For the second straight offseason, New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen are faced with some difficult decisions. Unlike last year, though, the Giants aren’t riding the high of an unexpected playoff berth.
New York stumbled to a 6-11 record in 2023, and it’s fair to say that the roster could use an injection of talent. With $35.3 million in projected cap space, the Giants can and likely will be active in free agency.
However, before Schoen and Daboll start pondering new additions, they must decide the futures of their own impending free agents.
Below, we’ll dive into three of the Giants’ biggest contributors who are slated to become free agents on March 13. We’ll assess their values to the team and examine how their free-agent contracts are likely to look.
Recent production, age, player health, projected role, and positional value were all considered here. A full list of New York’s impending free agents can be found at Spotrac.
The Giants defense wasn’t good in 2023, and the unit’s struggles likely played a role in the Giants’ split with defensive coordinator Don Martindale. Safety Xavier McKinney, however, was one of the team’s few reliable defenders.
The 24-year-old finished the year with 116 total tackles while allowing an opposing passer rating of only 69.8 in coverage. Though primarily used as a deep safety, McKinney has flashed an ability to thrive in the box too.
This combination of traits, youth and recent performance makes McKinney a potential building block for the Giants defense. However, it will also make him a popular target in free agency.
Spotrac projects McKinney to have a market value of $10.4 million annually, and that might actually be low. A few starting-caliber safeties are slated to be available—including Kyle Dugger, Geno Stone and Kamren Curl—but there isn’t exactly a glut at the position.
McKinney is one of the top young defensive backs in the NFL, and his best football may still be ahead of him. The contract Jessie Bates III signed with the Atlanta Falcons last offseason—worth $16 million annually—should serve as a starting point in his negotiations.
Contract Projection: Four Years, $61 Million with $24 Million Guaranteed
Teams don’t always make the backup quarterback role a priority in the offseason, but the Giants should. Daniel Jones played poorly before suffering a torn ACL last season, and while rookie Tommy DeVito showed flashes, he struggled to maintain consistency.
The Giants offense appeared to operate at its best with Tyrod Taylor under center, which wasn’t a major surprise. The 34-year-old is a seasoned quarterback with a similar dual-threat skill set to that of Jones who can operate Daboll’s offense efficiently.
Taylor led all Giants quarterbacks with a 47.7 QBR in 2023.
There’s a chance that New York looks to turn the page on Jones sooner than later and targets a quarterback with the sixth overall pick in April’s draft. Whether the Giants turn to a rookie or stick with Jones, though, it would behoove them to have an experienced veteran for insurance.
Taylor, who has spent the last two seasons in New York, would be the ideal candidate, but the Giants could have competition to sign him. Several teams will be seeking a high-end backup this offseason, and several are likely to want mentors for highly drafted rookies.
Taylor has a projected market value of $3.3 million annually, but the $5.5 million he made annually with the Giants is likely a more accurate price point.
