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.
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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.
Injury Updates: Wright, Giants, Adams
A handful of notable injury updates heading into Week 17:
- Set to face the 49ers on Sunday in a battle of NFC heavyweights, the Bears may go without right tackle Darnell Wright. The 24-year-old is questionable with an illness, and he will not join the team in traveling to San Francisco on Saturday, per Adam Schefter of ESPN. Since going 10th overall in the 2023 draft, Wright has started in all 47 NFL appearances, including 14 this year. If Wright can’t go on Sunday, it’s likely Theo Benedet will start in his place.
- Giants tight end Theo Johnson (illness) and center John Michael Schmitz (finger) are the latest starters the team has ruled out for Sunday, joining left tackle Andrew Thomas (hamstring). The Giants and Raiders, both 2-13, will square off with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft likely at stake. The Raiders decided earlier this week to shut down their two best players, defensive end Maxx Crosby and tight end Brock Bowers, ahead of what could be a franchise-altering game.
- The Rams are likely to go a second straight week without star wide receiver Davante Adams. He’ll be listed as doubtful for Monday’s matchup against the Falcons, Schefter relays. With the postseason nearing, the Rams are playing it safe with Adams, who aggravated a hamstring injury in Week 15. Adams, the Rams’ top Puka Nacua complement, leads the league with 14 touchdown grabs.
- The Jaguars have downgraded running back Bhayshul Tuten from questionable to out for Sunday’s meeting with the Colts. Tuten suffered a finger injury in a Week 15 win over the Jets and subsequently underwent surgery, keeping the rookie fourth-rounder out of last Sunday’s victory in Denver. Tuten ranks second among Jaguars RBs in carries (78), yards (284) and touchdowns (four), trailing Travis Etienne in those categories. LeQuint Allen will back up Etienne on Sunday as the hard-charging Jags go for their seventh win in a row.
Drew Lock To Remain Giants’ Starting QB
Despite a rough Thanksgiving outing, Drew Lock is staying in place as the Giants’ starting quarterback. Brian Daboll announced Wednesday he is keeping the former second-round pick in place.
Lock initially lost out to Tommy DeVito, even as the more experienced player resided as Daniel Jones‘ top backup throughout the season, but a forearm injury sidelined DeVito after his first start. It is not yet clear if DeVito will be ready to play in Week 14, but Lock will keep the keys for at least another week — for a Saints matchup.
Signed to a one-year, $5MM deal, Lock expressed understandable disappointment when Daboll initially tabbed DeVito over him following the Jones benching. This decision came a year after Tyrod Taylor displayed more frustration after being informed DeVito, a UDFA who began the 2023 season on the Giants’ practice squad, would keep the starting job even as the veteran came off IR. Daboll eventually went back to Taylor, though, and he is now going with Lock for a second straight game. DeVito will be limited in practice Wednesday.
Lock went 21 of 32 for 178 yards during a Thanksgiving Day loss to the Cowboys, a game that featured the Giants’ offense in gridlock most of the way. This week will at least mark a preparation difference for Lock, who will practice as the starter for the first time this season. With Geno Smith‘s two absences last season not being known days in advance, Daboll’s early proclamation will make for Lock’s first run of extended starter prep since he closed the 2021 season — after Teddy Bridgewater sustained a second concussion that year — as the Broncos’ QB1.
Denver demoted Lock after trading for Bridgewater that year, and the Missouri alum has not come especially close — as Smith easily won a 2022 Seahawks competition — to a starting gig. This will represent a key opportunity for the sixth-year vet, who appears likely to depart New York in free agency come March. DeVito, who sustained the forearm injury late in Week 12 but was not ruled out until just before the Dallas matchup, can be kept as an exclusive rights free agent.
Additionally, Daboll said (via The Athletic’s Dan Duggan) tight end Theo Johnson underwent foot surgery. The rookie fourth-rounder, who started 11 games this season, landed on IR recently. Not only is Johnson’s season over, but Daboll said the surgery rehab is expected to affect his offseason availability. With the Giants not making a substantial tight end move following Darren Waller‘s June retirement, it should be expected the team — especially now with this Johnson injury in the equation — addresses the position in 2025.
Giants Place Dexter Lawrence, Theo Johnson On IR; Cory Durden Signed Off Rams’ Practice Squad
Both Dexter Lawrence and Theo Johnson suffered notable injuries during the Giants’ Thanksgiving loss. Neither player is in line to suit up again this season. 
Lawrence and Johnson are now on injured reserve, per a team announcement. An absence of at least four games is thus in store, but Lawrence in particular is not expected to come back for the regular season finale. The two-time Pro Bowler is dealing with a dislocated elbow, and his attention will turn to rehab in advance of the 2025 campaign.
