The NY Giants will look a lot different in 2024 after a frustrating 2023 campaign. Big Blue finished with a 6-11 record and in third place in the NFC East last season. The team also missed the playoffs after making a postseason appearance the year prior. So, we knew this would be a crucial offseason for the G-Men and that Joe Schoen and the front office needed to make changes.
Big Blue significantly improved its roster with the additions of rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers, veteran edge pass-rusher Brian Burns,new members of the coaching staff and more. However, the team was also tasked with letting some of its fan favorites leave the organization in free agency.
While this does hurt for Giants supporters to watch, sometimes rebuilding is not so bad after all. It may have been the right decision for the Giants to move on from some free agents and start fresh in many departments. That said, let's take a look at four Giants players that Schoen was right to part ways with after a disappointing 2023 campaign:
4. WR Parris Campbell
One player the Giants were smart to move on from was wideout Parris Campbell. While the veteran receiver only spent one season in New York, he did not make much of an impact. Last season, Campbell had just 20 receptions and 104 yards in 12 games and three starts. The slot receiver was even a healthy scratch for several games - not what a lot of people imagined for him.
Campbell came to the Giants on a one-year deal with high expectations after succeeding with the Indianapolis Colts, where he spent the first four seasons of his professional career. He now joins a crowded receivers room in Philadelphia, where he'll have the opportunity to compete for a job with the NFC East rival Eagles.
Eagles' Parris Campbell confident he can prove Giants wrong https://t.co/prvnSmrMgT pic.twitter.com/K9iIDLmlFF
— TheGiantsWire (@TheGiantsWire) April 8, 2024
The departure of Campbell will open the door for Nabers to make an even bigger impact in his rookie season, as well as Jalin Hyatt, who the Giants selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. The G-Men also recently added veteran wideout Allen Robinson II in free agency. The Giants will also use veterans Isaiah Hodgins and Wan'Dale Robinson. The team is also hoping to make Darius Slayton happy before camp gets here. Moving on from Campbell will be an addition by subtraction for the Giants.
3. CB Adoree' Jackson
The Giants' secondary will look a bit different in 2024, and one big reason is that the team will likely be without veteran defensive back Adoree Jackson. One of Big Blue's priorities was to address their secondary, and they have done just that by getting a lot younger at both the cornerback and safety positions.
The Giants are building around former first-round pick Deonte Banks, who had an impressive rookie campaign in 2023. The Giants added David Long Jr. in free agency. The veteran is only 26 and is a great depth piece who will fill in nicely in any role Brian Daboll uses him in next season. The Giants also selected Kentucky cornerback Dru Phillips in the third round of this year's NFL Draft.
While the Giants added a lot of young talent at cornerback, not bringing back Jackson benefits third-year corner Cor'Dale Flott the most. Flott was drafted by New York in 2022 and is expected to earn a starting role this season. That said, there's just no room for Jackson in New York in 2024. He remains a free agent, so we'll have to wait and see where he ends up, but a return to East Rutherford would be a major shock.
2. Safety Xavier McKinney
The player the G-Men moved on from which may hurt the most for many Giants fans was safety Xavier McKinney. After four seasons with Big Blue, the former second-round pick quickly became a fan favorite in New York. McKinney earned a well-deserved four-year, $68 million contract with the Green Bay Packers this offseason. While Giants Nation will miss McKinney, Schoen and the Giants front office may have made up for losing the star defensive back in the NFL Draft.
The Giants have arguably added the best safety in this year's NFL Draft class. Big Blue selected Minnesota safety Tyler Nubin with the No. 47 overall pick, which the Seattle Seahawks dealt to the team in exchange for Leonard Williams last season. Nubin had a successful collegiate career with Minnesota, as he now holds the program record for career interceptions with 13 and earned first-team All-Big Ten and first-team All-American honors at the end of last season. Nubin will immediately impact the Giants in 2024, as he is expected to start.
The Giants selected Tyler Nubin in the second round of the NFL Draft to start at safety. Can he also emerge as a team leader early in his career?
— Paul Schwartz (@NYPost_Schwartz) May 12, 2024
“You know, all points say yes. The signs lead to yes.” https://t.co/2zBmY7GRNC
The Giants also added veteran Jalen Mills in free agency, who can provide depth at safety and CB. The G-Men would have had to pay McKinney a lot to stay in New York. Had they broken the bank on him, or the No. 1 guy on this list, trading for Burns would not have been an option.
1. RB Saquon Barkley
The Giants' backfield will look completely different in 2024, as the team will be without star running back Saquon Barkley. Not only will No. 26 not be in New York next season, but he will be facing the Giants twice as a member of the NFC East rival Philadelphia Eagles. While this news may upset many Giants fans, the team can finally rebuild at the running back position.
Saquon spent the last six seasons with the G-Men after being drafted by the organization with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. During his tenure with the Giants, Barkley became a two-time Pro Bowler and earned the honor of the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year back in '18.
While Barkley became a fan favorite on and off the field in NY, injuries and his inability to stay healthy became a significant concern. Although Barkley expressed his desire to be a 'Giant for life' and play his entire NFL career in New York, Schoen and the Giants' front office were unwilling to pay the star running back the kind of money he was hoping for.
The Giants brought in veteran running back Devin Singletary this offseason in free agency. 'Motor' will take over in Big Blue's backfield as the team's top running back. New York also welcomed Tyrone Tracy Jr. via the NFL Draft. The Giants' fifth-round pick might be this year's hidden gem, as he can make a difference on offense and special teams. Barkley wanted head-turning money and there was no way Schoen was going to give it to him. Letting him walk was tough, but it was the right move.