2021 NFL Offseason: New York Giants

New York Giants (Last Year: 6-10)

2021 NFL Season Preview:

Veteran Additions:
QB Mike Glennon, RB Corey Clement, RB Devontae Booker, WR Kenny Golladay, WR John Ross, TE Kyle Rudolph, G Zach Fulton, DT Danny Shelton, OLB Ifeadi Odenigbo, OLB Ryan Anderson, LB Reggie Ragland, CB Adoree Jackson.
Early Draft Picks:
WR Kadarius Toney, DE/OLB Azeez Ojulari, CB Aaron Robinson, DE/OLB Elerson Smith. Giants Rookie Forecast
Offseason Losses:
QB Colt McCoy, RB Wayne Gallman, WR Golden Tate, OT Cameron Fleming, G Kevin Zeitler, DT Dalvin Tomlinson, OLB Kyler Fackrell, OLB Jabaal Sheard.

2021 New York Giants Offense:
Daniel Jones was expected to make a big leap last year, at least in these previews. The Giants were predicted to be a surprise divisional winner and potential disruptor in the playoffs. Jones, however, was a disappointment. His touchdown-to-interception ratio in his rookie campaign was 24:12, yet it was just 11:10 in 2020. His completion percentages and YPAs were effectively the same.

So, what happened? There are three reasons why Jones declined, one of which hasn’t been addressed. That would be offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, who has proven to be one of the worst coaches in the NFL. All Garrett can do is clap, so he had no answer for Jones’ struggles.

The second reason why Jones regressed was a lack of weapons. Darius Slayton didn’t live up to his billing as a top receiver following a strong rookie campaign, but the primary issue was Saquon Barkley’s season-ending injury. Barkley got hurt in Week 2, so there was no backfield threat. The good news is that Barkley got hurt so early in the 2020 season that he’ll be 100 percent by the 2021 opener. If he can remain on the field, that’ll be a huge boon for Jones.

The receiving corps will be better as well. The Giants made some nice upgrades in this area, signing the talented Kenny Golladay away from the Lions and then using their first-round pick on speedy slot receiver Kadarius Toney. Golladay and Toney will join with Slayton, Sterling Shepard and tight ends Evan Engram and Kyle Rudolph to give Jones a plethora of threats.

The final reason for Jones’ disappointing second year was the poor play of the offensive line. The tackle play was horrible, as first-round rookie Andrew Thomas struggled, while bookend Nate Solder opted out of the season. Thomas figures to be better with some experience, while Solder will make his return. There’s no guarantee that the injury-prone Solder will stay healthy, but his presence will be a nice boost for Jones’ blocking.

New York’s interior offensive line was pitiful last year as well, and it’s disappointing that the team failed to address this area. Guard Will Hernandez is the best of the trio, but is coming off a down year. Rookie Shane Lemieux was a huge liability, but he should improve with some experience. Nick Gates will return after being recognized as one of the worst centers in the NFL.

2021 New York Giants Defense:
The Giants weren’t able to bolster the interior of their offensive line, but they were at least able to put some energy into improving some areas of their defense. One such addition was the signing of Adoree Jackson. The former Titan played well when healthy, but has struggled to remain on the field. The Giants are taking a chance with him, but the gamble could easily pay off, and Jackson would be a nice starter opposite of shutdown corner James Bradberry. If Jackson can’t stay healthy, perhaps third-round rookie Aaron Robinson can help. Logan Ryan, meanwhile, will continue to perform well in the slot.

Unless both Jackson and Robinson bust, New York’s secondary will be a strength this season. The team was already stacked at safety. Ryan was able to play there next to the talented Jabrill Peppers, but he can move to the slot with 2020 second-rounder Xavier McKinney coming off a mostly injury-plagued rookie campaign. McKinney performed well late in the year, giving the team hope for his second season.

