Giants Rumors

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/15/24

Friday’s minor transactions:

Arizona Cardinals

Chicago Bears

  • Released: OL Roy Mbaeteka

Cincinnati Bengals

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

Irwin gets a crack at a WR3 role in Cincinnati as Tyler Boyd heads to free agency. Irwin also holds experience as the team’s backup return man, filling in last year when Charlie Jones was injured.

Heck rejoins the Texans on a one-year deal worth up to $3.3MM. He’ll add some key depth at an important position.

Rozeboom was a restricted free agent who wasn’t tendered. Regardless, the two sides work out a fully guaranteed deal for 2024.

Feeney joins the Vikings on a one-year deal. Though far removed from a consistent starting role with the Chargers, Feeney has continued to find starts throughout his career as a valuable body off the bench.

The Giants bring in two tight ends without much receiving experience. Manhertz, a veteran whose played for the Panthers from 2016-20, has extensive starting experience as a blocking tight end with 53 starts in his career.

Giants To Sign Aaron Stinnie, Austin Schlottmann

After signing Jon Runyan Jr. to work as one of their starting guards, the Giants are bringing in options for the other post. Losing 2023 starter Ben Bredeson to the Buccaneers, the Giants will add an ex-Tampa Bay cog.

Aaron Stinnie and Austin Schlottmann are joining the Bucs, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler. Both players have been spot starters and would stand to represent depth for a Giants team that was decimated up front last season. Schlottmann agreed to a two-year deal.

Stinnie, 30, mostly worked as a backup during his six-season Bucs tenure — save for his work in place of then-starter Alex Cappa during the team’s Super Bowl LV run — and went down with a season-ending injury before the 2022 regular season. Last year, however, the veteran interior lineman started 11 games and was in the lineup for both Bucs postseason contests. Stinnie took over for Matt Feiler; Pro Football Focus placed him in a tie with Runyan, at 47th, among guards last year.

Schlottmann, 28, has made 14 starts over a five-year career spent in Denver and Minnesota. He filled in at center for Garrett Bradbury late in the Vikings’ NFC North-winning 2022 season and started three games last year.

The Vikings would seem to have a combination of five starters comprised of non-Stinnie/Schlottman parts. Of course, it will depend on what the Giants see from Evan Neal. The former No. 7 overall pick has struggled throughout his young NFL career, and rumblings about a move to guard have surfaced. Neal at guard would allow the Giants to play Jermaine Eluemunorgiven a two-year, $14MM contract — at right tackle. But if the team is intent on keeping Neal at tackle, Eluemunor would join Stinnie in a potential guard competition.

NFL Investigating Eagles, Falcons For Potential Tampering

Although the NFL calls its unofficial free agency the legal tampering period, the league is looking into whether two teams went too far during this year’s window. The Eagles and Falcons are under investigation, ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano tweets.

The league is looking into potential violations from these teams during their respective Saquon Barkley and Kirk Cousins negotiations. Penn State coach James Franklin, who coached Barkley in college, said GM Howie Roseman spoke directly with the running back prior to the new league year. Teams are not permitted to speak directly with players during the tampering period unless they are self-represented; the Eagles have denied any violation occurred, ESPN.com’s Tim McManus notes.

Cousins said Wednesday night he spoke with the Falcons’ trainer during the tampering window, which is not permitted under league rules. While tampering ahead of the days that comprise the legal tampering period happens annually, as some deals come to pass rather quickly once the signing window opens. But the league is investigating these two high-profile team changes. Fines or potential loss of draft picks can come out of tampering violations.

For him now to come back and be able to play within the state, in Philadelphia, he said that was one of the first things that Howie said to him on the phone as part of his sales pitch to him was not only the Philadelphia Eagles and that but obviously the connection with Penn State and the fan base as well,” Franklin said (via McManus) of Barkley’s Eagles talks.

