Giants Interested In RB Kenneth Walker, Travis Etienne; Latest On New York’s FA Approach
While maybe not reaching Kirk Cousins– or Antonio Brown-level PFR volume, Saquon Barkley‘s final years as a Giant took up considerable space here. Giants brass could not extend him in 2022, franchise-tagged the Pro Bowler in 2023 and drew a hard line on his value in 2024 when no offer emerged. The Eagles benefited.
The Giants have since revamped their power structure, and it looks to be affecting their valuation of veteran running backs. With John Harbaugh calling the shots now and Joe Schoen losing considerable power, ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan notes the Giants are believed to be interested in Kenneth Walker and Travis Etienne.
[RELATED: Giants Aiming To Trade OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux]
New York is showing considerable interest in beefing up its ground game, with Raanan adding connections to Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love have emerged as well. Love is viewed by some as this draft’s top prospect. His positional value will naturally result in a bit of a drop, but the Fighting Irish standout should not need to wait too long before hearing his name called in April. The Giants, who hold the No. 5 overall pick, striking early for a high-end free agent RB would seemingly send Love elsewhere.
With Breece Hall officially franchise-tagged at today’s deadline, Walker is expected to fetch the top RB contract in free agency. Confirming the Giants are interested, The Athletic’s Dan Duggan wonders if the team would be willing to go where that market ends up considering the team has other needs. That could be where Etienne comes in, with some more affordable backs — from Rico Dowdle to Tyler Allgeier to Kenneth Gainwell — set to be available too. Though, SNY’s Connor Hughes adds a “strong” push for a veteran starter-level option should be expected.
Walker, 25, is looking likely to reach free agency. Mutual interest exists between the Super Bowl MVP and the Seahawks, but they lose exclusive negotiating rights at 11am CT March 9, when the legal tampering period begins. Etienne, 27, played out his fifth-year option in Jacksonville and has more career carries — after a higher-volume college career — than Walker. His market should not be as costly, but the five-year Jaguar is better in pass protection and as a receiver.
The Giants have Cam Skattebo signed through 2027, and Tyrone Tracy‘s rookie deal runs through 2026. But Harbaugh is now calling the shots. Schoen said he is still leading the football operation, but Duggan confirmed a recent report that indicates new hire Dawn Aponte reports directly to Harbaugh. Schoen also confirmed (via the New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard) the Giants’ analytics and video departments now report to Aponte, creating a strange dynamic for the contract-year GM. Schoen still oversees the scouting department.
The Giants have had their GMs report to ownership for eons, but they adjusted the long-held structure for Harbaugh, whose imprint on the roster will be felt soon. Schoen did not confirm he would solely run free agency; it can be expected Harbaugh and Aponte will have significant say in that effort. More cap cuts are coming, but the Giants are still interested in retaining some of their own.
Already mentioned as being interested in retaining Wan’Dale Robinson, the Giants are seeing what it will take to keep Jermaine Eluemunor and Cor’Dale Flott. Harbaugh said (via the New York Post’s Paul Schwartz) the team wants to keep all three UFAs-to-be. The Giants met with David Mulugheta, who represents Eluemunor and Flott, at the Combine, Duggan adds.
Eluemunor, 31, maneuvered for a two-year deal in 2024 — an underrated subplot in HBO’s captivating Hard Knocks: Offseason effort — and it looks likely to work to his advantage. Braden Smith appears to be this market’s top right tackle, but he is coming off three seasons shortened by either injury or illness.
Eluemunor played both RT and LT in New York, starting all 31 games he played from 2024-25. His health stands to create a solid market, as both Smith and Jack Conklin come with notable injury pasts. Eluemunor also began his career with the Ravens, playing for Harbaugh from 2017-18. If Eluemunor departs, Duggan notes the team will be expected to pursue a free agent RT replacement.
Flott, 24, overtook former first-rounder Deonte Banks in Big Blue’s cornerback hierarchy. He outplayed the 2023 draftee opposite Paulson Adebo last season and may do reasonably well on the market. He is one of the youngest corners available. Converted from a slot player to primarily a boundary defender, Flott started 37 games with the Giants.
While Banks’ rookie deal runs through 2026, he has been linked to trade rumors amid a disappointing tenure. Harbaugh’s team will likely pursue an outside replacement if Flott departs. He is expected to draw significant FA interest, per Hughes, which could put the Giants in the market for a replacement.
