This offseason is an extremely important one for the New York Giants. Not only are they looking to capitalize off of an extremely exciting 2022-23 season that saw them win a playoff game, but they are looking to build a sustainable system that will allow for them to consistently have success in the playoffs.
Last year, General Manager Joe Schoen was one of the most handcuffed executives in the league. While he did have good draft capital that allowed for them to acquire two potential franchise cornerstones in Kayvon Thibodeaux and Evan Neal, he was in such awful cap space that for a significant part of the season the Giants were unable to even suit up 53 guys on Sundays.
This year though, Schoen has the flexibility to get his guys. After resigning Daniel Jones to team friendly deal that also gave him the security he wanted, along with franchising tagging Saquon Barkley, Big Blue will be able to essentially return their entire core of guys while also making moves to acquire solid players to fill their glaring holes.
Heres a recap of Schoen’s massive week, excluding resignings:
Bobby Okereke, Linebacker
Let’s be honest, we all know Okereke as the guy who gave Daniel Jones a forearm shiver in week 17, bouncing Jones’ head off of the turf like a basketball.
Another Giants defender. Another video involving Daniel Jones.
Bobby Okereke hitting Daniel Jones pic.twitter.com/KO8xorHU0Z
— Bobby Skinner (@BobbySkinner_) March 13, 2023
Now that he’s on my team I’m going to stop looking at it as a dirty play, and start looking at it as him being the only guy hustling on a Colts team that had completely given up on the season. Signed to a 4 year, 40 million dollar deal (22 million guaranteed), Okereke is a good value deal for a team that has not had a good linebacker in absolutely forever. A good run stopper, Okereke has also shown good ability in pass coverage, and will instantly help elevate the Giants defense from day one.
Darren Waller, Tight End
This is truly the move we have been waiting on for years. When healthy, Waller is an absolutely elite tight end and redone threat, which will be massively helpful to Daniel Jones, who loves throwing to his tight ends. Waller, who had back to back 1000 yard season in 2019 and 2020, will instantly step in and be the number one option in the passing offense, and should help to open up a lot of things for a team that really struggled with explosive plays last year.
DARREN WALLER GET UP pic.twitter.com/KUyadSwM8q
— Barstool Sportsbook (@BSSportsbook) October 5, 2021
I can not even put in to words how excited I am for Daniel Jones to have THIS as a red zone target.
Parris Campbell, Wide Receiver
Parris Campbell fits everything that the Giants seem to like when it comes to wide receivers. This team is just going to be absolutely flooded with slot receivers, which seems to be what Brian Daboll and Mike Kafka feed off of. Campbell, the Ohio State alum, signed a 1 year deal with the Giants which can end up being worth a max of $6.7 million, including incentives. Campbell is no doubt a talented player, logging 623 yards on 63 catches last year, but his issue is availability. Through 4 years in the league, Campbell has only played in 32 games.
Parris Campbell oh my
📺: #INDvsNYG on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/zh9dgfvI65 pic.twitter.com/VeL7id9RZa— NFL (@NFL) January 1, 2023
If he can just stay healthy, he will end up being a very valuable asset to this offense next season.
Rakeem Nunez-Roches, Defensive Line
Last season maybe the Giants biggest issue defensively was their ability (or inability) to stop the run. Whether it be the Cowboys gashing them in week 3, or the Eagles running all over them in the playoffs, this team was literally incapable of stopping the run, and a lot of it had to do with their lack of depth and experience in those positions. This signing will immediately help that. While Nunez-Roches is not an elite player, nor does he have elite level talent, he is a solid player who is coming off of a career year. As primarily a defensive tackle, his numbers won’t jump at you, but at worst he will be a solid rotational player who can help give Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams a breather every once in a while without a catastrophic drop-off in skill.
He also seems to be a funny, great guy, so he should really integrate in to the locker room well.
"I stop the run in my sleep."
Calls himself a chameleon.
Jokes that "it's never going to be a dull moment." https://t.co/0OheZc9P9g
— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) March 17, 2023
Surely, the Giants will be making many more moves this offseason. Whether it be a splash trade for a star wideout, or more depth signings to solidify some needs around the roster, I trust Joe Schoen to make the right moves for this ball team, and just a few days in to his first “real” free agency, he has really done a great job.
Featured Image via Getty Images.