The New York Giants are (unfortunately) my favorite team, so I figured I'd start my portion of this series with them. Here is a realistic version of what I could see the Giants' offseason looking like, one that I would be happy with. This team's roster - to say the least - needs a ton of work.
Coaching Staff
To start, It looks like the Giants will be running it back with the same coaching staff (pending Mike Kafka's Head Coach interviews that he is not expected to land.) You could argue about the Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen regime deserves one last try after the lack of success over the past couple of years, but I'd argue it's an earned opportunity. Many forget that just two years ago this team won a playoff game with an incredibly weak roster, not to mention that Daboll was considered one of the top HC candidates for years before he settled in here. To fire such a premium candidate while dooming him to Daniel Jones at QB for his entire tenure would be malpractice in my opinion. Ultimately, it seems that Daboll and both coordinators - Mike Kafka on offense and Shane Bowen on defense - will remain in place for this season.
The Giants don't have many pending free agents, but I think most of the role players that are on the chopping block they will indeed let walk:
Keep/Trade/Walk
Keep ✅
Drew Lock (QB)
Chris Manhertz (TE)
Chris Hubbard (OT)
Gunner Olszewski (KR/WR)
Let Walk ❌
Darius Slayton (WR)
Greg Van Roten (OG)
Azeez Ojulari (EDGE)
Jason Pinnock (S)
Trade
Acquire Aaron Rodgers (QB) from NYJ
Keeping Drew Lock is a no-brainer in my opinion. He gives you flexibility in the depths of your QB room for no risk at all: he's your backup if you can't find one, and can also serve as your QB2 in case you draft a young guy who you don't immediately want thrown into the fire. Other than that, they'll keep some solid depth piece that round out the bottom end of the roster.
It feels like Darius Slayton's time in New York has come to an end. He went through a long stretch of leading the team in receiving, then fell out of favor with the then-new coach Daboll. However, after taking a pay cut, Slayton received another opportunity due to injuries in the WR room and got himself into the regime's good graces again. That being said, I think he may command slightly more than the team friendly 1 year deal he signed last offseason, and the Giants have a few deep threats further down the roster to take his place as the speedy WR4 (Jalin Hyatt?) We also can't ignore the fact that they may be in prime position to draft a certain Colorado player who may be useful in the passing game...
Other than Slayton, some other guys who have been important to the Giants during this rebuild will walk, either for changes of scenery or more money elsewhere.
The big move of the offseason is the Giants trading for QB Aaron Rodgers. Hear me out: Let's say Rodgers informs the Jets that he doesn't want to retire, but Aaron Glenn wants to restart with a new culture for the Jets. Rodgers just bought his house in New Jersey and wants to stay, and the Jets have no leverage. The Giants swoop in for a late round pick to acquire a band-aid at QB in a year where it sure seems like the top QBs in this draft will be out of their reach. The Jets in return get a late round flier in the draft as well as some cap relief to shape their new roster. Trading for Rodgers is the type of move that will both 1) not leave the Giants in purgatory where they are forever stuck with a QB good enough to stick around but not good enough to seriously contend for a Super Bowl, and 2) be good enough for now to save Brian Daboll's job. This move works for all parties, and the Giants can still build toward a future with a younger quarterback if they'd like.
Free Agency
Next up is free agency. With a good chunk of the Giants' open space spent on Aaron Rodgers, there won't be too many big moves here. Plus, it doesn't really fit with the window the team is in right now. The plan will be to save money for the future when there is a new, "future franchise" QB at the helm. If that QB is a rookie a year or two from now, the team can spend away while he sits on his rookie deal.
Signings
Dalton Risner (OG)
Sam Mustipher (C)
Austin Johnson (IDL)
Jordan Poyer (S)
There is a glaring hole here on the OL. Andrew Thomas is a franchise LT, Jon Runyan is locked in at LG, and it looks like it will be year 3 of the John Michael Schmitz project at Center. Jermaine Eluemenor is a solid starter at either guard or tackle, so the fifth starter can play either or. In this world, we'll brin in Dalton Risner to play RG. Risner is coming off a down year but is still an upgrade for New York. By signing some depth in Sam Mustipher, there are now plenty of IOL options to bring some competition for Schmitz, hoping for some elevated play.
On defense, Jordan Poyer reunites with a front office that he knows very well to bring a veteran presence to a secondary that will desperately need it.
NFL Draft
On days 1 and 2 of the draft, the Giants have picks 3, 34, and 65 at their disposal. While things are uncertain, we'll assume for now that the QB needy Titans and Browns will go with Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders in some order at the top of the board, forcing New York to pivot:
Round 1: Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
Round 2: Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss
Round 3: Alfred Collins, IDL, Texas
With the presumptive top dogs at QB off the board, the Giants need to pivot. Travis Hunter is the clear best player available, and the obvious pick here. The next conversation to be had is: where will he play? In my opinion, he projects much better as an NFL CB than receiver. However, the money is greater at WR. Regardless, the Giants could use help in both spots, and I think Hunter is a good enough player to make at least somewhat of an impact in both spots at the same time. This is a duper exciting pick for a franchise that needs some excitement right now.
In the second round I took Jaxson Dart out of Ole Miss. It's not flashy, and I'm not expecting too much, but it just feels like something has to be done at QB. This is not too much of a commitment to the point that this regime is fully committed to Dart, but it would be a nice "dart" throw to take. He can sit behind Aaron Rodgers (and even Drew Lock for now) and learn from THE veteran QB of the league. If Daboll likes what he sees in practice, Jaxson Dart can be your heir apparent to Rodgers in a year or two. If not, you can try to cut your losses and move on quickly, without it costing you your job.
In the third round, we simply grab some more DL depth in Alfred Collins out of Texas. This team is desperately missing a big presence next to Dexter Lawrence, and Collins can hopefully eat some early down snaps and provide some good run defense and stability on the line.
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