This year’s second-round pick was used on the extremely athletic Azeez Ojulari. The Georgia product has huge upside, so the Giants will be counting on him to play well opposite of former Redskin Ryan Anderson, who has done well in limited snaps. Still, New York will miss the departed Kyler Fackrell, who did a good job of pressuring quarterbacks last year.

All hope isn’t lost if Ojulari takes some time to develop because the Giants’ defensive line will be able to hound opposing quarterbacks. Dexter Lawrence, the first-round pick from the 2019 NFL Draft, is coming off a strong sophomore campaign, and he’ll only get better as he continues to develop. He’ll play next to Leonard Williams, who is coming off a great season. Williams has been inconsistent throughout his career, so it remains to be seen if his high level of play will continue into 2021. The Giants added Danny Shelton, who will help stuff the run.

Rounding out the defense, linebacker Blake Martinez was terrific last year. He’s only 27, so there’s no reason why he would regress. The Giants don’t have much else at the position, however.

2021 New York Giants Schedule and Intangibles:
Graham Gano had an excellent kicking season for the Giants. He was 31-of-32, which includes 5-of-6 from 50-plus.

Riley Dixon has finished seventh and ninth in net punting during his first two seasons with the Giants. However, he was just 25th in 2020.

The Giants struggled on returns last year. They didn’t score, and they surrendered a touchdown to the opposition.

New York has a tough non-divisional schedule because it’ll have to battle the great teams in the NFC and AFC West.

2021 New York Giants Rookies:
Go here for the Giants Rookie Forecast, a page with predictions like which rookie will bust and which rookie will become a solid starter.

2021 New York Giants Positional Rankings (1-5 stars):

Quarterbacks	Offensive Line	Secondary
Running Backs	Defensive Line	Special Teams
Receivers	Linebackers	Coaching

2021 New York Giants Analysis: The Giants have high upside. If Daniel Jones can evolve in his third year with Saquon Barkley returning, and if some of the young defensive players can make a nice leap in production, the possibility of reaching the playoffs is real. However, there are some concerns as well, stemming from the coaching staff, the offensive line and the edge rush. It’s more probable that the Giants will finish a bit shy of a wild-card spot.

Projection: 7-10 (2nd in NFC East)

2020 Projection: 11-5. 2020 Actual Result: 6-10.
2019 Projection: 5-11. 2019 Actual Result: 4-12.
2018 Projection: 6-10. 2018 Actual Result: 5-11.
2017 Projection: 7-9. 2017 Actual Result: 3-13. =
2016 Projection: 7-9. 2016 Actual Result: 11-5.

NFL Draft Team Grade: B Grade

Goals Entering the 2021 NFL Draft: The Giants finally found a No. 1 receiver for Daniel Jones this offseason, but they’re not done building around him. Offensive line upgrades are still needed for Jones’ development. Otherwise, the Giants need to continue to build their defense.

2021 NFL Draft Accomplishments: Like the Cowboys, the Giants were screwed out of the player they wanted by one selection. They coveted Devonta Smith the entire time, but because of Dallas, the Eagles were allowed to trade up for the dynamic receiver.

Like the Cowboys, the Giants traded down, but they moved much farther away from their natural draft spot, picking up some needed extra resources in the process. Kadarius Toney was a fine consolation prize at No. 20, as he’ll serve as a better second weapon across from Kenny Golladay than Darius Slayton would have.

Once the Giants were done finding another weapon for Daniel Jones, they addressed their defense. Four of their next five choices were used to upgrade the stop unit. Azeez Ojulari and Aaron Robinson were stellar picks in particular. Both provided great value where the Giants drafted them.

It wasn’t all positive for the Giants. They wasted a pick on Gary Brightwell (albeit in the sixth round), and they failed to upgrade the offensive line. I like what they did otherwise, however, so I’m fine with a middling draft grade. I had trouble deciding between a “B” and a B-, but the first-round trade served as a tie-breaker in the favor of the former.

