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Offseason In Review: New York Giants

June 25th, 2025 at 10:30pm CST by Sam Robinson

Admitting defeat on Daniel Jones may have come too late for the regime that inherited Dave Gettleman‘s handpicked Eli Manning successor. After three seasons tied to the inconsistent quarterback, Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll may be battling uphill to keep their jobs before their preferred Jones replacement takes the reins. Jones being the Giants’ primary starter for the first three Daboll-Schoen seasons runs the risk of, given the direction of the team since its 2022 divisional-round cameo, the QB effectively dragging the decision-making duo out of town.

More elements, of course, are mixed into the buildup to Schoen and Daboll’s fourth Giants season; none, however, approach the quarterback matter. The team’s 2024 decisions at the position bled into 2025, where a worse draft class awaited. The Giants’ QB woes did move them into position for Abdul Carter, after one seminal Drew Lock showing took them out of Cam Ward territory, and their pass rush certainly has the personnel to be among the NFL’s best. But how the team’s Russell Wilson–Jaxson Dart (feat. Jameis Winston) QB depth chart performs will determine if John Mara will need to make another regime change.

Free agency additions:

This offseason produced undesirable endings for a few parties on the quarterback carousel. Aaron Rodgers preferred the Vikings; he ended up a Steeler. The Steelers aimed to either re-sign Justin Fields or manage a trade for Matthew Stafford, and they were then subjected to a three-month wait by their third choice. The Raiders did not end up with the piece they wanted, as the Rams retained Stafford via another reworked contract. Tom Brady‘s aim to avoid Sam Darnold led the Raiders to acquire Geno Smith from the Seahawks, who then landed this year’s top QB free agent.

As Seattle appeared the most satisfied from the veteran passer it acquired, New York did not double as a desirable destination. The Giants were in on Darnold and Stafford, making an aggressive contract offer — in the $90MM guarantee neighborhood — to the 37-year-old passer after asking about him at the 2024 deadline. But the Giants’ Stafford interest hinged on the Rams being OK starting over, which never made much sense considering their place as a top NFC contender, and the Super Bowl-winning QB being fine heading to a team in much worse shape.

The Giants then entered the Rodgers race, but as it looked like the future Hall of Famer viewed “relocating” to New York’s NFC team his clear third choice, an April report indicated Mara placed age and durability concerns as too great. That merely could have been a way for the struggling owner to attempt to save face after Rodgers made it clear he was not joining the Giants, as he did receive an offer that was deemed better than the Steelers’ proposal. This not working out led the Giants to Wilson.

A marriage of convenience will commence. Wilson had placed the Giants on his wish list back in 2021, when the Seahawks ended up not moving him, and showed interest in New York early during the 2025 offseason. Though, even Wilson can be labeled unsatisfied by this offseason’s carousel. The 2024 Steelers starter is believed to have wanted to stay in Pittsburgh. But the Steelers had prepared to make Wilson a one-and-done, even after re-signing rumors persisted before a five-game season-ending losing streak, eyeing Fields above the player that replaced him. All these developments brought a late-March Wilson Giants signing, after Rodgers — even at 41 — stalled the QB market.

Wilson is past his prime, and the 14th-year veteran’s post-Seattle seasons have left his Hall of Fame standing in question. But Wilson’s work over the past two seasons has revealed his shocking 2022 showing was more Nathaniel Hackett-driven. In over his head as a head coach, Hackett empowered Wilson and his team in Denver — to poor results.

Wilson deserves blame for how that disastrous 5-12 season unfolded, as his perception of his abilities differed from reality. The NFL’s fourth-leading all-time QB rusher’s attempt to minimize rushing attempts after gaining weight to protect a pocket-passing version of himself from hits backfired spectacularly. But Wilson rebounded in 2023 and enjoyed moments during a Steelers playoff season last year.

