Throughout the history of the NY Giants, we have seen some pretty incredible talents suit up for the team. While many have stuck around for the long run, we have seen the teams' various front offices let some guys go. Some of these decisions have been good, however, others have not and have even hurt the Giants at times.
Despite how successful the Giants have been in the past, it still hurts to think about what could have been. These four players were with New York at one time or another and were promptly let go. Following this, they went on to have successful careers with other teams, making the Giants regret their decisions:
4. DL Linval Joseph
Selected 46th overall in the 2010 NFL Draft, Linval Joseph would spend four seasons with the NY Giants before they opted not to extend his rookie contract. Following this, Joseph would go on to have a very long career as one of the better defensive tackles of the 2010s.
After leaving the Giants, Joseph would sign with the Vikings where he would stay for the next six seasons. During this time, Joseph would make two Pro Bowls and establish himself as one of the better run-stopping tackles in the NFL. He was never a superstar, but he always brought consistently good play to the table.
If the Giants had opted to keep Joseph, he could have provided some incredibly solid veteran play during the team's transition from Super Bowl contenders, to rebuild. While losing him wasn't the end of the world, it certainly hurt to watch Joseph succeed for another team.
The Giants have almost always had incredibly stacked defensive lines throughout the team's history, so it's not surprising to see the team have to shed some talented players in order to free up room for other star players. However, it still would have been nice for New York to have kept the Pro Bowler during their rebuilding period.
3. OL Justin Pugh/Weston Richburg
These two players may not have been elite by any means. However, at the time the Giants let them go and even after that, they were two of the most consistently solid players at their positions. However, instead of having a better all-around offensive line, Dave Gettleman instead opted to let both of these players walk in order to throw all of his eggs into the Nate Solder basket.
At the time, this move wasn't seen as terrible, as Solder was one of the best tackles in the NFL. However, looking back on it, this move would prove to be disastrous. Not only was Solder terrible in almost every season he spent with the Giants, but the rest of the line was just as bad since Pugh and Richburg were gone.
While Richburg would retire early due to injuries in 2019, it still would have been nice to have kept him around for a little while longer. Even if they just kept Pugh, the team could have been much better. Since leaving the Giants, Pugh has been a rather important member of the Cardinals' offense, helping protect Kyler Murray.
The Giants had finally found two solid offensive linemen to help the rebuild process and they were thrown away for nothing so Gettleman could make a stupid signing. Since this, the Giants still haven't recovered and the guard and center positions have been a turnstile each year since 2017.
2. WR Ed McCaffrey
Looking back on it, this one definitely hurt. Ed McCaffrey may not have been anything crazy with the Giants. However, once he left, McCaffrey became an incredibly successful pass catcher. Considering how poor the Giants' offensive units were in the 90s, McCaffrey could have played a huge role for the team.
McCaffrey very well could have even played a big role in the Giants' 2000 Super Bowl run. Would they have won if he stayed? Likely not. However, he still could have helped more than likely any other pass catcher on that team not named Amani Toomer. During the 2000 season, McCaffrey caught 101 passes for 1,317 yards and nine touchdowns.
In the same season, only three pass catchers for the Giants had over 700 yards, one of them being Tiki Barber, who was a running back. The dynamic ability McCaffrey brought to the field could have been a genuine game-changer for the Giants.
Instead, he left after just three seasons and went on to have an incredibly successful tenure with the Broncos. During nine years with the team, McCaffrey would make a Pro Bowl, All-Pro Second Team, and rack up 6,200 receiving yards. Maybe in another universe, the Giants kept McCaffrey around and he helped push the offense to a whole different level during the 90s.
1. WR Don Maynard
Despite being selected 109th overall in the 1957 NFL Draft, Don Maynard would spend just one unproductive season with the Giants. After this, Maynard would spend a season in the Canadian league before being picked up by the Jets. Following this, Maynard would break out into one of the best receivers in the NFL.
In his 13 seasons with the Jets, Maynard would catch 627 passes for 11,834 yards and 88 touchdowns. In addition to this, he would make four Pro Bowls, three All-Pro Second Teams, and an First Team All-Pro selection. These numbers for his era are simply ridiculous and it's easy to understand why Maynard is in the Hall of Fame.
The Giants had a Hall of Fame wide receiver on their team and only gave him one season to develop. We really aren't sure what the team was thinking at the time, as Maynard very well could have brought the team another Championship considering how good the Giants were at the time.
Instead, Maynard helped the cross-town rival Jets win Super Bowl II. It's unfortunate that the Giants gave up on him too soon. However, at least another New York team was smart enough to bring in the Hall of Famer and give him the opportunities he needed to succeed.