NFL Draft Individual Grades:

20. Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida – B Grade
The Eagles broke the Giants’ heart when they traded ahead of them for Devonta Smith. This prompted the Giants to trade down to No. 20, where they got the next-best receiver in the class. I had Toney going to the Titans at No. 22, so this range is right for him, and New York is getting good value when the trade is considered. Toney seems like a great complement for Kenny Golladay, so I like this pick, as the Giants needed to give Daniel Jones one more weapon.

50. Azeez Ojulari, DE/OLB, Georgia – A Grade
Azeez Ojulari was someone people mocked in the first round. We did as well, at least until we got some news that teams flagged him for an injury, which would explain his fall. However, he’s well worth the risk here, especially after a trade down in which the Giants secured a third-round pick in 2022. I mocked Ojulari to the Giants with their natural second-round choice, so this deserves a high grade.

71. Aaron Robinson, CB, Central Florida – A+ Grade
The Giants added Adoree Jackson to James Bradberry, but they still needed one more cornerback. Aaron Robinson addresses that void, providing great value in the process. I’ve had Robinson in the first round of some of my updates, so I absolutely love this pick.

116. Elerson Smith, DE/OLB, Northern Iowa – B- Grade
The Giants have maintained a lackluster pass rush for several years now, which is a departure from how they won the Super Bowl twice with Eli Manning. They needed players who can get after the quarterback, and Elerson Smith certainly has the athletic upside. This is a bit of a reach, but Smith’s potential can’t be ignored.

196. Gary Brightwell, RB, Arizona – C- Grade
I get picking a running back after what transpired last year. The Giants’ offense looked like a shell of itself without Saquon Barkley. However, this pick won’t move the needle at all. I never even considered mocking Gary Brightwell anywhere, so the Giants could have done better.

201. Rodarius Williams, CB, Oklahoma State – A+ Grade
I’m shocked Rodarius Williams lasted this long. I had him in the third round of my mock draft, thanks to a great 2020 season. This is a great value pick, and Williams could potentially fill a position of need.

Follow @walterfootball for updates.

Season Summary:
The Giants came so close to making the playoffs last year despite losing Saquon Barkley in Week 2, but were betrayed by the Eagles. Still, it was worrying that Daniel Jones didn’t seem to develop very much in his second season.

Offseason Moves:

Giants sign RB Corey Clement

Giants sign DT Danny Shelton

Giants sign G Zach Fulton

Giants sign DE/OLB Ryan Anderson

Giants sign CB Adoree Jackson

Giants sign WR Kenny Golladay

Giants sign LB Reggie Ragland

Giants sign TE Kyle Rudolph

Giants sign QB Mike Glennon

Giants sign DE Ifeadi Odenigbo

Giants sign WR John Ross

Giants sign RB Devontae Booker

Team Needs:

Center: New York’s severe blocking problems are well documented. The team’s center situation is quite dubious and must be addressed.
Two Guards: Here’s another offensive line position that must be addressed so that Daniel Jones can be developed. Signed Zach Fulton
Cornerback: James Bradberry was as good as advertised in his first season with the Giants, but the rest of the cornerback group struggled mightily. Signed Adoree Jackson
Wide Receiver: The Giants have a couple of decent, No. 2 receivers, but they lack a top-end player at the position. Signed Kenny Golladay and John Ross
Edge Rusher: As with receiver, the Giants have some guys who are solid at generating pressure, but they don’t have a dominant player in that area. Signed Ifeadi Odenigbo and Ryan Anderson
Linebacker: Blake Martinez is the best linebacker the Giants have had in quite some time. However, they don’t have much else at the position. Signed Reggie Ragland
Offensive Tackle: Nate Solder is returning next year, but how can he be trusted, given his injury history and willingness to abandon the team?
Defensive Tackle: New York’s defensive line was terrific in 2020, but Leonard Williams and Dalvin Tomlinson are both impending free agents. One needs to be retained. Re-signed Leonard Williams; signed Danny Shelton
Running Back Depth: Wayne Gallman is an impending free agent, so depth behind Saquon Barkley will be needed if he leaves. Signed Devontae Booker

Follow me @walterfootball for updates.