On one hand, it says plenty about Wilson’s stock that the Broncos took a record-smashing dead money hit to move on a year before the Steelers showed little interest in re-signing him. Wilson clashed with both Sean Payton and Arthur Smith, not fitting in the former’s offense and arguing to have more line-of-scrimmage freedom in Pittsburgh. While QBR did not view Wilson as an especially effective passer, ranking the potential Hall of Famer 21st in 2023 and 22nd last year, he did post a 26-8 TD:INT ratio in his second Broncos season and a 16-5 mark — even as the Steelers lacked much firepower beyond George Pickens — in an 11-game 2024. The Giants will (or perhaps forced themselves to) bet on this post-prime period lasting at least one more year.

A nine-time Pro Bowler (six original-ballot nods), Wilson tops Manning in that department. But the latter delivered remarkable durability, not missing any games due to injury. Wilson’s ironman streak was moving into Manning territory in Seattle, but he has missed time due to injury in three of his past four seasons. Last year, a calf injury and an aggravation cost Wilson six games. By the time he returned, the Steelers did not have unanimous agreement on reinserting Wilson into the lineup. Mike Tomlin benching Fields without too much internal support played into the younger passer’s future in Pittsburgh, and Wilson will now try to hold off another young arm.

As Wilson attempts to stave off a younger challenger for the second straight year, he again received assurances (from Daboll) the starting job was his. The Steelers made that their party line last year, but Fields closed the gap to the point it took Tomlin until barely a week before the regular season to officially announce the decision.

For all the sack troubles Wilson has encountered — especially as his athleticism wanes — he has remained a viable starter. (Wilson sits 11 behind Rodgers for most sacks taken in NFL history, reaching this point despite playing in 49 fewer games.) How long will be be able to hold off a handpicked Daboll rookie?

Winston’s increasing popularity as one of the NFL’s most colorful characters aside, his turnover penchant — and perhaps Browns increased interest in protecting high draft real estate — led to a benching for an overmatched Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Winston’s two-year deal, though, gives him a better chance to be a Giant in 2026 compared to Wilson. Winston, 31, being a third-string option does not align with his present profile. Once Dart ascends to first-string duty, which will almost definitely happen this season, trade rumors involving Winston and/or Wilson — should the transition be made before the deadline — figure to emerge out of the Giants’ remade QB room.

The Giants’ plan to draft a QB early turned off some potential targets, and Winston signed before Wilson. It will be interesting to see if the former No. 1 overall pick would stand by as an emergency QB3.

Winston threw 13 TD passes and 12 INTs in 2024. A signature high-variance performance came in a Monday-night Broncos loss that featured 497 passing yards, four TD throws and three INTs (including two pick-sixes). That encapsulates Winston’s career, as he would be a higher-octane option compared to Wilson at this stage of their respective careers. The former Buccaneers, Saints and Browns starter’s status in training camp will be interesting to monitor.

Adebo suffered a broken femur midway through last season. Despite the former Marshon Lattimore sidekick’s contract year ending this way, he did not need to accept much of a discount. Not proving as much as the top healthy CBs on the market (Charvarius Ward, D.J. Reed, Byron Murphy, Carlton Davis), Adebo matched the Ward-Davis-Murphy AAV of $18MM. Adebo bested Ward, Davis and Reed in fully guaranteed money.

The former third-round pick’s age (26) had plenty to do with this, and this represents a new swing for this regime. Gettleman handed eight-figure AAVs to James Bradberry (2020) and Adoree’ Jackson (2021), while Schoen has kept costs lower since arriving. Adebo’s contract thrusts him into a CB1 role. This was initially viewed as a way to take some pressure off 2023 first-rounder Deonte Banks, who has not lived up to the investment. But Cor’Dale Flott mixing in with Banks as the other outside starter in minicamp will make this position one to follow closely.

Adebo’s last healthy season produced notable improvements in coverage. The 6-foot-1 corner was charged with yielding only 6.7 yards per target and allowing a 55% completion rate as the closest defender in 2023. He allowed one touchdown pass that year and yielded merely a 62.7 passer rating. Even when slot corners are included, Adebo ranked ninth among CBs in the NFL in passer rating allowed that year. He was off to a nice start in ’24, seeing that number vault only to 71.9.

