Giants' Team Needs to Fill in 2024 NFL Free Agency
The New York Giants looked to be a team on the rise last offseason. Coming off a surprise playoff appearance, the Giants appeared poised to start truly building instead of rebuilding.
However, things quickly fell apart in 2023. Quarterback Daniel Jones struggled, and neither he nor Saquon Barkley could stay healthy. The defense regressed, which led to a parting of the ways with coordinator Don Martindale. New York ultimately won just six games, which places pressure on head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen heading into 2024.
Daboll and Shoen have a lot to accomplish, beginning in free agency.
The 2024 salary cap is set to be a record $255.4 million, which leaves New York with $38.9 million in projected cap space. The Giants may look to fill their biggest needs in April's draft—where they hold the sixth overall pick—but they can certainly plug a few holes first.
Below, we'll dive into three positions that New York must target in 2024 free agency.
Guard
1 of 3
There's a very real chance that the Giants use the sixth overall pick in the draft on a new quarterback and pivot away from Jones in the near future. Regardless of who is under center in Week 1, though, New York must upgrade its offensive line.
The Giants allowed an alarming 85 sacks in 2023.
While New York may consider replacing right tackle Evan Neal, who has been unreliable in his two seasons, the free-agent market isn't deep at the position. The Giants will have an easier time addressing needs at guard, where Justin Pugh and en Bredeson are scheduled to become free agents.
The guard market is far more impressive than the tackle market, with players like Jonah Jackson, Kevin Zeitler, Lucas Patrick, Dalton Risner and Halapoulivaati Vaitai headlining the group.
The Giants could realistically add two starting guards in free agency, if they approach the position aggressively enough. They should because last year's line made it difficult for any of New York's quarterbacks to play at a high level.
Addressing the interior line in free agency would both help boost New York's 27th-ranked offense and help free up the Giants' early draft selections for other needs.
Wide Receiver
2 of 3
If the Giants don't target a quarterback at the top of Round 1, they may use the pick on one of this year's top wide receiver prospects.
New York had one of the league's most underwhelming receiving corps in 2023—Darius Slayton led the team with just 770 yards and was the only wideout to top 600 yards. A prospect like Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr., LSU's Malik Nabers or Washington's Rome Odunze would instantly improve the group.
However, it would be wise to address the receiver position before April, both because the free-agent market is strong and because New York isn't one receiver away from having an elite group.
According to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, the Cincinnati Bengals plan to use the franchise tag on standout receiver Tee Higgins. However, wideouts like Mike Evans, Michael Pittman Jr., Marquise Brown, Gabe Davis, Darnell Mooney, Calvin Ridley and Curtis Samuel are still scheduled to hit the market.
Davis, who played under Daboll with the Buffalo Bills, could be particularly intriguing to the Giants.
The depth at the position should prevent receivers from being heavily overpaid in free agency, This makes signing a veteran receiver very logical, even if the Giants plan to target the position in April.
Linebacker
3 of 3
Defensively, the Giants have several holes to fill. However, a run defense that ranked 31st in yards per carry allowed last season is of particular concern.
New York must be better against the run if it hopes to contend in the NFC East, and it may not be inclined to target an off-ball linebacker highly in the draft. Prospects like Clemson's Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Texas A&M's Edgerrin Cooper could help boost the defense significantly but would cost the Giants a premium second-round pick.
The Giants probably aren't going to use their first-round pick on a defensive player, unless it's a top edge-rusher like Florida State's Jared Verse—and even then, it may only happen in a trade-down scenario.
Fortunately, the free-agent market features no shortage of high-end linebackers. Veterans like Patrick Queen, Devin White, Lavonte David, Azeez Al-Shaair, Andrew Van Ginkel and Bobby Wagner are scheduled to be available.
Al-Shaair might be especially interesting to the Giants, as he last played for new defensive coordinator Shane Bowen with the Tennessee Titans.
Forging a plan at quarterback and building a capable supporting cast has to be New York's top priority in 2024. Yet, the Giants can plan on a postseason return without improving their defense, and adding a proven linebacker would help do just that.
*Cap information via Spotrac.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
