The New York Giants are shaping their roster in the image of John Harbaugh. While the team has been active in free agency, significant vulnerabilities remain — most notably in the trenches — though other areas of the roster still require attention.
Following the restructuring of Brian Burns’ contract, the Giants have opened up some cap space, but are not flush with cash. The team was initially hesitant to add void years to Burns’ deal, but additional flexibility could still be created. By restructuring contracts for Andrew Thomas and Dexter Lawrence, New York could free up more immediate cap space if it is willing to push some financial commitments into future seasons to address current roster needs.
Either way, the Giants certainly have a vision. They’ve been opportunistic throughout free agency, allowing Wan’Dale Robinson to walk at $19.5-million average annual value (AAV) but signing Isaiah Likely at $13.3 AAV, while also transitioning the offense to heavier 12 personnel packages. The Giants have zigged where other teams have zagged, and it coincides with the team the Giants are attempting to form.
The Giants also put an emphasis on special teams by signing Jordan Stout and Jason Sanders. The “flier” deals on players like Mooney and Newsome are wise as well, for both players are attempting to rekindle their once-promising careers. Overall, I’m pleased with the Giants’ offseason, but they may not be done. Here are five more names that the Giants should look to explore.
Wyatt Teller, G, Cleveland Browns
Teller worked with the current Giants’ offensive line coach, Mike Bloomgren, last season. The Giants are currently in need of interior offensive line help. They retained Aaron Stinnie for depth — and I hope they bring back Greg Van Roten — but Stinnie and Evan Neal are the two guards slotted on the right side next to Jermaine Eluemunor.
Joe Schoen and the Giants aren’t done at guard. The 31-year-old is coming off an adequate season in which he surrendered 24 pressures and three sacks amid lackluster quarterback play. Teller has exclusively played right guard in every season since his rookie year in Buffalo. He would be a welcome — and physical — addition. For what it’s worth, Connor Hughes of SNY posted on X that he heard the Giants and Teller were $2 million apart.
Calais Campbell, DL, Arizona Cardinals
I have been screaming this one for some time now. Calais Campbell is EXACTLY what the Giants need from an execution and leadership perspective. Yes, he’s almost 40-years old, but the 6-foot-8, 285-pound, iron-man is coming off a 33-pressure season where he recorded 24 STOPS in 524 snaps. He’s still highly productive on a per-snap basis and he would be an excellent fit in BASE personnel as a 4i-shade next to Dexter Lawrence.
Furthermore, Campbell is a respected veteran who has been in the league since 2008. He spent three seasons with John Harbaugh (2020-2022) in Baltimore. The Giants are a young team, and one issue that has hampered them through the previous coaching staff was leadership. Campbell, at the very least, would provide the level of professionalism that Harbaugh will instill, while also being an asset that young players can look up to — literally and figuratively.
Campbell signed a one-year contract worth $5.5-million with a maximum value of $7.5-million with incentives to return to Arizona last year. The Giants should certainly replicate that contract if Campbell was interested in reuniting with Harbaugh in an attempt to quickly turn around the revered New York Giants franchise.
DJ Reader, DL, Detroit Lions
Reader is 31 years old and is coming off two down seasons with the Detroit Lions. Still, he had over 20 pressures in each season and was a solid overall run defender, though not his dominant self. In his final season with the Cincinnati Bengals, he suffered a terrible right quad tendon tear in December of 2023 — he hasn’t been the same since, but he’s still a capable player.
Reader is a massive 6-3, 335-pound man who could effectively spell Dexter Lawrence on the nose while operating as a strong-side IDL in BASE personnel, giving the Giants nearly 700 pounds between two of their three defensive linemen in TITE fronts. Reader would be an excellent — and much-needed — addition for the Giants, even if he isn’t the same player that he was with the Bengals.
Greg Van Roten, G, Giants
Bring him back — it’s that simple. Although Carmen Bricillo is in Tennessee now, the Giants should look to maintain the continuity of last year’s offensive line if they’re not looking to spend up on players like Teller. Van Roten was more than serviceable last season, and he was a value at his price tag. He provided adequate run blocking with slightly above-average pass blocking.
Yes, he’s 36 years old, but his play hasn’t slipped much. He is versatile enough to back up John Michael Schmitz at center, while being a competent — and cost-effective — starter. He could also operate as a high-level swing interior offensive lineman if the Giants look to go guard in the draft. He allowed just 26 pressures and three sacks last season. The Long Island kid is a value, and the Giants should look to preserve the offensive line from last year and reward the man with a contract.
It’s reunion city in this post! Ward spent 2022-2023 with the New York Giants and provided adequate play, amassing 44 pressures over two seasons. The 6-5, 287-pound edge defender was versatile across the New York Giants line, and that has been consistent with his skill set throughout his career. The 31-year-old did not slow down last season; he was a crucial part of Dennard Wilson’s defense, feasting opposite Jeffrey Simmons, and earning 47 pressures with 5.5 sacks.
New York is loaded on the edge, and they’re more in need of bigger defensive tackles. This addition would not just be for familiarity, but would add depth in the edge room that would consist of Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Chauncey Golston. The rotation would keep the Giants fresh on defense, and certain personnel packages could alternate between Golston and Ward next to Lawrence on the interior, with Burns and Thibodeaux on the edge. Carter, then, could be used on the second level. Ward, and his production from last year, may price the Giants out, but he’s still unsigned this far into free agency — maybe it’s time to explore it if the Giants haven’t yet.
