The 2017 NFL offseason is basically over, which means it's time to grade what the New York Giants did this year. Sure, a few more players might be traded, cut or signed, but it's likely the Giants are finished making moves. Below is the Giants' offseason grades, which feature both free agency and the NFL Draft.
As for the grading, teams don't get a "B" just for showing up. A "B" is a good offseason, while an "A" is a great offseason. A "C" is not bad in my eyes, it's simply average at best. It's tough to get a "D," since that basically means a team botched almost everything about the offseason. Obviously there is a lot of opinion here, so hit me up on Twitter if you disagree with the Giants' offseason grade.
Free Agency: B
Notable Additions:
QB Geno Smith, RB Shaun Draughn, WR Brandon Marshall, TE Rhett Ellison, OG D.J. Fluker
Notable Losses:
RB Rashad Jennings (unsigned), WR Victor Cruz (unsigned), OT Marshall Newhouse, DT Johnathan Hankins, CB Coty Sensabaugh, K Robbie Gould
Notable Re-signings:
QB John Johnson, DE Jason Pierre-Paul LB Keenan Robinson, LB Mark Herzlich
The Giants free agency moves had one common theme: help out Eli Manning. Outside of not getting a tackle, the Giants did a pretty good job. Of course, the tackle market this offseason was ridiculous so I'm not docking the Giants for that. They swapped out Victor Cruz for Brandon Marshall, which is an upgrade provided Marshall stays healthy and plays nice. Draughn might not make much of an impact, but he's a nice depth piece. Ellison is a quality No. 2 TE (who can play some FB/H-Back), though 4 years, $18.5 million is a bit steep. Fluker has proven he can't play tackle in the NFL, but he can compete at guard and at worst will provide some nice depth.
But the Giants weren't perfect in free agency. They didn't properly replace Newhouse, although it's not like he's that great to begin with. The only major blemish for the Giants was failing to upgrade at LB and losing Hankins. That wasn't a total surprise, especially since the Giants wisely gave JPP the big-money deal.
It was a solid free agency for the Giants, worthy of a B. But losing Hankins and the lack of upgrades at LB and OT keep it from being an A.
NFL Draft: D+
Evan Engram, TE, Ole Miss (Rd. 1, Pick 23)
Dalvin Tomlinson, DT, Alabama (Rd. 2, Pick 55)
Davis Webb, QB, California (Rd. 3, Pick 87)
Wayne Gallman, RB, Clemson (Rd. 4, Pick 140)
Avery Moss, DE, Youngstown State (Rd. 5, Pick 167)
Adam Bisnowaty, OT, Pittsburgh (Rd. 6, Pick 200)
The Giants draft confused me. After trying like hell last offseason to get another OT, the Giants passed on several good ones and waited until round 6 to get a player in Bisnowaty who will likely end up as a swing tackle. That was actually probably my favorite pick of the Giants, because I don't like much else.
Engram was a reach in both overall value and positional value. David Njoku was regarded as a better player by both myself and most draft experts. Plus, he might actually be more a WR than a TE. Tomlinson was a reach as well and I question his fit as a run stuffer with Damon Harrison already on the roster. It was a need, but how about a more disruptive player?
I'm not a big Davis Webb guy, but at least this was round 3 and not round 1. Is he actually the heir to Eli Manning? I doubt it and the Giants could have gone elsewhere. Still, I don't hate this pick.
I actually thought Gallman was a solid pick and Moss was an okay one. Moss provides depth at DE, something the Giants really needed. Gallman could find his way onto the field early as a compliment to Paul Perkins.
Once again, the Giants ignored linebacker, like they do almost every year. I'm not a fan of this draft at all, as the Giants ignored their two biggest needs to take lesser players. Guys like Engram and Tomlinson will play and might even been good players, but they don't properly fill need or represent good value.
Complete Offseason Grade: C
Eli Manning certainly has some shiny new toys to play with in Engram, Marshall, Ellison and even Gallman. But will he have time to use them? The Giants seem content to enter the year with Ereck Flowers and Bobby Hart at tackle (or maybe Fluker), which doesn't make any sense. It clearly didn't work last year, so why did the Giants pass on the chance to help protect Manning? They're in their Super Bowl window now; they don't have the luxury of hoping Flowers can learn to pass protect or for Hart to take a big leap forward.
The defense, thanks to the loss of Hankins, has taken a slight step back on paper. And much like offense, the Giants ignored their biggest need. I know the current regime doesn't value linebackers, but it's painful to watch that unit struggle every year (save for those games Jon Beason was healthy) in coverage and run support.
The Giants didn't fail their offseason and they'll still be a playoff threat next year. But they had the chance to fill some of their biggest needs and passed.
Follow our New York Giants team page for all the latest NY Giants news or download the Chat Sports App!
Back to the New York Giants Newsfeed