As of Thursday morning, the Giants had not contacted the league about tampering, per McManus. By most accounts, the Giants were prepared to move on from the two-time Pro Bowler. While New York did add a veteran replacement in Devin Singletary, the ex-Brian Daboll Bills charge comes cheaper than Barkley, who signed a three-year, $37.75MM deal with $26MM guaranteed at signing. The Vikings did make a more concerted effort to retain Cousins, but the Falcons came in with a big offer — four years, $180MM with a $100MM practical guarantee — to lure him out of Minneapolis.

Rehabbing a torn Achilles sustained in late October, Cousins wants to be ready for the Falcons’ summer workouts. Falcons buzz began building coming out of the Combine, which often serves as a preview of the market. After battling uphill against Cousins during negotiations for years, the Vikings held tight against the kind of guarantee the Falcons are authorizing. As he prepares to move to his wife’s hometown, the 35-year-old passer will be working with the Falcons’ medical staff soon. The NFL will look into whether the Falcons’ staff violated tampering policies during this high-profile recruitment.

RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/13/24

Here are today’s free agent tender decisions:

RFAs

Tendered:

Non-tendered:

ERFAs

Tendered:

RB AJ Dillon Eyeing Deal With Cowboys, Giants, Colts

Most of the top available running backs have quickly found a new home this offseason. The 2024 free agent class featured several prominent names, and they have switched teams (in certain cases, remaining in the division while doing so). AJ Dillon is among the best remaining backfield options, and he appears to have a shortlist of destinations.

The former Packers back has interest in a deal with the Cowboys, Giants and Colts, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Dallas could indeed be a suitor for Dillon (although nothing is imminent at this time), colleague Jane Slater adds. Slater also notes a Cowboys reunion with Ezekiel Elliott is not in the team’s plans as things currently stand.

Dallas saw Tony Pollard take a deal with the Titans in the early portion of the negotiating window, a departure which did come as a major surprise. Pollard took on undisputed lead back duties with Elliott out of the picture last year, and his efficiency saw a notable decline. Still, eyebrows have been raised at the lack of action on the veteran market with respect to RBs for the Cowboys. The team’s second-leading rusher in 2023 was Rico Dowdle, who is unsigned.

The Giants also lost a 2023 franchise tag recipient in the form of Saquon Barkley. He made an intra-NFC East swap by joining the Eagles on a three-year deal, after the Giants did not submit a new offer this offseason. New York has, however, responded by bringing in Devin SingletaryThe latter landed a three-year, $19.5MM pact to serve as the Giants’ lead back, so any Dillion arrangement would see him play as a backup or part of a tandem as he did in Green Bay with Aaron Jones.

Indianapolis appeared destined to trade Jonathan Taylor for much of the 2023 offseason, but he and the Colts ultimately worked out an extension. The 2021 rushing champion will be tasked with carrying the load next season and beyond, so like the Giants the Colts have less of a need in the backfield than the Cowboys. With Anthony Richardson at quarterback after a four-game rookie season, though, Indianapolis will no doubt prioritize a strong ground game.

Dillon played sparingly as a rookie in 2020, but since then he has seen a consistent workload serving as a change-of-pace compared to Jones. The 25-year-old totaled 1,573 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground between the 2021 and ’22 seasons, but he regressed last season. Dillion saw his yards per carry average drop to a career-low 3.4 in 2023, something which has no doubt hurt his market. If at least one of the three teams on his radar reciprocates his interest, though, a deal could be worked out somewhat quickly.

Giants Not Planning To Tender Isaiah Hodgins As RFA

A part-time starter and regular contributor for the Giants over the past two seasons, Isaiah Hodgins may not be part of the team’s 2024 plan. The Giants are not expected to tender Hodgins as a restricted free agent, per ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan.

The Giants did keep Hodgins as via ERFA tender last year, but the RFA numbers are more expensive. It would cost the Giants $2.98MM to keep Hodgins. While that would not be especially difficult to pull off, teams regularly pass on tendering a player only to bring him back at a lower rate. It remains to be seen if the Giants will consider keeping Hodgins for a third season.

