Giants Winners and Losers After Initial Free Agency Push
New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen told reporters at the combine that the roster would likely look a lot different than it did then, and he wasn't kidding.
Schoen, needing to fix a roster that last year went 6-11 and missed the playoffs, signed ten new faces in free agency (OG Jon Runyan, Jr, RB Devin Singletary, OG/OT Jermaine Eluemunor, QB Drew Lock, S/CB Jalen Mills, WR Isaiah McKenzie, TE Jack Stoll, OG Aaron Stinnie, OC/OG Austin Schlottmann, and TE Chris Manhertz) and acquired one more (edge Brian Burns) via trade.
Schoen might not be done, either. He could be looking to add depth at the end of free agency, and he has the draft next month to further reshape the roster.
While it remains to be seen how many new faces impact the Giants, here is an early look at last year's roster winners and losers following the moves already made.
Winner: Kayvon Thibodeaux
A year after recording his first double-digit sack season and showing that he's well on his way to potentially being a disruptor, Thibodeaux will benefit from Burns's arrival in that, moving forward, he won't be the sole target of double teams. No, instead, opponents will have to pick their poison between the two projected starting edge rushers (not to mention Dexter Lawrence, who is capable of pushing the pocket up front) and figure out how to stop what is a much improved (on paper) pass rush.
Loser: Azeez Ojulari
Ojualri hasn't been able to stay healthy since being drafted in the second round in 2020. He's entering his contract year this season, but with the arrival of Burns, it's hard to see Ojulari keeping his starting job. Instead, he will likely be more of a situational pass rusher for the Giants this season, which means if he wants that nice new contract after this year from the Giants or another team, he will have fewer chances to make an impression.
Winner: John Michael Schmitz
The Giants' second-year center struggled last year with consistency, largely due to the revolving door of guards that lay up next to him and who, in some cases, were just as inconsistent if not worse. While the starting offensive line still needs to be sorted out, if the projection of Jermaine Eluemuor and Jon Runyan comes to fruition, Schmitz should be that much better off, given that Eluemunor and Runyan are said to be better at combo blocking and recognizing stunts.
Losers: Joshua Ezuedu and Marcus McKethan
Ezuedu, a third-rounder, and McKethan, a fifth-rounder, from the 2022 draft class, have been plagued by injuries that have stunted their respective developments. Last year, both got a chance to start on the offensive line, and both showed they still have a long way to go before they're ready. In the meantime, the Giants added Runyan and Eluemunor, the idea being that that offensive line would hit the ground running this season with veterans.
Winner: The Quarterback
After adding four draft picks in the last two seasons to the offensive line only to see those picks struggle in their respective development, the Giants, as expected, went the veteran route, bringing in guys who are maybe a little further along in their development and who can hit the ground running.
This, in turn, allows new offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo to work with some of these younger offensive linemen to prepare them for a bigger role on the team moving forward.
That said, whether it's Daniel Jones, Drew Lock, Tommy DeVito, or a still-to-be-named-later quarterback under center, the Giants, at least on paper, should have a better offensive line this year capable of holding its protection for the quarterback.
Loser: Tommy DeVito
Tommy Cutlets was a fantastic story last season with his sudden rise to fame. While he showed he could hold his own with the big boys after being rushed into the lineup thanks to the injuries ahead of him, right now, it looks as though he's going to be at least the third-string quarterback on this team behind Jones and Lock, the latter of whom reportedly has a fully guaranteed contract.
If the Giants stick with keeping two quarterbacks on the roster, that likely means they'll try to stash DeVito on the practice squad. If the Giants, as many anticipate, draft a quarterback in the first or second round, that could very well mean the end of the Jersey-born DeVito's time in Blue.
Winner: Tre Hawkins II
The Giants tried to land a veteran cornerback in Darious Williams, but he ended up signing with the Rams. That's good news for Hawkins, the second-year player who last summer dazzled in training camp enough to earn a starting assignment only to hit an early wall and end up being knocked back into a reserve role. That the Giants, at least as of this writing, still haven't found a CB2 to line up opposite of Deonte Banks could very well be a positive sign for Hawkins, who now looks like he'll get another chance at winning the job.
Loser: Evan Neal
Neal hasn't lost his starting job at right tackle just yet, and who knows? He might very well flourish under Carmen Bricillo's tutelage.
But one thing appears to be for certain: Neal, the seventh overall pick in the draft two years ago, isn't locked in for a starting job, not with Eluemunor being on the roster and capable of playing tackle. As our Raiders colleagues have told us, new Giants offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo's approach to coaching is that unless you're a top-five at your position (think Andrew Thomas), you better be ready to compete and be trained at multiple positions.
For Neal, who last year, before landing on injured reserve, told reporters that he was "born to play tackle," this likely means he'll get some cross-training at guard. Will he be receptive to cross-training if approached with it, or will he resist? One would like to think Neal will put the team's needs ahead of his own, but if he does end up resisting, that could very well jeopardize his future with the team.
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