4 former NY Giants we'd like to see return in 2024

Could these former Giants make their way back to East Rutherford this offseason?

AFC Championship - Kansas City Chiefs v Baltimore Ravens
AFC Championship - Kansas City Chiefs v Baltimore Ravens | Perry Knotts/GettyImages
3 of 4

2. DE Romeo Okwara

This is a signing that would make a ton of sense, as the Giants are in need of an edge-rusher. Kayvon Thibodeaux broke out with 11.5 sacks in his second year and Dexter Lawrence provided most of the pass rush production from the interior. Azeez Ojulari just can't be counted on to stay healthy or produce, which is mostly why the Giants need another edge rusher to pair with Thibodeaux.

Romeo Okwara wouldn't be a name at the top of the free agent list this offseason, but he would definitely come in at a cheaper price and around the Giants' price range. Okwara signed as an undrafted free agent with the Giants in 2016 and spent two seasons there, but didn't make much of an impact, recording just 28 tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack in a rotational role. Okwara decided to sign the Lions in 2018 and has been there since, recording 24 sacks, 143 tackles, 24 tackles for loss and 51 quarterback hits. His last three seasons with the Lions haven't been stellar, due to injuries that made him miss 25 games from 2021-22 and a reduced role in 2023. Given the Lions drafting Aidan Hutchinson in 2022, Okwara's role was obviously going to be diminished. His best season in Detroit came in 2020, when he recorded 10 sacks.

Many believed the Lions were looking to trade Okwara during training camp last year, with the Giants being seen as a potential landing spot. Seeing as both teams had joint practices before their preseason matchup, Schoen was able to get a close look at Okwara last season and if he liked what he saw, he could bring him in to be a rotational edge piece going forward.

Schedule