Tag: denico autry

New York Giants named potential landing spot for multiple edge rushers

With needs up and down their roster, the New York Giants and general manager Joe Schoen will enter free agency prepared to address multiple positions.

One of those is along the edge where the Giants are desperately lacking outside of Kayvon Thibodeaux.

Although the pass rush need has flown a bit under the radar, the Giants were named as a potential landing spot for multiple edge rushers courtesy of Pro Football Focus.

Although it may not be the Giants’ biggest or most glaring need this offseason, it may be one of the most important positions for them to address. With blitz-heavy defensive coordinator Wink Martindale no longer with the team, it will be even more important for the Giants’ defense to generate pressure more organically.

Here is a look at the edge rushers PFF has identified the Giants as a potential landing spot.

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Huff adds an immediate impact on money downs for any team willing to pay a bit extra to acquire a premium designated pass rusher, a skill set both of these NFC East teams need desperately.

This isn’t the first time we have heard Huff’s name connected to Big Blue. He wouldn’t have to relocate very far; he’d just have to switch locker rooms at MetLife Stadium.

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Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero adds a veteran presence on the edge, with Floyd a good fit in a predominantly 3-4 base defense that will capitalize on quarterbacks chased into his lane by Brian Burns — if the team retains him — and is efficient on stunts, which he can run with Derrick Brown on the interior.

The Giants need to add several pieces on the edge for new defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, and there is the connection here with general manager Joe Schoen formerly working with the Buffalo Bills.

The former first-round pick is one of the more recognizable names on the list and had been connected to the Giants in previous years. The Giants would be his fourth team and the third in the last three years.

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New Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen comes over from Tennessee, where Autry just had several of the best seasons of his lengthy career.

We’ve seen in a few cases over the last couple of years, Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen adding talent from their time in Buffalo. The Giants’ new defensive coordinator, Shane Bowen, may do the same with some of his players that worked with in his old stomping grounds.

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We’ve mentioned the Giants plenty, but the edge rush talent beyond Kayvon Thibodeaux is virtually non-existent, and New York is likely selecting too early at No. 6 overall to consider taking a defensive player — perhaps after a trade-down, if they go that route.

Ngakaue is another name the Giants have been connected to in years past. Although he may not be the player he once was, he can certainly still contribute and the Giants can certainly use him.

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

The New York Giants significantly overhauled their coaching staff this offseason, changing two of their three coordinators while also switching out a multitude of assistant coaches.

Because of those changes, the team will need to readjust their personnel by way of free agency and the 2024 NFL draft in an effort to match talent with the new schemes.

As a reminder, here are the notable coaching changes:

  • Defensive coordinator, Shane Bowen
  • Special teams coordinator, Michael Ghobrial
  • Running backs coach, Joel Thomas
  • Offensive line coach, Carmen Bricillo
  • Tight ends coach, Tim Kelly

These new arrivals create an interesting dynamic headed into free agency. They are intimately familiar with several of the available players and have developed trust with them over the years.

While that doesn’t necessarily mean any or all of them will be signed by the Giants, there is likely to be some crossover.

Here is a look at 12 impending free agents the Giants could target based on the above coaching changes/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.

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