With the first wave of free agency wrapping up, the NY Giants still have a few holes on their roster that must be addressed. Joe Schoen did a great job at fixing some big needs by finding offensive linemen and adding pass-rusher Brian Burns. However, some positions were left entirely untouched and need to be patched up prior to the start of the 2024 season.
Lucky for the Giants, the NFL Draft and another wave of free agency is on the horizon, and while cap space may be tight, there are still plenty of solid options on both sides of the ball. Regardless of how Schoen does it, these five needs must be addressed sooner rather than later.
5. A running back to play behind Devin Singletary
With Matt Breida likely not returning this offseason, the Giants need to look elsewhere in order to find a new secondary back behind the newly acquired Devin Singletary. There are a couple of intriguing in-house options, but none of these players have proven they can be a consistent RB2 in the NFL.
For example, Gary Brightwell had flashes of decent play in 2022, but only appeared in seven games last season, averaging 2.1 yards per carry. Alongside Brightwell is sophomore back Eric Gray, who was forced into returning punts for the Giants before getting benched. However, on the ground, Gray disappointed as well, racking up just 48 yards on 17 carries.
It seems possible that Schoen and company could look toward the draft once more to find a running back. If so, this would be the class to do it, as there is plenty of running back depth across the board. For example, Braelon Allen out of Wisconsin would be a great option for New York, offering tons of power out of the backfield.
In terms of free agency, there aren't many guys left that would be worth signing as opposed to drafting someone in the mid-to-late rounds. Perhaps a back like Marlon Mack, or Latavius Murray could interest Schoen, but drafting a younger, higher-ceiling player seems like the right move given New York's timeline.