Eight Pending UFAs Giants Should Explore Adding

With free agency approaching, Coach Gene Clemons has a list of eight players who could instantly add depth to a Giants team that was underwhelming last year.

Author:
Gene Clemons
Publish date:
Feb 20, 2024 12:00 PM EST

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New York Giants

Las Vegas Raiders

Due to the urgency created by a disappointing second season, the New York Giants need a lot of help on the roster. With only so many resources, the Giants will want to strike the best possible balance between adding through free agency and the draft.

According to Over the Cap, the Giants currently have $11,629,144 in effective cap space to add players under the Top 51 rules, though that number is expected to increase once roster cuts and restructuring are done. Meanwhile, the Giants' greatest needs include the offensive and defensive lines, with additional needs around the perimeter.

From a free agent perspective, some big names are set to hit the market and will carry huge price tags. In assembling this list of potential free-agent targets for the Giants, we focused on need and what we thought would be a more reasonable expense.

RB Josh Jacobs, Raiders

If the Giants are moving on from Saquon Barkley but still want a proven back, Josh Jacobs could be the way to go. Jacob is a throwback workhorse back who is an extremely tough runner with good balance and has shown durability over his career.

Coming off a down season where he averaged his lowest yards per carry of his career, Jacobs could be signed to a one-year deal that he would likely use to prove he is a top back in the league. That could benefit the Giants regardless of whether they plan to keep him beyond 2024.

WR Michael Pittman, Colts

Pittman is big and strong, and he plays that way. He is what the Giants brass probably thought they found in 2022 breakout receiver Isaiah Hodges. Pittman has been gobbling up catches over the last three seasons. In 2021, he hauled 88 receptions for 1082 yards in his first year as a full-time starter.

Last season, he collected 109 receptions for 1,152 yards. The most impressive thing about his four-year performance as a professional is that he has had seven different starting quarterbacks and three different head coaches over that time.

Many people think that Bucs receiver Mike Evans should be a Giants target, but this is a younger, big-bodied receiver that the Giants could sign for much less and fold into their plans for the next 3-5 years.

OG/OT Michael Onwenu, Patriots

The Giants want Evan Neal to be their guy at right tackle in 2024, but if he continues to struggle, the Giants need a legitimate option to turn to.

That's where Onwenu comes in. Before 2023, he already proved that he was a quality guard in the league, but when injuries forced the team to move him to right tackle, he shined there as well. That means he could use his athleticism and power to fit in next to Andrew Thomas as the Giants' left guard, or he could kick to the right side and replace Neal if he continues to be underwhelming.

The offensive line is where the Giants should look to spend big in free agency, and Onwenu's position versatility would certainly be worth the investment.

OG Kevin Dotson, Rams

The 27-year-old former Ragin' Cajun guard has performed well as a full-time starter for Pittsburgh in 2022 and the Rams in 2023. At 6’4” and 321 pounds, Dotson is a prototypical guard and could fill in comfortably on either side of the center.

He has been a prime-time run blocker over the last two seasons as the Steelers and Colts teams saw an uptick in their rushing numbers with Dotson in the lineup. He could finally provide stability and consistency on an interior that has been anything but stable, consistent, or durable.

Edge Bryce Huff, Jets

Huff had a breakout campaign in his fourth season with the Jets, collecting a career-high. He collected ten sacks in a backup role. The Giants desperately need to create sacks despite not being a starter. The Giants can use more edge rushers to throw at teams.

Adding a guy like Huff and allowing him to play a similar role to what he has done already in his career could provide the Giants with something they have not had in a while: explosive depth at the position.

Could Huff be more polished, of course? Is he possibly more of a one-trick pony at this point in his career? Absolutely.

DE Leonard Floyd, Bills

Floyd is a traditional defensive end. That means he could play off-edge or in a four-tech. He is taller than his 6’3” 240-pound frame would suggest. He will be 32 years old when the season begins, but if the last four seasons are any indication, he does not feel like he is falling off.

He has recorded at least nine sacks over the past four years, including tying his career high of 10.5 sacks in 2023, a feat he accomplished in 2019 during his first season with the Rams.

In addition to rushing the quarterback, Floyd has done great work as a run defender. He uses his athleticism to get by blockers or chase down rushers; he could be a nice veteran presence to share some tricks of the trade with Kayvon Thibodeaux and Azeez Ojualri.

DL Leonard Williams, Seahawks

Yes, the Giants traded him away last season, but that is because they knew the season was lost, and they wanted to maximize his value. Now, with Williams set to become a free agent, he will likely go from the perception of being overpaid to a value-added piece.

Williams is far from done in this league, and we saw how well he complemented Dexter Lawrence regardless of the front the Giants ran.

ILB Lavonte David, Buccaneers

Another year, another 130-plus tackles for David. He has been one of the most consistent linebackers in NFL history. Last season, despite improvements in his game and an overall solid second season, Micah McFadden still missed many tackles.

David does not miss. Pair him with Bobby Okereke, and you will have one of the more formidable duos in the NFL. Yes, David is getting long in the tooth, but we have not seen his performance drop. At age 34, he may be ready for a change of scenery, and if he is, then the Giants should inquire if he's interested.