Grading the Giants' 2024 NFL free agency additions and trades
With the so-called legal tampering period well underway, we’re going to provide some quick analysis and attempt to assign grades to the moves made so far by the Giants. We’ll be updating this post with analysis on any new moves that are reported over the next few days.
Things didn’t start well for the Giants on Monday, with the news that key leaders Saquon Barkley and Xavier McKinney had agreed to sign big-money deals with the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers, respectively. Giants fans were also frustrated at the team’s inability to bring in a pass catcher.
However, New York did bounce back by agreeing to some significant moves. Here’s what we think of what they’ve reportedly done so far...
G Jon Runyan Jr. – Agreed to three-year deal worth up to $30 million
Runyan is a solid addition to a group that desperately needs some reinforcements. Even though the ultimate cost was perhaps higher than expected, that proved to be the case for most of the guards that agreed to terms on Monday, so the deal fits reasonably into the current market.
Runyan brings experience, smarts and athleticism to the interior and will be looking to build on a 2023 season where he did an excellent job in pass protection. The Giants will be hoping he can improve his consistency as a run blocker and show better on-field discipline over the next few seasons.
We broke down this signing in detail here.
Initial Grade: B-
RB Devin Singletary – Reached agreement on three-year deal worth up to $19.5 million
It was a major blow for the Giants to lose Barkley and anyone they brought in to replace him was obviously going to be a downgrade. Nevertheless, at least New York addressed this swiftly by agreeing to terms with one of the better young backs on the market.
The 26-year-old Singletary has been consistently productive throughout his four years with Buffalo and one year in Houston. Last season, he rushed for over 800 yards and caught 30 passes for the third year in a row. The former third-round pick has had six games where he rushed for over 100 yards in five seasons.
The Giants will be paying Singletary about half what the Eagles are going to be paying Barkley. So, while it might be unrealistic to expect Singletary to replace Barkley’s contributions, he could still provide them with good value for money if he can get close enough to Barkley’s expected numbers.
Initial Grade: B-
OT Jermaine Eluemunor – Agreed to terms on two-year contract reportedly worth $14 million
In another move that bolsters their offensive line, the Giants agreed to a reasonably priced deal with a player who had done a solid job as a full-time starter with the Las Vegas Raiders over the past two seasons.
Eluemunor was basically a journeyman for his first few years in the league but settled into a role with Las Vegas and will be a reliable option either to compete for a starting role, or to move into a swing tackle role off the bench.
While he’s primarily a right tackle, Eluemunor has played on the left at times and also has some experience of lining up inside, so he will give the Giants useful flexibility in the event of any injuries and as they decide whether or not to move on from Evan Neal.
The move should also give the Giants some flexibility in the draft, as now they won’t necessarily have to draft a tackle with their first pick and could perhaps use that selection on a pass catcher instead.
Initial Grade: B
DE Brian Burns – Acquired via trade from Carolina Panthers and signed five-year extension worth up to $150 million
The big blockbuster move on the first day saw New York pull off a trade for one of the best pass rushers in the NFL. Burns was acquired for the 39th overall pick in April’s upcoming draft, along with a 2025 fifth-round selection.
In five years with the Panthers, Burns was one of the most consistently productive defensive ends in the NFL as he averaged over nine sacks per season and went to the Pro Bowl twice. He gives the team a dynamic edge presence on a defensive line which already includes one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL in Dexter Lawrence, as well as Kayvon Thibodeaux who is coming off a season with 11.5 sacks.
While the extension the Giants are reportedly signing Burns to is a big financial commitment, this move should enable New York to build around what figures to be one of the most dangerous pass rushes in the NFL over the next few seasons.
Initial Grade: A
QB Drew Lock – Agreed to terms on one-year contract
With Tyrod Taylor moving across town to join the Jets, the Giants clearly wanted some veteran insurance behind the returning Daniel Jones, so they agreed to terms with Lock on Tuesday. The 27-year-old former second-round pick has a 9-14 record in his 23 career starts but only started two games last season as Geno Smith’s backup in Seattle.
This signifies that the Giants were not prepared to enter the 2024 season with Tommy DeVito as their number two, despite him winning three starts in the second half of last season.
It could also put to rest some of the rumors that New York might be contemplating a trade-up to select a quarterback in the draft.
Initial Grade: C
S Jalen Mills – Reached agreement on one-year contract
Following McKinney’s departure, the Giants needed a veteran safety who can bring some experience to their secondary. Mills fits the bill here as the 29-year-old former seventh-round pick has started 83 games in his career.
Mills, who has also played the cornerback position during his career, would provide good depth and flexibility to the defensive back unit. However, he would probably be a stop-gap who wouldn’t necessarily be expected to start alongside Jason Pinnock next season and likely wouldn’t prevent them from drafting or signing another potential starting option.
Initial Grade: C
Note: The Giants did also make some moves right before the legal tampering window opened, as they reportedly agreed to terms to bring back two of their own free agents – linebacker Carter Coughlin and long snapper Casey Kreiter. These are minor signings but will fortify the Giants’ special teams.
WR Isaiah McKenzie – Agreed to terms, according to his agents.
The Giants' active start to the free agency period continued with another move to bring in a player in an area of need, but not necessarily one that precludes them from making further moves at the position.
The 28-year-old McKenzie has been a reliable fourth or fifth option throughout his career, and can also produce on jet sweeps and in the return game. However, he's not really a viable starter as he's never achieved 500 yards from scrimmage in a season. McKenzie's most productive season was in 2022, when he caught 42 passes.
This is unlikely to be an expensive signing and should be viewed as a depth move, perhaps replacing the roles previously occupied by Sterling Shepard and Parris Campbell, each of whom are free agents.
Initial Grade: C
DL Jordan Phillips – Signed to an undisclosed deal
Phillips is a recognizable name, but he never really became the impact player it looked like he was going to be when he broke out with a 9.5 sack campaign in 2019. Other than that season, he's never had more than three sacks and only has nine in total over the past four seasons despite starting 27 games.
Nevertheless, he's still a solid veteran who got plenty of playing time with the Bills when DaQuan Jones was injured last season. He will be hoping to prove he still has something left in the tank at 31, despite reportedly contemplating retirement at the end of the 2023 season. Phillips will provide the Giants will valuable experience on the defensive line and should help to improve the depth on the defensive interior following A'Shawn Robinson's departure.
Initial Grade: C
TE Jack Stoll and TE Chris Manhertz - Both signed to low-level one-year deals
The Giants added to their depth at the tight end position by signing two players who have combined to start 79 games at the NFL level. Neither is an impact player but either one could slide into a reserve or blocking specialist role, especially if Darren Waller opts to retire, as rumored.
The pair only combined to catch seven passes last year so neither player is likely to make or break the Giants' season, but at least the team has shored up its depth so that Daniel Bellinger can take on a bigger role or they can explore draft options if they lose Waller.
Initial Grade: C-
Conclusions and Final Grade
New York made a blockbuster move to add Burns, and the cost in terms of draft compensation seems reasonable, as the Giants still have three top-70 picks in April's draft. Burns can take the pass rush to another level and the team retained the flexibility to make other impact additions through the draft.
The moves made on offense didn't generate the same kind of headlines but the offensive line has been strengthened by the additions of Runyan and Eluemunor and some depth has been added at the skill positions. Devin Singletary will be under pressure to produce as the new lead running back.
These additions have to be tempered by the fact that the Giants had some key losses to NFC rivals in Barkley and McKinney, and the uncertainty around Daniel Jones' long-term status as the starter with the draft just around the corner.
Initial Grade: B-