In his absence, the Giants will look for short-term replacements along the defensive interior. That could prove to be challenging given the other D-line injuries the team dealt with on Thanksgiving. In a move aimed at providing depth at that spot, Cory Durden has been signed off the Rams’ practice squad. The 25-year-old made four appearances last season but has yet to see any game action in 2024.
Lawrence led the league in sacks (nine) through seven games this season, demonstrating his status as New York’s most important defensive player and one of the league’s top interior linemen. The 27-year-old inked a big-ticket extension last offseason, so it comes as no surprise the team will avoid attempting to rush him back into the fold during the closing stages of the campaign. Sitting at 2-10 on the year, the Giants are officially out of postseason contention.
Johnson’s absence will be notable as well. The fourth-round rookie has handled a notable role in the wake of Darren Waller‘s retirement, posting 334 yards and one touchdown on 29 receptions. A foot injury threatened to shut Johnson down for the rest of the campaign, and today’s news all-but guarantees he will indeed be sidelined until 2025. His presence will be missed on a low-output New York passing attack.
The Giants are among the teams which could wind up with the No. 1 pick in April’s draft. Given their lack of a franchise quarterback, securing the top spot in the order would be critical. Playing without Lawrence and Johnson will lessen New York’s chances of adding further wins over the closing weeks of the season.
Giants TE Theo Johnson Could Miss Remainder Of Season
The Giants exited their Thanksgiving loss with several injuries along the defensive line, including an elbow dislocation which might keep Dexter Lawrence on the sidelines for the rest of the year. The team’s offense could also be shorthanded the rest of the way. 
Rookie tight end Theo Johnson is dealing with a foot injury. Head coach Brian Daboll said on Friday (via Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post) the ailment could end his campaign. If that turns out to be the case, his season will draw to a close after spending notable time as the team’s top pass-catching tight end.
Of course, that role was set to remain with Darren Waller heading into the 2024 season. Waller retired in June, however, creating a opening for Johnson to see a notable workload on offense right away. The 23-year-old Canadian competed for the top pass-catching role during training camp, and with a snap share of 84% he certainly carved out a notable spot on the Giants’ offense. Johnson received at least five targets in a game five times prior to getting injured, including each of the past four contests.
In all, the Penn State product has racked up 331 yards and one touchdown on 29 catches this year. The Giants have struggled on offense with and without Daniel Jones at quarterback, and losing Johnson would leave the team without an important skill position contributor over the final weeks of the campaign. Lawrence Cager was released from the practice squad with an injury settlement last month, leaving Daniel Bellinger in line to step into an increased workload on offense moving forward.
Five games remain in the Giants’ season, and the team has been eliminated from postseason contention. As a result, it would come as no surprise if Johnson were to be shut down for the rest of the season once further testing is done on his foot. In that event, his attention would turn to 2025 and the possibility of regaining a key role on offense through the remainder of his rookie contract.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/28/24
Here are today’s minor moves to close out the weekend:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: RB Demetric Felton
- Placed on exempt/international player list: P Tory Taylor
Cincinnati Bengals
- Activated from active/NFI list: TE Erick All
Dallas Cowboys
- Claimed off waivers (from 49ers): CB Kemon Hall
Kansas City Chiefs
- Activated from active/PUP list: G Joe Thuney
Miami Dolphins
- Activated from active/PUP list: LB David Long
New England Patriots
- Signed: DT Josiah Bronson
- Activated from active/NFI list: RB Antonio Gibson
- Activated from active/PUP list: RB Terrell Jennings
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: G Tremayne Anchrum, T Jesse Davis
- Placed on IR: OL Justin Herron
- Waived: OL Mark Evans II
New York Giants
- Signing: CB Breon Borders
- Activated from active/PUP list: TE Theo Johnson
- Waived: QB Nathan Rourke
Thuney has been working his way back from a pectoral injury. After suffering the strain in a Divisional Round win over the Bills, the injury held Thuney out of the team’s final two wins over the Ravens and 49ers. Having passed his physical, Thuney will return to practice in order to take the next steps on his way back to the field.
The Giants weren’t the only team to submit a waiver claim for Rourke as he continues to try and turn his success in the Canadian Football League into an NFL opportunity. Now, after being buried on the depth chart behind Daniel Jones, Drew Lock, and Tommy DeVito, Rourke is able to look elsewhere for that chance at playing time in the NFL.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/16/24
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Miami Dolphins
- Placed on active/NFI list: S Mark Perry
- Placed on active/PUP list: WR Tahj Washington
New Orleans Saints
- Placed on active/NFI list: WR Bub Means
New York Giants
- Placed on active/PUP list: TE Theo Johnson
San Francisco 49ers
- Placed on active/NFI list: WR Ricky Pearsall
The active versions of these injury lists only impact players’ availability for practices before the regular season. Players can be moved off the active/PUP or active/NFI lists at any point over the next month-plus. Should a player be left on a PUP or NFI list when a team finalizes a 53-man roster — as the Ravens are expected to with running back Keaton Mitchell — he must miss at least four games.