With Lattimore off the field during much of that stretch, the Saints asked Adebo to anchor their CB corps. The Giants, who intercepted all of five passes last season and saw no player record more than one, are also paying for Adebo’s playmaking. He intercepted seven passes and broke up 28 since 2023.

Two of PFR’s top 17 free agents joined Big Blue’s secondary, as Holland (No. 6) followed Adebo (17) a day later. Holland’s market was rumored to push $20MM per year, but it did not quite reach that range. Holland’s deal fell short of Tre’von Moehrig‘s Panthers terms (three years, $51MM) and where the Packers went for Xavier McKinney (4/67) last year. Holland still scored a top-10 safety pact.

This is effectively an admission recent safety decisions were incorrect, as the Giants let Julian Love — who has since been extended in Seattle — walk for a $7MM-per-year deal and observed McKinney zoom to first-team All-Pro honors a year later. The Hard Knocks: Offseason series proved so damning for the Giants no NFL team could be convinced to do it this year. While much of the attention went to Saquon Barkley‘s Eagles defection, the team appeared to underestimate McKinney’s market. New York will need to hope a slight discount on Holland can make up for it.

A former second-round Dolphins draftee, Holland notched five career INTs, five career forced fumbles and four recoveries on his rookie contract. The effective blitzer also has five career sacks. He has managed this production as the Dolphins cycled through three defensive coordinators in his four seasons. Pro Football Focus viewed Holland as playing better under Vic Fangio, grading him third among safeties in 2023, than Anthony Weaver (56th). Holland and Adebo give the Giants quality talent they lacked in the secondary last year. Considering the Carter addition’s presumptive impact on the Dexter Lawrence–Brian Burns–Kayvon Thibodeaux pass rush, how this front-seven crew could benefit from two plus coverage players (and vice versa) is being slept on a bit.

The Carter pick came after the Giants added Golston as a rotational presence. Used as a D-end more often in 2024, Golston has more experience inside. Golston appears the fifth wheel in New York’s pass rush, but the talent and depth here makes it certainly the team’s best since its Super Bowl-era NASCAR package. Golston, 27, made some money on a contract year that included 5.5 sacks (he recorded 3.5 from 2021-23). The Cowboys deployed Golston as their DeMarcus Lawrence replacement; it will be interesting if the Giants take advantage of his inside-rushing past in an attempt to get all four of their OLBs on the field.

Andrew Thomas has missed 18 games since 2023, gutting the Giants’ O-line. He is expected back from Lisfranc surgery in training camp, but the Giants slow-playing their high-priced left tackle’s return leaves some questions. Hudson took the first-team LT snaps during OTAs and minicamp.

A 17-start player in four Browns seasons, Hudson capitalized on the Giants’ issues at the position to become the NFL’s highest-paid swing tackle. Among players with no path to the lineup in a full-strength scenario, no deal checks in higher than Hudson’s. PFF has not viewed Hudson’s work well, but he logged 200-plus snaps at right tackle each year from 2021-23 and tallied 207 on the left side last year.

Re-signings:

Slayton’s New York arc remains unusual. The Giants took the rare step to cut his rookie-contract pay in 2022, as a demotion was planned when the team still held out hope for Kadarius Toney and Kenny Golladay. Slayton delivered his usual, leading that playoff team in receiving yards. He did that four times from 2019-23. Slayton circled back to re-sign (on a two-year, $12MM deal) in 2023 but saw the Giants rebuff his efforts to secure a raise last year.

Even as a cratering Giants QB situation affected the passing attack — a trend during Slayton’s career — the reliable vet entered 2025 as one of the top wideouts available. Even as the Giants drafted Malik Nabers sixth overall and added Wan’Dale Robinson and Jalin Hyatt, Slayton — a Gettleman draftee — remains a core player. He finally has a contract to show for it, as reasonable WR2 money comes his way.

Slayton had aimed to join a contender; the Giants — facing a vicious schedule that obviously became known weeks after Slayton’s recommitment — appear outside that realm in 2025. It is certainly possible no team offered a comparable guarantee, one that protects Slayton for his age-29 season in 2026. Four times a 700-yard receiver and zero an 800-yard cog, Slayton did well to score what he did. Inking a two-year deal preserved his value for a third contract. Now, Nabers’ sidekick will hope the Giants can turn their operation around while he is on this deal.

