12 free agents New York Giants could target based on coaching hires

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Unless the Giants plan to re-sign Leonard Williams this offseason, they’ll need to find someone to fill his role that was vacated after a mid-season trade. His absence allowed more double- and triple-teams on nose tackle Dexter Lawrence and defensive end Denico Autry would certainly help to ease that pressure.

While Autry is a bit on the older side (34), he’s still highly productive and would be intimately familiar with Shane Bowen’s system.

In 2023, Autry recorded career-highs in tackles (50), forced fumbles (2) and sacks (11.5).

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The Giants don’t necessarily have a need at linebacker with Bobby Okereke playing at an All-Pro level and Micah McFadden coming into his own, but Azeez Al-Shaair is still intriguing.

In 2023, Al-Shaair was fifth in the NFL with 168 tackles and graded out well across the board. He’s particularly good against the run, which is an area the Giants still need to improve upon.

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The Giants aren’t likely to bring back Adoree’ Jackson and rookie Tre Hawkins III didn’t develop as they had hoped, so cornerback will be a need this offseason.

Sean Murphy-Bunting started 14 games last season and played relatively well. He was particularly impactful as a blitzer, which would have made him more ideally suited for Wink Martindale’s defense, but he found a place under Bowen.

Kristian Fulton could also be an option at cornerback.

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Xavier McKinney is an impending free agent but it’s difficult to imagine the Giants allowing him to get away. He and Jason Pinnock formed a formidable safety duo in 2023 and general manager Joe Schoen would be foolish to let that evaporate.

However, if they do, veteran safety Terrell Edmunds could be a potential replacement option. Ditto K’Von Wallace, who could come at a lower cost.

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The Giants will address the quarterback position this offseason, as Schoen previously alluded to. The door remains open for Tyrod Taylor to return but that’s far from a guarantee.

Assuming he finds no options as a potential starter, Ryan Tannehill may be forced to seek out the ideal backup job. With Daniel Jones recovering from a torn ACL and saddled by a history of injury, Tannehill could view the Giants’ backup job as a “matter of time” situation.

Cost will obviously be the determining factor here.

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The Giants have obvious needs along the offensive line and could be souring on Evan Neal at right tackle. Even if they continue to pencil Neal in as the starter, their depth is lacking. Veteran tackle Chris Hubbard could be a solution to that despite his age (32) and injury-riddled 2023 campaign.

Before being placed on IR with a biceps injury, Hubbard played at an above-average level. And while that may not be inspiring for most, above average is something the Giants dream of for their offensive linemen. And he may come relatively cheap, too.

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The 6-foot-2, 211-pound Nick Westbrook-Ikhine isn’t the WR1 the Giants desperately need but he did carve out a nice role for Tim Kelly in 2023, hauling in 28 receptions for 370 yards and three touchdowns.

Westbrook-Ikhine could help round out receiver depth for the Giants and serve as a potential replacement for someone like Isaiah Hodgins, who regressed a year ago. Parris Campbell also won’t be returning, so there is a spot available on the back end of the depth chart.

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Perhaps more than any other player on this list, offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor makes sense for the Giants.

The 6-foot-4, 330-pound guard appeared in all 17 games a season ago with 14 starts. He was penalized just four times and surrendered a mere six hits on the season (6 sacks). His pass protection was mid-pack but he was a quality run defender, which the Giants need on the inside.

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Greg Van Roten is a 33-year-old journeyman who found a fit with the Raiders last season, starting all 17 games for just the second time in his career (previously 16 games). He was among the league’s best pass-blocking guards and fared well while run blocking, too.

Although Van Roten has a bit of an injury history, the Giants could view him as a solid and inexpensive one-year option to help shore up their underwhelming guard position.

This would be a very solid under-the-radar addition for Schoen.

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Lynn Bowden is listed as a wide receiver but more accurately, he’s a utility player. He can step in at wide receiver, tight end, running back, and return both kicks and punts. He does a little bit of everything and would provide the Giants the sort of versatility desperately needed given their many deficiencies.

Bowden has even been known to throw the ball a time or two.

Although it wouldn’t be a high-profile signing, Bowden would be a unique addition to a Giants team that largely lacks utility.

Note: Bowden is a restricted rights free agent, so he would potentially cost the Giants a draft pick depending on what round he is tendered.

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Ashtyn Davis performed well as a spot defender in 2023, recording 37 tackles and three interceptions on defense. He wouldn’t be a starter with the Giants, especially if they bring back McKinney, but he would provide quality depth in the secondary.

More importantly, Davis is a solid special teamer who took nearly 85 percent of the snaps for Gang Green in 2023.

The Giants have carried several special teams-specific players in recent years (Cam Brown, Carter Coughlin) and there’s no reason to believe they won’t continue to do that moving forward, especially with several of those players departing via free agency.

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Justin Hardee isn’t a player who would factor in defensively but like Davis above, is a solid special teams player who could step in and fill an immediate need for the Giants.

In 2022, Hardee made the Pro Bowl for his special teams contributions and likely would have duplicated that honor in 2023 if not for some injury issues.