New York Giants: Free Agency Grades – No QB, No Problem!

The New York Giants are headed into their fourth year with GM Joe Schoen and HC Brian Daboll at the helm. And, both are firmly in the hot seat after another poor showing last season. The offseason has been filled with a flurry of moves by the Giants front office, and we’re here to sort through the churn. So far in free agency, the Giants have been mainly focused on filling key holes on the team. Yet, the quarterback situation remains unsolved at the moment. Let’s take a look at the main developments and see how the team has done in free agency.

New York Giants Free Agency Signings

CB Paulson Adebo

3 years, $54 million

Cornerback is a clear position of need for the team, and the Giants were able to secure the widely regarded best option in free agency available. Poached from the Saints after spending the last four seasons with them, Paulson Adebo comes to the Giants accumulating 251 total tackles, 10 interceptions, and 43 passes defensed. Unfortunately, his 2024 season was cut short with a broken femur, but did record three interceptions before going down for the season.

With an average salary of $18 million a year, he’s paid a bit on the higher side given the risk involved coming off of a major injury. Still, this is a solid signing for a clear position of need.

Grade: A-

S Javon Holland

3 years, $45.3 million

Another solid pickup at a clear position of need. Javon Holland played his first four years in the league with the Miami Dolphins, and was a key player in the safety spot over that stretch. He had 57 starts, 301 tackles, nine tackles for loss, five interceptions and forced fumbles, 10 quarterback hits, 25 passes defensed, and one defensive touchdown.

He’ll be paired with Tyler Nubin, Dru Phillips, and Deonte Banks who are all 25 years old or under.  Banks has struggled so far, so Holland will provide a more stable piece in the backfield and a needed veteran presence. The contract is reasonable given his skillset as well.

Grade: A

DL Chauncey Golston

3 years, $19.5 million

Coming off his most productive season in Dallas, Chauncey Golston racked up 13 starts, 56 tackles, 5.5 sacks, five passes defended, and five quarterback hits. He serves as a solid depth piece to a defensive line that’s top-heavy, but has limited depth and injury issues. He’s good with maintaining gap integrity and gives solid effort on his plays. Hopefully 2025 will be a continuation of the play he gave in 2024.

Grade: B

LB Chris Board

2 years, $6 million

Chris Board is a longtime veteran. He’s played in 114 games with three different teams, with two different stints with the Baltimore Ravens – including 2024. As mostly a special teams player, he comes to help out a unit that has been shaky at best. Board is a durable player, only missing two games over the course of his career, and has the chance to add value to a unit that’s struggled. His contract is relatively small and manageable for a player that has upside.

Grade: B

DT Roy Robertson-Harris

2 years, $10 million

This 31-year-old veteran has played in 117 games and 62 starts with three different teams, most recently with Seattle. His total stats throughout his eight-year career are 19 sacks, 67 quarterback hits, 211 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, and 14 passes defended. Nothing jumps off the page with this player, but he’s a decent backup for a team in need of defensive line depth.

Grade: C+

OT James Hudson III

2 years, $12 million

Originally selected in the fourth round in 2021 by the Cleveland Browns, James Hudson has appeared in 47 games with 17 starts. As a swing tackle, he’s been good as a run blocker, but not that good as a pass blocker. It should be noted that in his rookie year he helped the Browns lead the NFL with 5.1 yards per carry, so he could prove useful. The Giants desperately need depth for the offensive line, so he does fill a need. Still, the contract given seems a bit high for a middling player with sporadic success.

Grade: C-

OL Stone Forsythe

Veteran Minimum

Primarily used as a backup/swing tackle for the Seattle Seahawks, he’s appeared in 53 games and 14 starts in his four seasons in Seattle. He’s a big player, standing at 6-foot-8 and 307 pounds. Forsythe was decent at run blocking while below average at pass blocking. He’ll serve as a good depth piece for an offensive line that desperately needs it, and for the price paid it is a solid investment.

Grade: C+

NY Giants Free Agency Re-signings

WR Darius Slayton

3 years, $36 million

Darius Slayton has long been a fan favorite. Even though he’s not an elite talent like teammate Malik Nabers, he’s been a solid WR2/3 throughout his career. Slayton has also led the team in receiving yards in four out of the last six years on the team. Every year he has games where he goes off, and last year was no different, especially when he had to fill in for an injured Nabers. It makes sense to reward a player who’s been as loyal as they come and is a good locker room presence. The price is reasonable for a player with his experience and resume with the team.

Grade: A-

QB Tommy Devito

Veteran Minimum

If the team didn’t re-sign Tommy Devito, the Giants wouldn’t have any quarterback on the roster going into free agency. So in essence, they were practically forced to bring him back. Devito has served as a third-string quarterback for the entirety of his Giants tenure, and outside of his three game win streak back in 2023, that role has made sense. It’s not the quarterback signing news that everyone’s been waiting on, but at the veteran minimum and lack of depth at the position, the move is unsurprising.

Grade: C

Agreed To Terms With OL Aaron Stinnie

Another stint in New York is in store for Aaron Stinnie, after filling in as needed last season due to a plethora of injuries for the OL unit. The 31-year-old longtime vet played average last year on a below average unit, which makes his play above expectation. Details of the contract aren’t fully released yet at the time of this writing. Yet, for a backup player on a one year deal it’s most likely around the vet minimum. For the price they’re paying and a position that needs backups, the signing makes sense for the team.

Grade: B-

TE Chris Manhertz

Veteran Minimum

Entering his 11th year in the league (and second with the Giants), Chris Manhertz serves as a solid blocking tight end for the team yet again. With Manhertz as the blocking tight end and Theo Johnson as the pass-catching tight end, the position could end up being a solid group. That is, assuming Johnson expands on his play from his rookie season. At the veteran minimum and with experience on the team, Manhertz is a decent signing.

Grade: B-

WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette

Veteran Minimum

After searching for a punt return specialist for a while, it seems the organization finally found one.  ISM’s claim to fame is a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown in Week 17 against the Colts to open the second half. It was the first kickoff return touchdown for the Giants since 2015, and the second of Smith-Marsette’s career. This is a no brainer signing, especially considering team need and past success.

Grade: B

Agreed To Terms With RG Greg Van Roten

An offseason signing from before the 2024 season, Greg Van Roten filled in well as the right guard last season. OL Coach Bricillo took Van Roten with him from the Raiders last year, and Van Roten was one of the sturdiest members of the line. The Giants did openly state that they were looking for an upgrade at right guard, but when Will Fries signed with the Vikings, the Giants pivoted to bringing Van Roten back. He’s getting up there in age at 35, but for the time being he’s still a player that adds value to the team and at a position of need.

Grade: B-

Overall Thoughts

The Giants front office went into free agency with a lot of holes on the team and a decent amount of cap space. Even with the fact that the GM and HC are both on the hot seat, they refrained from making desperate bold splashes.

The front office did well to balance filling positions of need and getting players that can add value to the Giants for years to come. There are still question marks surrounding the offensive line, the tight end room, and of course the quarterback situation, but overall the team did a good job. They addressed issues with the secondary and defensive line depth, and plugged holes where they could.  We’re still waiting to hear what they do at the quarterback situation, but for now there’s room for optimism going forward.

Grade: B