By: Jeff Knapp
The New York Giants ended the 2022 season with a much improved 9-7-1 record finishing 3rd in the NFC East, clinching a playoff spot, defeating the Vikings in the opening Wildcard round, and finally coming up short in the Divisional Round to the future NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles. This was a highly successful season after not only going 4-13 last season but having to play under an entirely new coaching staff. The Giants will enter the 2023 draft this offseason with the 25th pick.
The Giants will enter into free agency with about $45 million in cap space and will need to plug up some holes on both sides of the ball, including what to do about Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Giants were ranked 18th in total yards per game with 333.9, 26th in passing yards a game with 185.7, 4th in rushing yards per game with 148.2, and 16th in points per game with 21.5.
Fourth-year and former 1st-round pick QB Daniel Jones who is in the last year of his contract after the Giants declined his 5th-year option, threw for 3205 yards (15th ranked), 15 TDs (21st ranked), 4 INTs (tied for 4th fewest) and took 44 sacks (5th most). This was his best overall season since his 2019 rookie season. He has made tremendous strides in securing the ball and using his legs more intelligently.
RB Saquon Barkley came back from an injury-plagued 2020 season and took a small step back 2021 season to finish up with 1312 rushing yards and 10 TDs to go along with his 57 receptions out of the backfields for 338 yards.
Their receiving core was banged up with Isaiah Hodgins missing nine games, Daniel Bellinger missing five games, Wan’Dale Robinson missing 11 games, and Sterling Shepard missing 14 games, all due to injury.
The two biggest receivers for the Giants, Darius Slayton and Richie James, ended the season with 70 catches each and under 800 yards receiving (724 & 569), and under 5 TDs (2 &4). The biggest surprise was the emergence of WR Isaiah Hodgins, who missed the early part of the 2022 season. Daniel Bellinger will be a more significant part of the offense going into the 2023 season.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Giants’ defense was the 18th-ranked defense giving up 21.8 points per game, ranked 13th with 41 sacks, but sadly ranks dead last in INTs with 6.
With an improved defense from 2021, some aspects left us wanting an improvement, especially in the DB area, although some of that was because of the injury to Zavier McKinney, who was out for eight games. With that said, some bright spots were on that side of the ball. I want to spotlight Safety Julian Love, who finished with 124 tackles, one sack, and 2 INTs. We also have to allow the spotlight to shine on LB Azeez Ojulari, who finished with 14 total tackles, 5.5 sacks, and 3 Forced Fumbles after only playing six games. Rookie Kayvon Thibodeaux started slowly but finished with 49 tackles, four sacks, 2 Forced Fumbles, and one fumble recovery for a TD. I was also happy to see the accomplishments of LB Jaylon Smith, who had 88 total tackles over 13 games. I’m excited to see what happens if he plays an entire season.
With free agency on the horizon, they can keep some of their most productive players and move on from others.
As of this writing, 2/27/2023, these are my thoughts on FA and the Draft
There are a few players I believe the Giants should try and resign are
- WR Richie James
- WR Darius Slayton
- FS Julian Love
The elephant in the room is what they should do regarding Saquon Barkley and Daniel Jones. They can only Franchise one of them. When it comes to Jones, he is loved by his teammates, but has he hit his ceiling? If the Giants want to give him another 4–6-year contract, let’s hope not. With the possibilities of the Giants also talking to Derek Carr, and I’d think every team needing a QB or on the fence will be talking to Lamar Jackson, DJ will be the financially cheaper of those three options. If they can get Barkley for four years, they might not have the cap space for Carr or Jackson.
Since the NFL is a business, there will be players moving on. The following players are a few they might need to move on from, and they are
- WR Sterling Shepard
- SS Tony Jefferson
- LB Oshane Ximines
- CB Fabian Moreau
With free agency starting in mid-March, there are many free agents they should go after. After giving up over 44 sacks, they need to sure up that OL to compliment the two young tackles in Thomas and Neal. With that said, I’d start 1st with Guards Matt Pryor or Isaac Seumalo. From there, I’d look into adding the WR core due to the injury bug that hit them in 2022. The five that caught my eye were Ju Ju Smith-Schuster, Jakobi Meyers, Allen Lazard, Parris Campbell, and Mecole Hardman
Some defensive names they might want to target
- DE Yannick Ngakoue
- DE Matthew Ioannidis
- DE Jadeveon Clowney
- S Jessie Bate
- S Vonn Bell
- S Donovan Wilson
Adding just some of those on both sides will give them an upgrade at the O-line and add to the ability to cut down on passing yards per game with the possible additions to the DB roster.
Let’s also not forget who might become cap casualties once teams like the Bucs, Saints, Vikings, Chargers, Jags, and Bills start releasing players.
With those holes hopefully filled or improved during the free agency period, they head into the 2023 draft with the 25th pick.
With the 25th pick, the Giants have four different options.
Option A: Fill the most needed spot on the roster, WR. The four names that stand out as possible targets are (in no particular order:
- Jordan Addison
- Quentin Johnston
- Jalin Hyatt
- Zay Flowers
Option B: If all those top receivers are off the board and are not interested in trading down, there are 3 DBs they can take:
- Joey Porter Jr.
- Deonte Banks
- Christian Gonzalez
Option C: Stay committed to fixing the O-line and choose either:
- OT Broderick Jones
- OG O’Cyrus Torrence
Option D: Add to the D-Line or the LB core with the following:
- Lukas Vann Ness
- Trenton Simpson
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