Schwartz adds the Giants have “varying degrees of interest” in retaining tight end Daniel Bellinger and linebacker Micah McFadden. The Giants are higher on third-year veteran Theo Johnson than most around the league, Duggan adds, to the point Isaiah Likely may not be a strong candidate to follow Harbaugh from Baltimore.
Still, Hughes indicates tight end should be considered a priority in free agency. If Likely is deemed too pricey, the likes of Cade Otton, Chig Okonkwo, David Njoku and Dallas Goedert are poised to be available. Will this pursuit be to replace Johnson or complement him?
A 42-game starter on his rookie contract, Bellinger has played at least 51% of the Giants’ offensive snaps in three of his four seasons. He was used more frequently before Johnson’s arrival, however. McFadden started 36 games during his rookie deal but was limited to one in 2025; a season-ending foot injury in Week 1 impacted his free agent stock. The Giants releasing Bobby Okereke tonight and having McFadden unsigned makes linebacker a key need, one of a few the team carries into free agency.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/11/25
Here are Thursday’s minor moves from around the league:
Green Bay Packers
- Elevated: OT Brant Banks, CB Micah Robinson
- Placed on injured reserve: DL Brenton Cox
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed from practice squad: WR Tim Jones, TE Nick Vannett
New York Giants
- Claimed off waivers (from Jets): WR/KR Xavier Gipson
- Placed on IR: LB Micah McFadden (story)
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed from practice squad: CB Shaquill Griffin
- Released: WR Cody White
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: C Michael Deiter, P Mitch Wishnowsky
Gipson was waived by the Jets after a costly fumble in Week 1, but will not need to switch states (or even home stadiums) when joining the Giants. The 24-year-old will serve as a depth receiver for his new team and could also contribute as a returner.
The NFL also issued a three-game suspension for free agency safety Qwuantrezz Knight, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. Knight appeared in six games for the Cardinals in 2023.
Giants LB Micah McFadden To Undergo Foot Surgery
Micah McFadden suffered a foot injury during the Giants’ season opener. The fourth-year linebacker is facing a lengthy absence as a result. 
McFadden is set to miss a “significant” portion of the 2025 campaign, as first reported by Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Surgery is now on tap, ESPN’s Jordan Raanan adds. McFadden is considered likely to return at some point this season, per Raanan.
Even so, losing the 25-year-old will deal a blow to New York’s defense. McFadden played a rotational role during his rookie season before becoming a full-time starter the following year. His snap share jumped once more in 2024, reaching 75%. Another impactful campaign was expected in McFadden’s case for this season, the final one of his rookie contract.
As a pending free agent, the timing of McFadden’s injury is particularly troublesome. The former fifth-rounder’s market value will be dictated in large part by his play in 2025, but that will prove to be a small sample size. In McFadden’s absence, Darius Muasau – selected in the sixth round of last year’s draft – took over as a starter on defense in Week 1. That could continue moving forward, although other options will be explored at the second level of the Giants’ defense.
When speaking to the media on Thursday, defensive coordinator Shane Bowen said (via Raanan) the team has “got to consider” using Abdul Carter as a weakside linebacker in the wake of losing McFadden. Carter, this year’s No. 3 overall pick, worked exclusively as an edge rusher last season and thrived in that capacity. The Penn State product previously saw time as a linebacker, however, so at least a part-time role in that regard could be feasible.
The Giants have Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux in place as starters along the edge, something which led to questions entering the season about Carter’s workload. He handled a 50% snap share in Week 1, and Bowen noted that will change on a week-to-week basis. Given McFadden’s absence for the foreseeable future, it will be interesting to see if Carter’s rookie campaign winds up including responsibilities at more than one position.
Giants Meet With LB Anthony Barr
AUGUST 17: Schoen’s previous comments notwithstanding, the Giants indeed circled back to a Barr visit. The nine-year veteran met with the Giants on Thursday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. No deal is imminent, but as the Giants hold a competition to see who will start alongside Okereke, they are still looking into veteran help. As of now, however, ESPN’s Jordan Raanan notes McFadden remains on track start (Twitter link).
AUGUST 9: This meeting does not look like it will happen — at least, not right now. The Giants will not bring in Barr for a visit, GM Joe Schoen said (via NJ.com’s Darryl Slater).