Hodgins, 25, proved quite valuable for a receiver-thin Giants squad in 2022. The ex-Brian Daboll Bills charge — claimed off waivers midway through the 2022 slate — caught 33 passes for 351 yards and four touchdowns, reaching these totals despite playing in only eight Giants games. In New York’s playoff upset win in Minnesota, Hodgins scored and served as Daniel Jones‘ top target. His 8-105-1 line made a considerable difference in the Giants’ first playoff win since Super Bowl XLVI.

Kayvon Thibodeaux‘s production and the interesting Tommy DeVito stretch notwithstanding, just about everything fell apart for the Giants last season. The team added more receiving help, including Darren Waller and Parris Campbell, but still used Hodgins regularly. The 6-foot-3 target played ahead of Campbell and Sterling Shepard but saw fewer snaps than the re-signed Darius Slayton, Wan’Dale Robinson and third-round pick Jalin Hyatt. Hodgins caught 21 passes for 230 yards and three TDs.

The Giants have Slayton and Robinson still under contract alongside Hyatt, though Shepard and Campbell are unlikely to return. Hodgins, who did not play any special teams snap, may also be out of the picture soon. If the Giants do not draft a quarterback in Round 1, they are being closely tied to a big receiver investment.

Giants Declined Opportunity To Match Xavier McKinney Contract

The Giants took a risk by letting Xavier McKinney hit free agency, and the safety ended up bolting for a lucrative deal from the Packers. Before he committed to joining Green Bay, the Giants had “strong interest” in retaining the defensive back, according to Paul Schwartz of the New York Post.

However, the front office was leery of handing McKinney the $17MM average annual value he ultimately earned from the Packers. That $17MM AAV puts McKinney in the top five of the highest-paid safeties in the NFL.

The Giants decided to not place the transition tag on McKinney, a decision that would have cost the team $13.8MM. As Schwartz writes, the Giants decided to not tag the safety in a “show of good faith,” although it ended up biting them when the Packers backed in with the Brink’s truck.

However, McKinney was still willing to honor the Giants’ handshake deal. As Schwartz passes along, the safety “did circle back” with the Giants and provided them an opportunity to match Green Bay’s offer. The Giants ultimately “deemed the price was too high for a safety.” We heard previously that the Giants were not prepared to go higher than the transition tag value, meaning there was like a $3MM AAV gap between the two sides.

While McKinney does not have a Pro Bowl on his resume, he is going into his age-25 season. That separated the Alabama alum from the lot of recently released safeties. Ranking 14th on PFR’s free agents list, McKinney played every snap for the Giants last season. McKinney intercepted three passes, forced a fumble and recorded a career-high 116 tackles in his contract year. He has run into some injury trouble, suffering a foot injury that delayed the start of his career in 2020 and then sustaining injuries in an ATV accident in 2022. These chunks of missed games did not deter the Packers, who made one of the biggest free agency commitments in team history.

Giants To Sign WR Isaiah McKenzie

A mini-Bills reunion is taking shape with the Giants, who have deep Buffalo ties at present. In addition to Devin Singletary being set to sign with the Giants, they are adding Isaiah McKenzie.

McKenzie will rejoin Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen in the Big Apple, according to his agency. Like Singletary, the return man/slot receiver’s Bills tenure overlapped with Daboll and Schoen’s. McKenzie spent the 2023 season with the Colts.

A fifth-round pick by the Broncos, McKenzie made a name for himself in Buffalo. He spent time as both a receiver and return man, appearing in 68 games during his time with the Bills. That included a career year in 2022 when he finished with 42 catches for 423 yards and four touchdowns.

He was released by the Bills last offseason and ended up catching on with the Colts. He saw an even lesser offensive role than he experienced in Buffalo, hauling in only 11 catches in 13 games in Indy. In December, he was hit with a three-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team.

