Top 10 Free Agents Giants Must Re-sign
The 2023 season is over for the New York Giants, and it is already time to start speculation on what this roster will look like when the team opens the season in 2024.
There are 26 unrestricted free agents on the roster currently, and if the Giants want to see more success next season, a good number need to return. They have big decisions to make with some big names and some names that may not jump off the page. We look at the ten most important free agents the Giants need to resign.
No. 10 Casey Kreiter, Long Snapper
Long snapper is one of those jobs that nobody appreciates and notices until you do something wrong. The level of appreciation is not where it should be.
Think back; when was the last time you had an issue with how the Giants were snapping the ball? The former pro bowler has been snapping in New York since 2O20. This one should be a no-brainer.
Keep the battery the same for another year; hopefully, everyone is healthy and ready to make an impact.
No. 9 Gunner Olszewski, Return Specialist
Salute to Gunner for coming to the team and providing a level of maturity to the return game that had not been enjoyed on a Giants squad in quite some time. He aggressively attacks the football in the air and fields it cleanly.
He knows when it is time to just pick up a few yards and dart out of bounds. He also understands when you can try to hit a home run. He's tough and fearless. He has also shown that he has a home run-hitting ability. The Giants know what they have. The question becomes, what is his value?
No. 8 Ben Bredeson, Offensive Line
Yes, the offensive line has been a problem this season for the Giants, but that does not mean there were no bright spots. Bredeson was asked to play guard and center and held up despite so much inconsistency by his fellow linemen.
In 2024, even if Bredeson is not a starter, he would be excellent in a backup role because he could come in at either guard spot or center. He knows the offense and would likely pass the messages on to the future Giants on the offensive line.
No. 7 Jihad Ward, Outside Linebacker /Defensive End
Ward started to find his footing this season once they traded away Leonard Williams. His five sacks over the season's final five games are a career-high for him. His versatility along the line, especially in pass-rush situations, is needed with so few pass-rushing options.
Is he elite? No. However, he provides the Giants with affordable depth and another veteran who understands the culture being built to pass that knowledge on to a young addition.
No. 6 Carter Coughlin, Linebacker
In his four seasons with the Giants, the former Minnesota standout had made a name for himself as a quality special teams player. He has the size, strength, and speed to be a factor in all four special teams units.
The same thing that made him a star at Minnesota has made him an ace in football’s third phase, his motor! He's constantly in motion, pursuing the football and fighting to make a block or defeat a blocker. That's a skill they can not teach, and it is valuable to this team.
No. 5 Darnay Holmes, Defensive Back
Like Coughlin, Darnay Holmes has a great motor, and that's likely why he was able to transition to a much bigger role on special teams when his defensive reps were cut dramatically after the Giants added a lot of new pieces on the defensive secondary.
Holmes uses his tenacity and high football IQ to defeat blockers and make ball carriers nervous when he's around. Holmes' ability to fill many roles makes him a valuable man to this Giants team. He can be a factor on special teams and defensively.
No. 4 Tyrod Taylor, Quarterback
This is difficult because of Daniel Jones's contract and the contract that Tyrod has earned the right to ask for, but nobody can still argue Taylor’s talent. With the same roster issues as Jones and DeVito, he brought the offense to life and allowed it to highlight the various explosive elements on this team.
If the Giants somehow found a way to move on from Jones (which does not seem likely), Taylor could serve as a starter to groom whomever the future quarterback will be.
If the plan is to stick with Jones next year, it would make sense to keep Taylor ready to limit the need to rush Jones back from injury and provide the team with insurance if he was to get hurt.
No. 3 Isaiah Simmons, Linebacker
There is intrigue with Simmons. Coach Wink’s defense seems to fit him well, and he's responded with some nice splash plays. He's always been a jack of all trades and a master of none.
But playing linebacker in that group, Okereke and McFadden seemed to be a good role for him. The linebacking corps needs depth, and Simmons should be a cheaper depth with limitless upside potential.
It would be a great investment to get him back in the doors to develop him further and refine his skills as a linebacker. There is also more time to fully incorporate him into special teams.
No. 2 Saquon Barkley, Running Back
Of course, Saquon was the best player on this team again in 2024. It's hard not to put a high value on what the 26-year-old has done during his time with Big Blue. Yes, there have been major injuries in the past, but when he’s been healthy, he's been one of the best backs in the league.
Last season, he was franchised, and this year, that tag will cost more if they do not get a deal done. The nightmare of watching Barkley next year in Philadelphia or Dallas is too much for fans and the ownership to bear.
The Giants need to retain their draft picks when they hit on them, and regardless of what people believe in hindsight, this was a hit! He deserves to spend the foreseeable future in the state where he was born and on the team that drafted him.
No. 1 Xavier McKinney, Defensive Back
It's hard to understand why anyone would want the Giants to get rid of a player who is so young, talented, and productive. Aside from what you have been told about McKinney, here are the facts. This season, he had a career-high in tackles and passes defended.
If you look at the two seasons where he played the entire year, his production has been great. He has eight interceptions in those two years. Throughout his four seasons in the NFL, he's played this well, with a revolving door at linebacker, ever-changing defensive backs, and a mediocre pass rush.
It's not that there seems to be continuity building; why would you want to disrupt that? McKinney should be viewed as a foundational piece on this team, and Joe Schoen needs to figure out how to get him back here in the long run.
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