2021 NFL Free Agent Signings:

Kenny Golladay, WR, Lions. Age: 27.
Signed with Giants (4 years, $72 million)

Kenny Golladay has emerged as one of the better receivers in the NFL. He was expected to have a huge 2020, but his season was derailed by injuries.
Adoree Jackson, CB, Titans. Age: 25.
Signed with Giants (3 years, $39 million)

Tennessee’s strategy of cutting Adoree Jackson makes very little sense. Sure, he’s been limited to 14 games the past two years, but Jackson is a supremely talented cornerback who won’t turn 26 until mid-September. He could bounce back with some dominant seasons, and I’m sure teams will be very interested in his versatility.
Kyle Rudolph, TE, Vikings. Age: 31.
Signed with Vikings (2 years, $16 million)

Kyle Rudolph is past his prime, but he’s still a solid receiver and great blocker. His numbers were down last year because he blocked so much.
Danny Shelton, NT, Lions. Age: 28.
Signed with Giants (1 year)

Danny Shelton is usually a monstrous run stuffer, but he’s coming off his worst year as a pro because of knee injuries. He’s young enough to bounce back, but the knee problems could linger.
Ifeadi Odenigbo (RFA), DE, Vikings. Age: 27.
Signed with Giants

Ifeadi Odenigbo had lots of potential heading into 2020 because he had seven sacks the year before. However, his sack total was sliced in half this past season.
Ryan Anderson, DE/OLB, Redskins. Age: 27. — Signed with Giants
Zach Fulton, G, Texans. Age: 29. — Signed with Giants
John Ross, WR, Bengals. Age: 26. — Signed with Giants (1 year)
Reggie Ragland, LB, Lions. Age: 27. — Signed with Giants
Corey Clement, RB, Eagles. Age: 26. <> — Signed with Giants
Devontae Booker, RB, Raiders. Age: 26. — Signed with Giants (2 years)
Mike Glennon, QB, Jaguars. Age: 31. — Signed with Giants

New York Giants Free Agents:

Salary Cap: TBA.

Leonard Williams, DE/DT, Giants. Age: 27.
Re-signed with Giants (3 years, $63 million)

Leonard Williams has gotten lots of flak over the years because he didn’t really live up to his first-round billing with the Jets, but he’s coming off an amazing 2020 campaign with the Giants.
Dalvin Tomlinson, DT, Giants. Age: 27.
Signed with Vikings (2 years, $22 million)

Dalvin Tomlinson is a monstrous run stuffer who is capable of generating decent pressure on the quarterback.
Kevin Zeitler, G, Giants. Age: 31.
Signed with Ravens (3 years, $22 million)

The Giants saved $12 million by cutting Kevin Zeitler, though that still seems like a mistake. Zeitler is coming off a down year, but still played well. He’s 31 now, but interior guards can play well into their mid-30s. Some team may strike gold by buying low.
Kyler Fackrell, DE/OLB, Giants. Age: 29.
Kyler Fackrell was sorely missed late in the season. The Giants began losing without him, then won in Week 17 when he returned. He logged four sacks in 12 games, but was better than that number indicates.
Wayne Gallman, RB, Giants. Age: 26.
Signed with 49ers

Wayne Gallman did a solid job in place of Saquon Barkley, rushing for 682 yards and six touchdowns, while catching 21 passes.
Golden Tate, WR, Giants. Age: 33.
Cameron Fleming, OT, Giants. Age: 28. — Signed with Broncos
Austin Johnson, DT, Giants. Age: 27.
Jabaal Sheard, DE/OLB, Giants. Age: 32.
Devonta Freeman, RB, Giants. Age: 29.
Colt McCoy, QB, Giants. Age: 34. — Signed with Cardinals
Alfred Morris, RB, Giants. Age: 32.
Dion Lewis, RB, Giants. Age: 30.
Adrian Colbert, S, Giants. Age: 27.
Nate Ebner, S, Giants. Age: 32.