Pearsall’s undisclosed injury is not viewed as a malady that should keep the first-rounder out long term, per The Athletic’s Matt Barrows. The Florida alum is expected to join Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, the latter’s trade request notwithstanding, this season and profiles as a long-term replacement for one of the two players — depending on how San Francisco handles its receiver contract glut — come 2025. Pearsall participated in the 49ers’ offseason program; it would be a surprise if he became a candidate for the reserve/PUP list.
Lawrence Cager, Theo Johnson Vying For Giants’ Pass-Catching TE Role?
In between the Evan Engram and Darren Waller New York stays, Daniel Bellinger worked as the Giants’ primary tight end. During Waller’s latest time off the field due to a hamstring injury last season, the 2022 fourth-rounder returned to a role as the team’s top TE. It would, then, stand to reason the Giants would turn back to Bellinger following Waller’s retirement.
If that is to happen, the team is taking a roundabout route to that depth chart arrangement. The Giants’ offseason program featured Lawrence Cager and fourth-round rookie Theo Johnson splitting first-team reps, per the New York Post’s Paul Schwartz. Bellinger missed time due to an unspecified injury, Brian Daboll said (via The Athletic’s Dan Duggan), adding the injury occurred weeks ago.
[RELATED: Darren Waller Details Retirement Decision]
Teams do not have to disclose players’ offseason injuries, and Daboll noted the Giants are proceeding cautiously with the third-year tight end. The third-year HC expects Bellinger to “be fine,” though Schwartz adds the parties do not appear on the same page regarding the injury. Considering Bellinger’s extensive playing time over the past two seasons, his role during training camp and the preseason will be a topic to monitor as the Giants transition from Waller.
Despite the Giants trading a third-round pick for Waller in March 2023, they used Bellinger on a career-high 688 offensive snaps. The San Diego State product moved back into the top TE slot during Waller’s five-game absence midway through last season, though the Giants have not involved him heavily in the passing game. Bellinger, who started 11 of the 12 games he played as a rookie, has not eclipsed 275 receiving yards in a season. While Bellinger missed five games due to injury in 2022 and was behind Waller for much of 2023, he did not exceed 375 yards in a season with the Aztecs.
A converted wide receiver, Cager earned praise from Daboll at the conclusion of the offseason program. It should be expected Bellinger will remain a regular for the Giants, but ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan notes it appears Cager and Johnson are being groomed to take over receiving responsibilities at the position. Daboll referred to Cager as one of the team’s most improved players this offseason. Considering Cager’s past as a frequent practice squad stash, his move to regular duty would be a notable development for a Giants team again grappling with the loss of a productive tight end. In 17 Giants games since his 2022 arrival, Cager has just 17 receptions for 154 yards.
Although Waller continued to battle health issues in New York, he totaled 552 receiving yards in his 12-game Giants stint. Only Engram has topped that among Giants TEs since 2013. Waller’s summer exit leaves a gaping hole in the Giants’ skill-position corps.
The Giants did not add a receiving tight end in free agency but did use their first Day 3 pick on Johnson, who caught seven touchdown passes at Penn State last season. Johnson topped out at 341 yards in a Nittany Lions campaign, but he averaged 16.4 yards per catch as a junior in 2022. Johnson measured 6-foot-6 and ran a 4.57-second 40-yard dash at the Combine.
Additionally, Duggan notes Chris Manhertz exited the offseason program ahead of the other UFA tight end the team added (Jack Stoll). The Broncos released Manhertz, a blocking tight end, this offseason. Manhertz making the roster would cut into the above-referenced trio’s work, as he would be of use to the Giants’ post-Saquon Barkley rushing attack, one still expected to feature the struggling Evan Neal at right tackle.
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/22/24
Today’s draft pick signings:
New York Giants
- TE Theo Johnson (fourth round, Penn State)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- DB Tykee Smith (third round, Georgia)
A knee injury limited Smith to only one game during his first season at Georgia, and the former West Virginia standout saw a part-time role in 2022. However, the defensive back put himself firmly on the NFL radar with a strong 2023 campaign where he finished with 70 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, and four interceptions. The rookie is currently penciled in as Tampa Bay’s starting nickelback.
Johnson finished his four-year career with the Nittany Lions having hauled in 77 catches for 938 yards and 12 touchdowns. With Darren Waller still flirting with retirement, the rookie tight end could end up seeing a role in New York in 2024. Johnson will be competing with the likes of Daniel Bellinger, Jack Stoll, Chris Manhertz, and Lawrence Cager for playing time.