Now, the Giants will be hoping they can get something out of the veteran. The Giants will return much of their WR depth next season, including Jalin Hyatt, Darius Slayton, and Wan’Dale Robinson, with the likes of Sterling Shepard and Parris Campbell hitting free agency.

The Giants are still waiting for one of their wideouts to emerge as a clear-cut WR1. They can’t expect that from McKenzie, but the veteran should at least provide some reliability towards the bottom of the depth chart.

More to come.

Giants To Add DB Jalen Mills

For a second straight offseason, the Giants have lost a starting safety. Xavier McKinney following Julian Love out of New York creates a void. They will bring in Jalen Mills to help fill it.

The former Patriots and Eagles defender is joining the Giants, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets. Mills has experience at safety and cornerback but played more on the back line last season. The Giants need more help at that spot.

The former seventh-round pick quickly burst onto the scene in 2016, but after missing only one game through his first two seasons in Philly, he was limited to 17 games between 2018 and 2019. When he returned in 2020, he was playing safety, and he proceeded to have one of the most productive seasons of his career, finishing with a career-high 74 tackles.

That performance earned him a four-year, $24MM contract from the Patriots in 2021. He started all 26 of his appearances through his first two seasons in New England, mostly playing cornerback. He was cut and re-signed last offseason and transitioned back to safety, where he got into 17 games (eight starts). He only graded 75th among 95 qualifying safeties on Pro Football Focus, although the site did give him one of the highest grades at his position in run defense.

The Giants do have some continuity among their safeties corps with Jason Pinnock. Mills will likely be in the mix for the other safety spot, competing with the likes of former fourth-round pick Dane Belton for reps.

Giants To Sign QB Drew Lock

Tyrod Taylor decided late Monday night to join the Jets. While the Giants may have a multifaceted QB plan this offseason, they are in need of a backup in the short term. It looks like Drew Lock will fill that role.

The Giants are signing Lock, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero. He is coming to New York on a one-year, $5MM accord, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets. The true value will check in south of $5MM, in all likelihood, with The Athletic’s Jeff Howe noting the contract can max out at that number. The former Broncos draftee spent the past two seasons as Geno Smith‘s backup in Seattle. With the Seahawks changing their coaching staff, Lock will land on a third NFL team.

A former Broncos second-round pick, Lock did not stick as Denver’s starter for too long. Proving erratic in the role in leading the NFL in interceptions during an injury-shortened 2020 season, the Mizzou alum returned to the bench once the Broncos signed Teddy Bridgewater in 2021. Lock has not worked as a regular starter since. But Lock did make a memorable cameo last season, leading the Seahawks to a win over the Eagles. That included a game-winning drive that culminated with a Lock toss to Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

Granted, the Eagles’ Sean Desai– and Matt Patricia-supervised defensive swoon made that performance look slightly less impressive than it was in the moment. But Lock is a five-year veteran who has handled a backup role for a bit. With Daniel Jones rehabbing an ACL tear, Lock appears set to take first-team reps in the Giants’ offseason program. His status as the backup for 2024 may hinge on how the Giants proceed with their first-round pick.

Taylor served as the Giants’ backup for the past two years, but after the team kept him on the bench to play Tommy DeVito, rumors emerged the veteran was likely to leave. GM Joe Schoen had confirmed the Giants would add a quarterback this offseason, and Lock is the Taylor replacement. This gives the Giants some insurance in case Jones cannot make it back by training camp, though that is the expectation. But how the Giants’ QB depth chart looks coming out of the draft looks represents the bigger storyline.

The Giants have been linked to exploring trade-up moves for a quarterback in Round 1, and while we are entering smokescreen season, a regime that did not draft Jones has a chance to add an upgrade — with J.J. McCarthy now on the radar as a target — and get off the Jones contract by 2025. Jones will be on the team in 2024, however, and if the Giants do not draft a QB early, a QB depth chart comprised of 2019 prospects will take shape.