting to use it during the season to address injury concerns instead.