This is the Gridiron Review’s grading and breakdown series of every team’s offseason. In this article we will spotlight the New York Giants.
Players Retained:
Offense: Sandro Platzgumer, RB; David Sills V, WR; C.J. Board, WR; Korey Cunningham, OT
Defense: Jarren Williams, CB
Key Losses:
Offense: Mike Glennon, QB; Brian Lewerke, QB; Devontae Booker, RB; Elijhaa Penny, FB; Cullen Gillaspia, FB; Dante Pettis, WR; Evan Engram, TE; Kyle Rudolph, TE; Levine Toilolo, TE; Kaden Smith, TE; Jake Hausmann, TE; Rosen John, TE; Will Hernandez, OG; Billy Price, OG; Wes Martin, OG; Kyle Murphy, OG; Nate Solder, OT
Defense: Austin Johnson, DL; Danny Shelton, DL; Raymond Johnson, III, DL; Lorenzo Carter, OLB; Reggie Ragland, ILB; T.J. Brunson, ILB; Omari Cobb, ILB; Trent Harris, ILB; James Bradberry, CB; Keion Crossen, CB; Joshua Kalu, CB; Jabrill Peppers, S; Logan Ryan, S
Specials: Riley Dixon, P; Nate Ebner
Key Free Agent Pick-ups:
Offense: Tyrod Taylor, QB; Matt Breida, RB; Richie James, WR; Robert Foster, WR; Keelan Doss, WR; Ricky Seals-Jones, TE; Jordan Akins, TE; Jon Feliciano, C; Mark Glowinski, OG; Max Garcia, OG; Jamil Douglas, OG; Matt Gono, OT
Defense: Jalyn Holmes, DL; Justin Ellis, DL; Jihad Ward, DE/OLB; Maurice Canady, CB; Khalil Dorsey, CB; Michael Jacquet, CB; Henry Black, S
Specials: Casey Kreiter, LS
Trades(If Applicable):
None
Draft Class:
- Round 1, Pick No. 5: Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon
- Round 1, Pick No. 7: Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
- Round 2, Pick No. 43: Wan’Dale Robinson, WR, Kentucky
- Round 3, Pick No. 67: Joshua Ezeudu, G, UNC
- Round 3, Pick No. 81: Cordale Flott, CB, LSU
- Round 4, Pick No. 112: Daniel Bellinger, TE, San Diego State
- Round 4, Pick No. 114: Dane Belton, S, Iowa
- Round 5, Pick No. 146: Micah McFadden, LB, Indiana
- Round 5, Pick No. 147: D.J. Davidson, DT, Arizona State
- Round 5, Pick No. 173: Marcus McKethan, G, North Carolina
- Round 6, Pick No. 182: Darrian Beavers, LB, Cincinnati
Our Offseason Grade: Great coaching hires, but still need time for the team to take shape
Record Prediction(Division Rank): 9-8(3rd)
Summary:
The Giants had grander vision when they took a chance on hiring an unknown in Joe Judge as their head coach. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately depending on how you look at things now, Judge was a flop. Now, they hired again with a new front office and new coaching staff. It is hard to not be impressed by the coaches they have gathered in Brian Daboll, Mike Kafka, and Wink Martindale. Yes Kafka and Daboll are in their first years in their new roles, but we believe they can do it. At QB, Daniel Jones gets his last chance in New York, but he now has a real mentor and high level backup in Tyrod Taylor. They did not get anyone in the draft, which suggests they are all in on Jones this season. Their wide receiver room saw depth pieces leave, but add second rounder Wan’Dale Robinson into the fold, who figures to start along with Toney and Golladay. Overall we expect them to actually catch a touchdown this year, and a much more creative offense in general. The tight end room will most likely be lead by rookie 4th rounder, Daniel Bellinger. Rounding out the group will be Ricky Seals-Jones and Jordan Akins. Neither of those two have done anything more than flash potential, so a lot will be riding on Bellinger. Running backs are thin like the tight end room, with Saquan Barkley expected to shoulder a heavy workload despite his injuries. They did sign Matt Breida who also is hurt a lot, and Antonio Williams was brought from Buffalo. Expect them to sign a veteran should Barkley go down. The offensive line has a lot of new faces in it. They lost Will Hernandez, Billy Price, Nate Solder (although this may have been for the best), and more. They added Jon Feliciano, Mark Glowinski, Max Garcia, Jamil Douglas, and Matt Gono in free agency. Then, in the draft, they took Evan Neal in the first and Josh Ezeuda in the third. The unit should be better than last year on the exterior, and could be better on the interior.
The defense may not be as improved in talent, but the addition of Martindale should make it better. Their defensive line/ pass rush losses are led by Austin Johnson, Danny Shelton, and Lorenzo Carter. In free agency they signed Jalyn Holmes, Justin Ellis, and Jihad Ward. In the draft they took Thib (not our favorite pick) who will join Ojulari as the edge pass rushers. The linebackers have Blake Martinez returning from injury, and now also have McFadden and Beavers (two very good day three picks). The secondary is where things get dicey for this defense. They did not retain Logan Ryan or Jabrill Peppers at safety, and cut James Bradberry. They added a new corner to the room with Cordale Flott and another safety in Dane Belton. Belton has the upside to start over Julian Love, and Flott may have to start out of necessity. We do feel like Martindale can come up with a scheme to hide the deficiencies of the secondary though, and really show off the pass rushers.
Overall we have this team getting nine wins and finishing third in the division. As we say in the podcast, the NFC East is super winnable by any of the teams and is a wide open division. While we do not think the Giants win this year, it will be a process as Daboll and company build up their vision of this team.