Notable losses:

The Giants letting Ojulari walk and giving Golston a considerably better deal is rather interesting given the former’s production. A chip the Giants passed on unloading (along with Slayton) at the 2024 deadline, Ojulari has 22 sacks in four seasons. Although the presences of Burns and Thibodeaux signaled Ojulari would need to move on to collect a notable second contract, he ended up receiving just $3MM from the Eagles. Ojulari is only going into his age-25 season, and while injuries have hurt his value, it is quite possible he becomes a key piece in Philadelphia and a premium 2026 free agent.

Outproducing Golston on their respective NFC East rookie deals, Ojulari filled in well for Thibodeaux after his early-season wrist surgery. Ojulari posted five sacks in a three-week stretch, dropping Wilson and Joe Burrow twice, to drive up his value. Though, the former second-rounder making a third trip to IR — due to a toe injury — presumably gave the Giants pause. Ojulari did not sign until a week into free agency, undoubtedly displeased with his market. Golston, 27, collecting four times the guaranteed money Ojulari did presents an interesting “what if?”

Jackson wrapped his Giants run at four years, joining Ojulari in Philly after a late-summer Giants re-signing last year. The Giants viewed their former $13MM-per-year player as a stopgap in 2024, using the former first-rounder as only a five-game starter. Jackson saw his snap count drop from 792 in 2023 to 497 in ’24, despite playing 14 games in both seasons. He now replaces Isaiah Rodgers as an Eagles vet.

Quietly starting 16 games for each of the past two Giants teams, Pinnock — a low-cost replacement as both Love and McKinney departed — only fetched a one-year, $2.2MM deal from the 49ers. Holland replaces Pinnock alongside Tyler Nubin.

A good reminder that NFL coaching staffs — in most cases — do not tank, Lock delivered perhaps a career-best performance in a Week 17 upset win over the Colts. The Giants, who had seen a Tommy DeVito injury spoil a plan that had involved vaulting the local product from third-stringer to starter, dropped from No. 1 to No. 3 in the draft order as a result. While his contribution to the draft process is not quite on level of Lovie Smith‘s Week 18 two-point conversion (2022) on the way out of Houston, the Giants lost Cam Ward because of it. Depending on the Titans QB’s career, that could make Lock a memorable Giants footnote.

Extensions and restructures:

Draft:

The QB makeup of this draft presented, as it turned out, one option near the top. Ward drew multiple trade offers from the Giants, who had applied an all-out blitz on the Patriots to acquire the Drake Maye draft slot. The Giants had offered No. 6, a 2024 second-rounder and their 2025 first for No. 3 last year; the Pats taking Maye for themselves changed the Giants (and Vikings’) strategies. Schoen viewed Nabers as a better option than Michael Penix Jr., J.J. McCarthy and Bo Nix. Because of this and Jones’ latest letdown, Schoen may well have been boxed in a year later: take a quarterback early or risk never truly investing in a prospect under his watch.

But Dart and Shedeur Sanders‘ prospect values did not align with No. 3, making Carter the obvious choice. Reminding of the Texans choosing Jadeveon Clowney despite rostering J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus in their primes, Carter proved a no-brainer play for a team well stocked at edge rusher. The Giants have a history of strengthening this particular strength under Mara, using first-rounders on Mathias Kiwanuka (with Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck on the 2006 team) and Jason Pierre-Paul (with Umenyiora, Tuck and Kiwanuka rostered in 2010). Those moves paid off (as the Patriots painfully learned); a higher-profile such move came for a new generation of Giants pass rushers.

Ranked as the second-best prospect in this draft by NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah and The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, Carter formed a top tier with Travis Hunter. The latter would have been a better need pick for the Giants, but no serious noise about New York aiming to trade up for a non-QB emerged. Enter Carter, who flashed A-list pass rusher form (with a Micah Parsons-like hybrid resume) at Penn State.