AUGUST 8: Anthony Barr left his Saints visit without a deal in place, and a report indicated other teams are on the radar. One of those suitors emerged hours later. The Giants look to be interested in the veteran linebacker.
The Giants and Barr are arranging a visit, according to CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson (on Twitter). The Giants have two young linebackers attempting to fill in alongside Bobby Okereke, but Barr would certainly bring an experience edge for a team that lost Jarrad Davis to a season-ending injury.
A Giants-Barr connection exists through defensive line coach Andre Patterson, who was in Minnesota throughout Barr’s time with the team (as a part of Mike Zimmer‘s staff). Having fired Zimmer and GM Rick Spielman, the Vikings did not bring Barr back last year. He spent the 2022 season with the Cowboys.
Despite signing with Dallas near the start of last year’s training camp, Barr moved into a regular role with the Cowboys. The 2014 first-rounder started 10 games and added two more postseason starts, playing at least 65% of the Cowboys’ defensive snaps in each postseason contest. For the season, Barr finished with 58 tackles, two fumble recoveries and a sack. The veteran off-ball linebacker’s best years obviously came in Minnesota, but the UCLA alum is still generating interest as a role player.
Okereke signed a four-year, $40MM contract with the Giants in March, joining a team desperate for ILB help. Okereke’s deal trailed only Tremaine Edmunds for linebacker value this offseason, being well north of the other non-rush backers on this year’s market. The Giants did not spend to upgrade at the other ILB starting spot, going with Davis on a league-minimum pact. But Davis suffered a major knee injury during offseason workouts. The Giants have 2022 fifth-round pick Micah McFadden (seven starts) and 2022 sixth-rounder Darrian Beavers, who is coming off an ACL tear that wiped out his rookie year. Beavers is believed to have a leg up on McFadden for the starting job, but the Giants checking in on Barr points to the team exploring a veteran upgrade.
Barr, 31, passed his Saints physical, per Anderson, but wants to explore this late-summer market. A four-time Pro Bowler with the Vikings, Barr transitioned from college edge rusher to NFL off-ball presence. Zimmer deployed Barr as a 4-3 outside linebacker, but he has spent time as a sporadic rusher as well. Barr has 18.5 sacks and 48 QB hits over the course of his nine-year career.
ILB Competition On Tap For Giants
The Giants made a big move this offseason to address the inside linebacker position in free agency, signing former Colts linebacker Bobby Okereke. Okereke will slot in as a sure starter in New York’s lineup, but who will the Giants decide on as the starter lining up next to Okereke?
In the past two years, New York has seen their options dwindle with an ACL tear leading to the eventual release of Blake Martinez and the benching and waiving of Tae Crowder. Okereke provides a strong presence on the inside of the linebacking corps, but the team still has questions next to him. Darrian Beavers, Jarrad Davis, and Micah McFadden are the three names that have been mentioned as candidates to start next to Okereke.
McFadden is typically the third name thrown into the conversation behind Beavers and Davis. This is a result of McFadden being seemingly cemented as Okereke’s backup. McFadden started next to Okereke while Beavers and Davis were dealing with injury this spring, but considering he plays the same position as Okereke, he’s not a favorite to share the field with him moving forward. This appears to be a battle mainly between Beavers and Davis.
Davis joined the team extremely late into the season last year. A former first-round pick, Davis had been starting less and less as his career progressed. Despite becoming a Giant with two weeks left in the regular season, Davis started in Week 18 before starting two playoff games for New York, an impressive feat with such a small amount of time in the building. With Beavers dealing with injury, Davis started early in the spring, according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic, but found himself on the sideline with an undisclosed injury during minicamp.
Beavers missed his entire rookie season after tearing his ACL in Week 2 of the preseason last year. The Giants are reportedly extremely high on the 2022 sixth-round pick, whom they are hoping to have back by training camp. Once he does return, Beavers will provide immediate competition for Davis. During a Mailbag Q&A session, Duggan asserted his belief that Beavers will claim the starting job next to Okereke during training camp.
So, there you have it. Beavers, the young, unproven player coming off a major injury, is currently the expected favorite to start. Davis is slotted into the position for now, if healthy, and should have a chance to make a case to regain his status as a starter in training camp. If both are unavailable, McFadden can start in their place, though the team prefers that he back up Okereke instead of start next to him.