3 former Giants players who are still surprisingly free agents

On Monday, the NY Giants took another step closer to the 2023 season with the start of organized team activities (OTAs). Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll collectively have spent a lot of the offseason re-loading the roster the moment the Giants season ended back in January at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles.

The focus of 2022 was spent getting the Giants back into football relevance. The focus of 2023 should be building towards being a true playoff contender that can win games in January. We saw a lot of the roster upgrades done either through the 2023 NFL Draft or in free agency. The Giants also had a lot of their own players in free agency who Schoen and Daboll had to make decisions on.

Players like Nick Gates, Richie James and Julian Love departed. The Giants did retain players like Darius Slayton, Jarrad Davis, Jamie Gillan, Matt Breida, Jihad Ward and Oshane Ximines. Most of the players signed short-term deals to give Schoen roster flexibility heading into 2024 and beyond.

While those veterans returned to East Rutherford for the 2023 season, there are still several players who remain free agents and surprisingly so, considering they have been key contributors for the team. Which ones are the biggest surprises that remain unsigned?

3. LB Jaylon Smith

The veteran linebacker had two separate stints with the Giants, both of which started mid-season in 2021 and 2022. The first time was in December of 2021, which was late in the season. In the four games he was active for, Smith totaled 19 tackles and one sack.

Smith returned to the Giants for a second stint in 2022, although this time, he signed in late September and did so given the need the Giants had at linebacker with the injuries and lack of depth. Smith ended up being the second leading tackler on the team with 88 total stops.

However, the Giants did add veteran linebacker Jarrad Davis, who saw a significant amount of playing time when he was signed last December and into the playoffs for the Giants. They also have last year's rookie middle linebacker Darrian Beavers returning after missing all of 2022 due to an injury.

Smith also had a few moments where he forgot to finish a play; like he did where he stopped in the process of sacking Nick Foles in Week 17 against the Colts.

It'll be curious to see if the Giants bring Smith back for a third stint and if it's done like the previous two, which were in mid-season because of a need at the position.

2. CB Fabian Moreau

Because of injuries and an absolute need at the positon, Fabian Moreau was another veteran who was brought in after the preseason for the Giants and just like Smith, he saw a lot of significant playing time in 2022.

Moreau played in 14 total games and started 11 of them. He was the Giants fourth-leading tackler with 66 total. He was the second-leading defensive back on the team with tackles behind Julian Love. Because of injuries to Adoree' Jackson, Aaron Robinson and Rodarius Williams and a lack of experience at the position with Cor'Dale Flott and Nick McCloud, Moreau's playing time increased.

Because of those same circumstances, it was why the Giants emphasized on addressing the cornerback position in the 2023 NFL Draft with the selections of Deonte Banks and Tre Hawkins. The Giants also added veteran Amami Oruwariye as well to the depth chart. Moreau remaining unsigned is a bit of a shock, and it wouldn't come as a complete surprise if the Giants decided to take another look at Moreau if the depth takes a hit again in the summer.

1. S/LB Landon Collins

Four years after he departed as a free agent to the Washington Redskins/Football Team/Commanders, Landon Collins showed that you can go back home and returned to the Giants in the middle of the 2022 season.

Collins played in just six games, as he was occasionally activated onto the main roster and used at both linebacker and safety. Collins did have 15 total tackles with a sack and an interception that was returned for a touchdown in the Giants win over the Indianapolis Colts that clinched their first playoff berth since 2016.

Collins was always a popular player with the fanbase and with his return last season, he became an instant veteran leader both on and off the field. Given Collins was a depth piece and one who ended up being signed to the roster full-time late in the season, it's a bit of a shock to not only see him still a free agent, but one that the Giants haven't considered bringing back.

With the question marks at linebacker, plus at safety, you would think that Collins might be signed to at least compete for a spot again in 2023. It could be another case where Collins might wait until later on to return for the Giants, that is, unless he signs elsewhere before that happens.

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