Carter spent two seasons as primarily an off-ball linebacker in college, making the Parsons-like move to EDGE in 2024. He then led Division I-FBS with 23.5 tackles for loss, ranked second in pressures (66) and posted 12.5 sacks to help the Nittany Lions to the CFP semis.

Carter bringing one season as a true edge rusher could give the Giants a window to refine his skills there, as Thibodeaux plays out the fourth year on his top-five rookie contract. But Carter will undoubtedly see extensive run as a rookie. How the Giants deploy he, Thibodeaux and Burns will be one of the top defensive subplots the NFL offers in 2025. They have closely observed Parsons’ metamorphosis from Penn State ILB to Cowboys All-Pro EDGE. Carter’s strange interest in retired Giants numbers notwithstanding, a dynamic pass rusher will be tied to a rookie-scale deal for at least three seasons. Lock’s body blow hurt the Giants in December, but Carter is a better pure prospect than Ward.

A post-draft report indicated the Giants, between the 2024 season and the extensive pre-draft process, spent more time on Sanders than any team spent on any prospect. Daboll weighing in late in that process looks to have accelerated Sanders’ historic freefall. The fourth-year Giants HC and second-generation NFL prospect are believed to have clashed during the draft run-up; this certainly was not the only Sanders dustup during a process, by just about every account, he did not handle properly. That said, the Giants’ coaching staff — with Daboll at the wheel — looks to have made the Dart-over-Sanders call, as a post-draft report pointed to the front office preferring Sanders.

As Sanders’ infamous weekend involved a No. 144 investment, Dart became the primary beneficiary. The Ole Miss prospect was believed to sit above Sanders on some draft boards, and Daboll’s Dart interest became a talking point in the days leading up to the draft. The Giants contacted teams after the Steelers’ No. 21 choice, correctly predicting Pittsburgh would — as Rodgers’ wait created drama — pass on a QB. The Giants later feared the Browns could outflank them for Dart, but they managed to trade up without surrendering a future first in the way the Jaguars (for Hunter) and Falcons (for James Pearce Jr.) did.

Impressing in an RPO-heavy offense, Dart will face pressure to develop into an NFL-level processor soon. Daboll and Schoen’s jobs may depend on it. Dart brings a better run-game toolbox (1,498 yards from 2022-24) and deep-ball game than Sanders, and the Giants are hoping his work in a QB-friendly Rebels offense can translate into immediate NFL promise. A USC recruit who transferred after Caleb Williams followed Lincoln Riley to L.A., Dart led FBS passers with 10.8 yards per attempt and paced the SEC with 4,279 and a 69.3% completion rate.

Criticism about bailing early on pockets and the cozier nature of the Ole Miss offense did not deter Daboll, and Dart receiving a full redshirt is unrealistic. Barring extreme cases, first-rounders in the fifth-year option era (2011-present) play as rookies. Wilson in his age-37 season is hardly the impediment Rodgers was to Jordan Love at the same age. Jones overtook Manning in Week 2, while Manning usurped Kurt Warner in Week 11. In a desperate situation, it is hard to believe this Giants regime will not attempt to deploy the rookie. Though, a tough early-season schedule — amid a brutal slate altogether — could give Wilson some runway.

The Giants kept No. 65 in the Texans trade, instead dealing their 2026 third. Alexander’s rookie deal will complement Lawrence’s big-ticket extension. The Toledo product posted 21 TFLs from 2022-24, registering 7.5 sacks over his final two seasons. Used mostly as a three-technique presence, Alexander can add options to a pass rush already strengthened significantly.

The 2023 Leonard Williams trade, however, wounded the Giants inside. The Alexander selection is an aim at bringing some talent back there. If the MAC talent can assimilate quickly (a six-year college career should help here), this will be a difficult front to block. Lawrence will certainly provide favorable matchups.

Other:

Carter’s arrival probably changes the Giants’ Thibodeaux plans, but the team has not seen the former Oregon standout become a true anchor at outside linebacker just yet. He did post 11.5 sacks in 2023 without much edge-rushing help, even as Lawrence provided tremendous support inside, but has not eclipsed 5.5 in either of his other seasons. Thibodeaux, 24, has yet to clear 17 QB hits in a season. During his productive 2023 campaign, though, the former No. 5 overall pick did rank 13th in pressures (35). He has been too talented to give up on, and the Giants now have him on a fully guaranteed 2026 salary.

