Giants’ Top Players to Avoid in 2024 NFT
The New York Giants have work to do this offseason. Following a disappointing six-win campaign, the Giants need to rebound in a big way in 2024, and they’ll have to improve the current roster to do it.
New York ranked 29th in total offense and 27th in total defense in 2023, and it could lose key players like Saquon Barkley, Adoree’ Jackson, Xavier McKinney and Isaiah Simmons in free agency.
There will be holes to fill. With $26.8 million in projected cap space, the Giants will look to start filling them when free agency officially opens on March 13. While New York has enough financial flexibility to be active in free agency, though, it has to be cautious with its approach.
With this in mind, let’s examine three impending free agents that New York should look to avoid in 2024 free agency
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The Giants need help along the offensive line, and they need it now. Regardless of who was under center in 2023, New York’s quarterbacks faced constant pressure. Overall, Giants signal-callers were sacked an alarming 85 times.
With Andrew Thomas and Evan Neal on the roster, tackle probably won’t be a top priority—though New York may bring in competition for Neal, who has been very inconsistent. The interior line is a more immediate need, and the Giants may want an experienced veteran.
Connor Williams is one of the more intriguing options headed to free agency. He has experience at both guard and center, and he’s played at a high level for both the Dolphins and the Dallas Cowboys. He’s also just 26 years old.
However, Williams is also coming off a torn ACL that he suffered in December, the second of his pro career. He may not be at 100 percent by the start of next season, and there’s no guarantee that Williams can return to pre-injury form.
With a projected market value of $13.5 million annually, Williams won’t come at a bargain. Williams has been a great player when healthy, but the Giants simply can’t afford to hand out that sort of contract to a player who isn’t a sure thing.
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Barkley was New York’s most consistent offensive player in 2023, at least when healthy. However, there’s a very good chance that he won’t return in 2024.
“It sounds like the Giants are greasing the skids to at least letting Saquon Barkley test the open market,” ESPN’s Jordan Raanan said on the Breaking Big Blue podcast (beginning at the 2:18 mark). “Yes, they want him back, but no, they don’t want to pay him what they think he’s worth.”
If Barkley departs, the Giants will be looking for a new versatile dual-threat running back who can aid Jones—or whoever the team has under center in 2024. Austin Ekeler has been exactly that sort of player throughout his NFL career, but the Giants should avoid the Los Angeles Chargers star.
Ekeler will turn 29 in May and is coming off an injury-hampered season. He topped 1,000 scrimmage yards for the third straight season, but he was limited as a runner, averaging just 3.5 yards per carry.
At this stage in his career, Ekeler is most effective as a pass-catcher. While he can still help a team tremendously in that role, the Giants need a capable leading rusher to bring balance to their offense. Their best bet may be to find one in the draft.
