5 overpaid players the NY Giants must avoid in free agency

Ahead of 2024 free agency, it’s not farfetched to say the New York Giants and general manager Joe Schoen have to knock this offseason out of the park. The franchise believed they could contend for the NFC East last season, but that notion was quickly dispelled in Week 1 when they were dismantled by the Dallas Cowboys. Weeks of disappointment followed, and the Giants had to quickly readjust their expectations not just for last season, but for the future. 

Now, it’s up to Schoen to cultivate an offseason that doesn't just lead to success in 2024, but success for many years to come. Changes to the team’s coaching staff will hopefully help get more mileage out of some of the general manager’s less inspiring acquisitions from the last couple of seasons, but a myriad of holes still remain. 

That’s why the Giants can’t strike out with the players they’re interested in come time for free agency. Ahead of the league-wide sweepstakes, here are five overpaid free agents that the Giants must avoid signing to a contract:

5. EDGE Jadeveon Clowney

For a myriad of seasons, Jadeveon Clowney would’ve been a great signing for the Giants, but if they signed him at this point in time, it would be nothing more than a mistake for New York. The former No. 1 overall selection in the NFL Draft hasn’t truly ever been able to make good on his massive potential, although he’s had some impressive seasons in the NFL. Still, at only 31 years old and coming off a solid season with the Baltimore Ravens, he’s going to earn himself a big contract in free agency. 

There are some drawbacks when it comes to Clowney, though, as it has to be asked how much of his success in 2023 was because of the Ravens’ all-around stout defense. The former South Carolina Gamecocks star was surrounded by a bulk of talented players, and a star defensive coordinator calling the shots.

Clowney may have tied his career-high in sacks for a single season in 2023, but the Giants would be well suited to look elsewhere for help opposite Kayvon Thibodeaux, as it remains to be seen if the pass-rusher can reach those numbers again in 2024.

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