Free agency is fully underway.
With the new league year beginning last week, the Giants signed eight new players while also re-signing a handful more and parting ways with a few veterans. It's a busy time in the roster-building season with the draft right around the corner, and the Giants.com crew breaks it all down for you in this week's Cover 3:
John Schmeelk: What stood out about the first wave of free agency is how teams went about their business differently based on an understanding of where their franchise stand. Teams in the AFC West, plus the Rams, Browns, Bills, Bengals and Bucs each think they are ready to win a championship and were very aggressive in free agency, trading for stars and being creative/aggressive with the salary cap (moving money into future years) in an effort to win a title. The AFC West might have four of the top 10 most talented teams in the NFL right now.
The Giants, on the other hand, rightly took a different tact as they are going through a bit of a reset this off-season. The team was quiet in free agency while attacking the obvious needs on the roster, which were on the offensive line, tight end and backup quarterback. All of the contracts were modest by most standards.
The moves were also fairly obvious based on everything GM Joe Schoen has told us about how he wants to go about his business. He is not going to sacrifice the future for the sake of the present, but he also wants to field a competitive team this season. The free agent signings meant to stabilize the offensive line will make the team more competitive. The signings will also put the Giants in position to avoid drafting out of need in the NFL Draft rather than taking the best available player. It was exactly what everyone should have expected.
View photos of every move made by the Giants during the 2022 offseason.
K Ryan Santoso - Waived
S Yusuf Corker - Waived
DB Olaijah Griffin - Waived
WR Keelan Doss - Waived
WR Travis Toivonen - Waived
OL Josh Rivas - Waived
T Eric Smith - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts
WR Travis Toivonen - Free Agent Signing
K Ryan Santoso - Free Agent Signing
S Andrew Adams - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts
WR Bailey Gaither - Waived, Failed Physical
TE Tanner Hudson - Free Agent Signing
C Chris Owens - Waived
DB Harrison Hand - Claimed (off Waivers from MIN)
WR Jaylon Moore - Claimed (off Waivers from BAL)
WR Collin Johnson - Reserve/Injured
WR Marcus Kemp - Reserve/Injured
TE Jordan Akins - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts
WR Sterling Shepard - Passed Physical
LB Darrian Beavers - Reserve/Injured
TE Andre Miller - Reserve/Injured
TE Ricky Seals-Jones - Reserve/Injured
T Matt Peart - Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform
C Nick Gates - Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform
OL Chris Owens - Free Agent Signing
OL Josh Rivas - Free Agent Signing
WR Robert Foster - Reserve/Injured
DL Christopher Hinton - Waived
DB Gavin Heslop - Waived
TE Jeremiah Hall - Waived
WR Austin Proehl - Waived, Injured
DB Olaijah Griffin - Claimed (off waivers from BUF)
OLB Azeez Ojulari - Passed Physical
Michael Jacquet III - Waived
OL Josh Rivas - Waived
DB Jarrod Wilson - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts
T Eric Smith - Free Agent Signing
T Matt Gono - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts
G Marcus McKethan - Reserve/Injured
T Will Holden - Free Agent Signing
DE Niko Lalos - Waived
DB Nate Meadors - Claimed (off waivers from CLV)
LB Austin Calitro - Free Agent Signing
LB Justin Hilliard - Waived
OT Garrett McGhin - Free Agent Signing
OT Kamaal Seymour - Waived
TE Daniel Bellinger - Passed Physical
WR Sterling Shepard - Declared Physically Unable to Perform
T Matt Peart - Declared Physically Unable to Perform
C Nick Gates - Declared Physically Unable to Perform
LB Azeez Ojulari - Declared Non-Football Injury
DB Andrew Adams - Free Agent Signing
DE Nick Williams - Free Agent Signing
WR Marcus Kemp - Free Agent Signing
OT Kamaal Seymour - Free Agent Signing
DB Maurice Canady - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts
