Giants' Top Players to Avoid in 2023 NFL Free Agency

While the New York Giants didn't make it past the divisional round, it's hard not to consider their 2022 campaign a success. Daniel Jones finally emerged as a quality starter, the Giants made the playoffs for the first time in a half-decade, and rookie head coach Brian Daboll was named NFL Coach of the Year.

Now, it's time for New York to build on that success and forge a path to an even deeper postseason run in 2023.

Free agency should play a prominent role, as New York is projected to have $44.4 million in cap space. However, that number will drop dramatically if the Giants are able to retain both Jones and standout running back Saquon Barkley.

While New York does have notable roster needs that must be addressed, it must operate within a certain budget and be smart with its spending. With this in mind, let's examine three impending free agents that the Giants should avoid altogether when free agency opens on March 15.

WR T.Y. Hilton

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NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 29: T.Y. Hilton #16 of the Dallas Cowboys plays the field against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on December 29, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

The Giants should look to bolster their receiving corps with the goal of aiding Jones' continued development. With all due respect to New York's crop of wide receivers, the Giants did not have one of the league's better units in 2022.

Darius Slayton led the Giants with a mere 724 receiving yards in 2022. He, Richie James and Sterling Shepard are scheduled to be free agents, which will leave some holes in the lineup as well.

Could the Giants be tempted to pluck veteran wideout T.Y. Hilton away from the rival Dallas Cowboys? Perhaps, but they shouldn't do it. Hilton fared well in a limited capacity for Dallas last season, providing a passer rating of 110.8 when targeted.

However, Hilton is also a 33-year-old receiver who has played only 13 games over the past two seasons because of hamstring issues and spending much of 2022 in the unsigned player pool.

Injuries were a problem for Giants receivers in 2022, and they shouldn't be eager to add an aging potential injury risk to the position. Hilton's age also makes him a poor fit for a young team looking to build for the long term.

And while Hilton did play for Dallas at the end of the regular season, it's not as if he has extensive experience battling NFC East defensive backs—an asset former division rivals often possess.

CB Marcus Peters

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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - NOVEMBER 07: Marcus Peters #24 of the Baltimore Ravens in action against the New Orleans Saints during a game at the Caesars Superdome on November 07, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

The Giants parted with standout cornerback James Bradberry last offseason. While the team's 14th-ranked pass defense was respectable without him, it logged a mere six interceptions on the season.

With former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Don Martindale running the show in New York, the Giants might eye one impending Ravens free agent.

Cornerback Marcus Peters was once a borderline elite defensive back with tons of ball-hawking ability. He led the league with eight interceptions as a rookie in 2015 and logged 27 interceptions and seven defensive touchdowns in his first five seasons.

However, Peters—who missed all of 2021 with a torn ACL—has always been a boom-or-bust defender. In 2018, for example, he logged three interceptions but also allowed 732 receiving yards and six touchdowns.

Coming off of the ACL injury last year, Peters was more bust than boom. He allowed an opposing passer rating of 113.7 in coverage while notching a single pick.

Peters is simply no longer the defensive stalwart he once was, and the Giants shouldn't allow a high profile to fool them into signing him in free agency.

LB Denzel Perryman

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 18: Denzel Perryman #52 of the Las Vegas Raiders reacts during an NFL football game between the Las Vegas Raiders and the New England Patriots at Allegiant Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

Defensively, the Giants should also look to address a run defense that ranked 31st in yards per carry allowed (5.2). Adding a notable linebacker like Denzel Perryman of the Las Vegas Raiders could seem like an enticing option.

Perryman logged 154 tackles and made the Pro Bowl in 2021. Last season, he tallied 83 tackles, two interceptions and a sack in only 12 games.

Like Peters and Hilton, though, Perryman doesn't quite fit the direction of a Giants team seeking sustained success. He's 30 years old and is coming off a campaign ended by a dislocated shoulder.

The other factor to consider is that behind Perryman's big tackle numbers is lurking a bit of inconsistency. While the Miami product dropped numerous ball carriers over the past two years, he was also credited with 22 missed tackles.

New York definitely needs to bolster its second-level run defense, but it also needs to find run-stoppers with a bit more reliability. Ideally, it will find defenders young enough to be around or the foreseeable future as well.

While Perryman might not be as big of a risk as Hilton or Peters, he should not be among the Giants' top options at linebacker.

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*Cap and contract information via Spotrac. Advanced statistics from Pro Football Reference.