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.
4. Another interior defensive lineman alongside Dexter Lawrence
The Giants made a massive splash to kick off free agency, pulling off a trade for Panthers star Burns. While this finally brought another edge-rusher to play with Kayvon Thibodeaux, the interior defensive line still looks a little thin. Obviously, Dexter Lawrence headlines this unit, but aside from him, the Giants have Rakeem Nunez-Roches and D.J. Davidson, which isn't very ideal.
Both of these guys are decent options at the position, but the Giants can definitely do better. Similar to running backs, the 2024 NFL Draft is full of talented defensive linemen New York would benefit from selecting. Whether it be Maason Smith out of LSU or Duke's DeWayne Carter, Schoen has plenty of prospects to choose from.
Free agency holds some solid veterans that could bring a decent presence to the trenches. For example, Emmanuel Ogbah has been a solid player despite receiving limited snaps and could be a fine option alongside Lawrence.
One intriguing option that is currently on the Giants is second-year player Jordon Riley. While he didn't see the field much his rookie season, defensive line coach Andre Patterson has spoken highly of Riley in the past and with the current lack of depth, Riley could become a genuine part of the lineup before you know it.
3. A starting safety to replace Xavier McKinney
As of right now, the Giants have one solidified starting safety in the form of Jason Pinnock, who had a breakout season in 2023. However, who will play alongside him currently remains the question as Schoen has yet to find a true answer. Dane Belton remains an intriguing option given his ball-chasing prowess and Jalen Mills could be a solid player in limited snaps, but both of these guys have some glaring problems.
For example, Belton, while a true ball hawk, has remained atrocious against the run to the point where he was hardly receiving snaps throughout 2023. While there's always potential that Belton fixes this issue, especially under a safety guru like Shane Bowen, do the Giants really want to risk so much on this?
While there are tons of veteran options in free agency, the Giants have not been rumored to be interested in any of them thus far, so it's tough to say if they're in the market for one or not. However, there are plenty of intriguing prospects that Schoen may have his eyes on.
One of my personal favorites from this year's class is Wake Forest's Malik Mustapha, a hard-hitting run-stopper with some potential in coverage. Whether or not the Giants want to emphasize a run-stopping or coverage safety will likely determine if they are interested in Mustapha. Regardless, we hope Schoen doesn't gamble so much on the hopes of a Belton breakout season because the consequences could be dire if he doesn't pan out.
2. Another starting corner to play opposite of Deonte Banks
With it growing more and more likely that Adoree' Jackson will not be returning to New York for the 2024 season, the Giants are going to need to find his replacement to play alongside budding star Deonte Banks. They've been in plenty of rumors with players like Darious Williams and Tre'Davious White, but with both of them headed to the Rams, Schoen needs to scour the market for other options.
The recently-released Xavien Howard could be an intriguing option for the Giants. The 30-year-old allowed 44 receptions on 71 targets for 502 yards and two touchdowns while breaking up eight passes in the process. While he may not be the Pro Bowler he once was, Howard is still a very solid corner and isn't too far removed from his days as a star.
Howard was released by the Dolphins to save cap space, so the Giants can likely bring him in on a cheaper deal. In terms of the draft, there are definitely some good options, but it may be a better idea to sign a veteran given how young the Giants' secondary currently is.
Players like Banks, Cor'Dale Flott, Tre Hawkins, and Aaron Robinson, if he ever gets healthy, are all young and have potential. However, because of their inexperience, they struggle at times against tough competition, so bringing in a veteran to balance these problems out may be New York's best bet.
1. A true WR1 for whoever plays QB this season
One of, if not the biggest problems with the Giants in recent seasons has been the lack of a star receiver. Ever since Dave Gettlemen traded away Odell Beckham Jr., New York has consistently tried and failed to find his replacement. However, their luck could be changing given how stacked this upcoming draft class is at the position.
Whether it be Malik Nabers, Rome Odunze, or even Marvin Harrison Jr., the Giants have tons of options at the No. 6 overall pick. Any of these guys could become franchise-altering players for New York and could even play a role in saving Daniel Jones' job in 2024.
The draft has to be the way Schoen addresses this problem because all of the big-time free agent receivers have already been signed. This, alongside the Giants' current timeline, adds up to the perfect scenario in which Schoen drafts a future superstar in the first round.