The New York Giants are ready for the unofficial start of free agency on Monday, but several players have already been released by their previous teams and are available for negotiations. Joe Schoen and the Giants’ pro scouting department may already be looking to add these players, and rumors — albeit unsubstantiated rumors — have linked the Giants to some of the players on the list below.
The Giants have opened up cap space in recent days with the release of Bobby Okereke and James Hudson, both of whom are eligible to sign wherever prior to the start of free agency. Here are five names the Giants should consider.
Tremaine Edmunds, LB
Rumors linked Tremaine Edmunds to the New York Giants even before the linebacker’s release from the Chicago Bears. He played 959 snaps for Chicago in 2025, recording 47 stops along with some of the best Pro Football Focus grades of his career. The 27-year-old was released to free up $15 million in salary cap space and became expendable due to the emergence of other linebackers on the Bears’ roster, as well as the team’s cap constraints.
Edmunds has been a productive player since being selected by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, when Joe Schoen served as assistant general manager under Brandon Beane. The release of Bobby Okereke only increases the urgency for the Giants to address a position that has been a weakness for years. Edmunds would make a lot of sense as a target, though he is likely to command a higher price on the market.
Akeem Davis-Gaither, LB
Akeem Davis-Gaither offers solid linebacker depth with upside on special teams. Like Tremaine Edmunds, Davis-Gaither is a long-limbed, athletic linebacker, but he hasn’t matched Edmunds’ production or consistency. The 28-year-old logged a career-high in defensive snaps last season with the Arizona Cardinals. Prior to that, he spent five seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. Davis-Gaither recorded 69 tackles and 33 stops for Arizona last season. If the Giants were to add only Davis-Gaither during the free agency period, they would still need to find a true linebacker one, but he would provide quality depth with some upside.
Darnell Mooney, WR
The Atlanta Falcons overhauled their front office and coaching staff this offseason, and Darnell Mooney became a cap casualty of the new regime following an injury-plagued 2025 campaign. Atlanta saved $7.42 million against the 2026 salary cap while absorbing an $11 million dead cap hit after Mooney caught just 32 passes for 443 yards and one touchdown last season.
Mooney had a strong first year in Atlanta in 2024, hauling in 64 of 100 targets for 992 yards and five touchdowns. The 28-year-old deep threat saw his production dip in 2025, which can partly be attributed to lingering shoulder issues and the struggles of the Falcons’ passing attack.
The New York Giants gave Darius Slayton a three-year, $36 million extension last offseason, which could complicate a move for Mooney. Still, the former Falcon and Chicago Bear could have a depressed market, and he arguably offers more upside than Slayton.
Alec Ingold, FB
The Miami Dolphins parted ways with 29-year-old fullback Alec Ingold, creating an interesting option for the Giants’ new offensive staff. Under John Harbaugh and Greg Roman, the offense could incorporate more 21 personnel and heavier packages that feature a true fullback. The Baltimore Ravens frequently used that approach with Patrick Ricard, making it a staple of the Harbaugh identity.
Mekhi Becton, OL
Mekhi Becton helped the Philadelphia Eagles win a Super Bowl in 2024 before taking his talents to Jim Harbaugh and the Los Angeles Chargers. In theory, Becton fits the Harbaugh philosophy of strength and power at the point of attack — the massive lineman stands 6-foot-7 and weighs 363 pounds. However, Becton struggled during a disappointing season on an injury-plagued offensive line in Los Angeles. He allowed 39 pressures and three sacks, prompting the Chargers to release him and clear $9.7 million in cap space.
It’s possible his struggles under Jim Harbaugh could make John Harbaugh hesitant to pursue the massive guard, but Becton is a player who thrived just two years ago under Jeff Stoutland in Philadelphia. Still only 26 years old, Becton has nearly 2,000 snaps at right guard and could at least be worth a look.