This provides more time to evaluate Thibodeaux, and while it creates interesting challenges for Shane Bowen in how to consistently have his top three edge rushers on the field at once, the Giants having Carter and Thibodeaux at rookie rates alongside Burns’ $28.2MM-per-year extension is quite the luxury. Thibodeaux does not appear a 2025 extension candidate, as the Giants will need to see more. Neither he nor Carter will carry cap numbers past $10MM, helping offset the Burns cost.

Schoen’s draft track record is spotty at best. The ex-Bills assistant GM has not seen most of his early-round picks hit. A 2022 second-rounder, Robinson has not moved the needle as a slot receiver; 2022 third-round guard Joshua Ezeudu has never earned a starting job as a non-injury replacement. PFF has ranked John Michael Schmitz as a bottom-tier center in each of his two seasons after arriving in Round 2, while Jalin Hyatt (Round 3, 2023) saw his usage rate and production plummet last season. This came as Banks has experienced significant growing pains out of the ’23 first round. Nabers and Nubin’s early promise did turn the tide a bit, and Carter should help guide things further in a positive direction.

Neal has been Schoen’s worst draft choice, proving costly as it came with a No. 7 overall spot. Closely connected to Charles Cross during the pre-draft process, the Giants executed a smokescreen and chose Neal. He proceeded to perform poorly at right tackle before a fractured ankle ended his 2023 season midway through. Neal did not come close to reacquiring the starting right tackle job while Thomas was healthy last year, and the Alabama alum began the season as a healthy scratch.

In the NFL’s equivalent to the starter-to-reliever transition, Neal is now at guard in a last-ditch measure. Neal worked as an Alabama guard starter during his freshman 2019 season but has been at tackle for the past five years. The Giants not landing target Will Fries, instead re-signing Van Roten at a slight raise, opened the door to the team now wanting Neal to win the right guard job opposite Jon Runyan Jr. Some evaluators viewed guard as Neal’s best NFL fit, but the Giants resisted this switch for a while. With no other real options for the struggling blocker, New York pulled the trigger.

Neal impressed during the offseason program, but O-line position battles do not truly take shape until pads come on. As the team hopes for an Ereck Flowers– or Mekhi Becton-like uptick after a tackle-to-guard shift, Neal could raise his free agency value by catching on belatedly. If Neal does not pull this off, the Giants will be in a strange position of returning the same five O-line starters after a 3-14 season.

Top 10 cap charges for 2025:

  1. Dexter Lawrence, DT: $23.66MM
  2. Andrew Thomas, LT: $21.09MM
  3. Brian Burns, OLB: $17.75MM
  4. Bobby Okereke, ILB: $14.46MM
  5. Jon Runyan Jr., G: $11.75MM
  6. Paulson Adebo, CB: $11.71MM
  7. Russell Wilson, QB: $11.o3MM
  8. Kayvon Thibodeaux, OLB: $9.97MM
  9. Jevon Holland, S: $9.94MM
  10. Jermaine Eluemunor, RT: $9.19MM

Upon retaining Daboll and Schoen, Mara said his patience has nearly run out. Few NFL staffers appear on hotter seats. Although Mara announcing that he’ll keep his decision-makers in 2026 would help create a smooth Dart onramp, the duo has not earned that benefit after following the playoff season with a 9-25 collective record. The Giants facing the NFC North and AFC West on the schedule this year will present a stiff challenge to their HC-GM combo’s bid to present a case a fifth season is justified.

This backdrop could make it tougher for the current regime to balance Dart’s start date, as self-preservation will almost definitely come into play. While Wilson’s experience may win out early, Schoen and Daboll drafting Dart only to see another staff reap the benefits will be a storyline as the team determines when will be the best time to throw the No. 25 overall choice into action. Dart may not be a Week 1 starter, but his progress hovers over the Giants’ 2025 outlook.

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