Return man was a dynamic player for the Giants in 2024
When the New York Giants lost return man/backup wide receiver Gunner Olszewski to a groin injury while warming up for the season-opening game against the Minnesota Vikings, they needed to find a new returner. They were fortunate Ihmir Smith-Marsette was available.
Smith-Marsette had a good season, averaging 34.6 yards on 11 kickoff returns, including a 100-yard touchdown, and 7.9 yards on 29 punt returns.
Smith-Marsette, who will be 26 next season, can be an unrestricted free agent. Should the Giants try to bring him back?
Reasons to keep Smith-Marsette
Well, let’s start with this. Smith-Marsette is good at what he does, and the last two years should have taught GM Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll not to take the position for granted. The Giants were fortunate to find Gunner Olszewski in 2023 when their punt return game was a mess, and they were again fortunate to find Smith-Marsette in 2024 when Olszewski was injured.
Smith-Marsette is a playmaker on a team that needs them. Don’t forget his 56-yard punt return touchdown against the New Orleans Saints that was nullified by a holding penalty that occurred on the opposite side of the field.
Smith-Marsette is an energy player who emerged as a leader on the special teams units. Again, that leadership is something Schoen and Daboll should have learned to value.
As a return man with limited value as a receiver thus far in his career, signing Smith-Marsette will not be costly.
Reasons to let him go
Honestly, the only one I can think of would be the Giants preferring Olszewski, who is also a free agent. I can’t imagine that being the case because Olszewski is three years older than Smith-Marsette, and Smith-Marsette appears to have more versatility to handle both punt and kickoff returns.
The verdict
The Giants should bring Smith-Marsette back. It is a simple case of why create a hole on the roster when you don’t have to. The Giants are home for the Newark, N.J. native and I know from having talked to him that he would love the chance to stay in one place for a while after being on four teams in four years.