WR Travis Toivonen - Waived, No Recall
DT Jabari Ellis - Waived, No Recall
DB Henry Black - Waived, No Recall
DB Gavin Heslop – Free Agent Signing
OT Korey Cunningham - Terminated, Vested Veteran, Non-Football Injury
TE Daniel Bellinger - Declared Physically Unable to Perform
DB Dane Belton - Selection List Signing
WR Wan'Dale Robinson - Selection List Signing
TE Daniel Bellinger - Selection List Signing
WR Keelan Doss - Free Agent Signing
G Joshua Ezeudu - Selection List Signing
CB Cor'Dale Flott - Selection List Signing
DB Michael Jacquet - Free Agent Signing
S Henry Black - Free Agent Signing
CB Maurice Canady - Free Agent Signing
CB Khalil Dorsey - Free Agent Signing
DE Jalyn Holmes - Free Agent Signing
OLB Kavyon Thibodeaux - Selection List Signing
T Evan Neal - Selection List Signing
LB Micah McFadden - Selection List Signing
DT D.J. Davidson - Selection List Signing
OL Marcus McKethan - Selection List Signing
LB Darrian Beavers - Selection List Signing
DE Ryder Anderson - Undrafted Free Agent Signing
RB Jashaun Corbin - Undrafted Free Agent Signing
LB Tomon Fox - Undrafted Free Agent Signing
TE Austin Allen - Undrafted Free Agent Signing
DB Darren Evans - Undrafted Free Agent Signing
G Josh Rivas - Undrafted Free Agent Signing
DT Jabari Ellis - Undrafted Free Agent Signing
FB Jeremiah Hall - Undrafted Free Agent Signing
DT Christopher Hinton - Undrafted Free Agent Signing
DB Trenton Thompson - Undrafted Free Agent Signing
DB Zyon Gilbert - Undrafted Free Agent Signing
DB Yusuf Corker - Undrafted Free Agent Signing
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux - Selected in Round 1 (Pick No. 5) of 2022 NFL Draft
OT Evan Neal - Selected in Round 1 (Pick No. 7) of 2022 NFL Draft
WR Wan'Dale Robinson - Selected in Round 2 (Pick No. 43) of 2022 NFL Draft
OL Joshua Ezeudu - Selected in Round 3 (Pick No. 67) of 2022 NFL Draft
CB Cor'Dale Flott - Selected in Round 3 (Pick No. 81) of 2022 NFL Draft
TE Daniel Bellinger - Selected in Round 4 (Pick No. 112) of 2022 NFL Draft
S Dane Belton - Selected in Round 4 (Pick No. 114) of 2022 NFL Draft
LB Micah McFadden - Selected in Round 5 (Pick No. 146) of 2022 NFL Draft
DL D.J. Davidson - Selected in Round 5 (Pick No. 147) of 2022 NFL Draft
OL Marcus McKethan - Selected in Round 5 (Pick No. 173) of 2022 NFL Draft
LB Darrian Beavers - Selected in Round 6 (Pick No. 182) of 2022 NFL Draft
TE Jordan Akins - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing
OT Roy Mbaeteka - Free Agent Signing
OL Max Garcia - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing
RB Sandro Platzgummer - Free Agent Signing
WR Richie James - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing
DT Justin Ellis - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing
RB Matt Breida - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing
LB Jihad Ward - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing
OL Jamil Douglas - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing
LS Casey Kreiter - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing
TE Ricky Seals-Jones - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing
OL Mark Glowinski - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing
QB Tyrod Taylor - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing
OT Korey Cunningham - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing
OL Jon Feliciano - Free Agent Signing
DB Jarren Williams - Exclusive Rights Signing
WR Robert Foster - Free Agent Signing
WR C.J. Board - Signed, Prior to becoming a Free Agent
OL Matt Gono - Free Agent Signing
WR David Sills V - Signed
TE Chris Myarick - Free Agent Signing
WR Austin Proehl - Free Agent Signing
QB Davis Webb - Reserve/Future Signing
P Jamie Gillan - Reserve/Future Signing
RB Antonio Williams - Reserve/Future Signing
WR Alex Bachman - Reserve/Future Signing
DE Niko Lalos - Reserve/Future Signing
WR Travis Toivonen - Reserve/Future Signing
DT David Moa - Reserve/Future Signing
OT Devery Hamilton - Reserve/Future Signing
LB TJ Brunson - Waived, No Recall
DT Antonio Valentino - Waived
QB Brian Lewerke - Waived
