After a disappointing 2023 season, the NY Giants' 2024 offseason grades will tell us a lot about what to expect from the G-Men this year. It goes without saying that the Giants have a lot of work to do if they hope to catch up to the Eagles and Cowboys in the NFC East.
They also risk getting lost in the shuffle in their city after the Jets' offseason ratings were largely positive. So, what do we make of the Giants' offseason moves?
New York Giants Offseason Rankings
Since the Giants didn't use the franchise tag on Saquon Barkley or anyone else, they lost a few notable players from last season. But they found ways to add pieces and try to get better.
There have been several NY Giants free agent signings, a few notable draft picks, and one huge trade. Let's break down the team's biggest offseason moves as we break down our NY Giants offseason grades.
Trading by Brian Burns – B+
This was a big move for New York this offseason. It comes with some clear upside but also carries some risks. Giving up a second-round pick and a fifth-round pick for a player like Brian Burns isn't a bad price. There have been times over the past few seasons where he has looked like a top-tier pass rusher. Pairing him with Kayvon Thibodeaux could potentially give the Giants a dynamic pass-rushing duo after the latter had 11.5 sacks last year in his second season.
However, giving Burns a five-year, $141 million deal is a lot of money. He is closing in on one of the biggest NFL contracts ever for a defensive player. Keep in mind that Burns has only reached or exceeded 10 sacks once in five NFL seasons, so it's no surprise that the Giants are getting an elite pass rusher for their money.
Wording by Malik Al-Nabras – B+
Since drafting a quarterback didn't seem to be on the team's radar, drafting Malik Nabers was a great move. There are some scouts who think he might have been a better option out of college than Marvin Harrison Jr., which is commendable.
The Giants clearly need a loyal number. No. 1 receiver, especially since they can't rely on Barkley to be the top playmaker anymore. Nabers has the skill set needed to be a top-tier receiver. The only caveat is that the Giants need him right away.
Signed by John Runyan – B+
Some will say the Giants paid Jon Runyan too much, giving him a three-year, $30 million deal. But after spending early draft picks on offensive tackles in recent years, signing a quality interior lineman was an obvious move.
Runyan has outperformed his position as a sixth-round pick, starting 50 games for the Packers over the past four years. He may not be a pro, but Runyan is certainly an upgrade on New York's offensive line.
Signed by Jermaine Elomunor – A
Even if some describe Jermaine Elimonor as a journeyman, he has come into his own over the past two years in Las Vegas. The Giants will get an affordable and versatile offensive lineman, and they get more value from this signing than Runyan.
In a perfect world, Eluemunor would start at left guard. However, he also provides coverage at right tackle for Evan Neal, another need the Giants had to fill this offseason. That makes this signing one of New York's smartest offseason moves.
Signing Devin Singletary – C+
Devin Singletary is a solid if unspectacular running back. He has been able to stay healthy throughout his career and been reasonably productive. The problem is that the Giants haven't done much at running back over the offseason. Singletary is clearly a serious downgrade from Barkley.
The concern is that he will need help in the backfield and it does not appear to be a dependable on New York's roster at the moment.
Signed by Drew Lock – B
Signing Drew Lock was weirdly cool. The Giants couldn't find someone who could steal the starting job from Daniel Jones after all the money they gave him last year.
But Luke is experienced enough to take the job if Jones falls flat on his face. He's also an experienced and affordable backup, which is nice to have as well.
Final grade – B-
The Giants certainly deserve a passing grade in their offseason, but nothing more. There's a serious possibility they overpaid for Burns while not doing enough offensively other than fortifying the offensive line with solid options and drafting Nabers.
Obviously, running back is not a premium position, but they need to do more than just sign Singletary. Offensively, the Giants still rely too much on Jones and the rookie receiver, which spells trouble and makes us wonder what they did this season.