DE Raymond Johnson III - Waived
DB Jordan Mosley - Waived
LB Trent Harris - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts
LB Omari Cobb - Waived
OL Wes Martin - Waived
TE Jake Hausmann - Waived
TE Rysen John - Waived
CB James Bradberry - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts
DB Logan Ryan - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts
TE Kaden Smith - Waived
P Riley Dixon - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts
RB Devontae Booker - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts
TE Kyle Rudolph - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts
Dan Salomone: It's a copycat league, and who wouldn't want to replicate a Bills team that has made the postseason four out of five seasons after a 17-year drought? That's what GM Joe Schoen was able to accomplish under Brandon Beane in Buffalo, and Brian Daboll helped take the team to new heights when he arrived as offensive coordinator in 2018.
Fast-forwarding to their first free agency cycle in the big seats, the Giants have signed nine newcomers to help them, five of whom (RB Matt Breida, OL Jamil Douglas, QB Tyrod Taylor, OL Jon Feliciano, WR Robert Foster) had ties to those Bills teams. Meanwhile, the non-Buffalo contingent includes Jihad Ward, who said Wink Martindale got the best out of him in Baltimore, and tight end Ricky Seals-Jones, who knows OC Mike Kafka from their days in Kansas City. Offensive lineman Mark Glowinski also reunites with offensive line coach Bobby Johnson, who served as his assistant offensive line coach with the Colts in 2018.
Schoen has been transparent about the Giants' unhealthy cap situation since he took over as general manager. It led to some tough decisions in terms of parting ways with veterans, and while the additions haven't all been household names, it was clear that the new players saw the potential of the Giants' new era.
"I just fell in love with what they've got going on here," said Seals-Jones, "and I wanted to be a part of it."
Lance Medow: The Giants focused on two areas that needed to be bolstered during the first wave of free agency: the offensive line and quarterback depth chart. They added offensive linemen Jon Feliciano, Mark Glowinski and Jamil Douglas. Feliciano and Douglas were in Buffalo last season with GM Joe Schoen, head coach Brian Daboll and offensive line coach Bobby Johnson, so the familiarity factor certainly played a role and Glowinski comes over from Indianapolis, where he played the last five seasons and helped establish a strong run game. All three players have experience at guard, with Feliciano and Glowinski combining for 113 starts since they entered the league in 2015.
The most interesting development is the fact that Feliciano is moving to center for the first time in his career. With Nick Gates coming off a significant leg injury that cost him the majority of the 2021 campaign, the Giants need more than just an insurance policy at that position, especially since there's no definitive timetable for Gates' return. Will Hernandez became a free agent and Shane Lemieux (knee) missed all of last season, so New York needed other options on the interior of the line. Based on the moves that were made so far in free agency, Schoen and Daboll are clearly looking to add depth and competition up front.
However, the most significant signing was Tyrod Taylor. The backup quarterback position is always overlooked spot on a NFL roster mainly because you hope you never need to turn to that player; and Daniel Jones has missed at least two starts in each of his first three seasons in the league. Taylor is a polished veteran (53 starts over 11 seasons) and that fact that his skill set resembles Jones may be the most critical factor of all. If Jones were to be sidelined, Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka would still be able to run the same offense because Taylor is mobile and has the ability to run. It's a great luxury to not have to overhaul the scheme when you change quarterbacks – see Baltimore with Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley.
