The New York Giants came out in free agency guns blazing, locking up players such as wide receivers Kenny Golladay and John Ross, tight end Kyle Rudolph and cornerback Adoree’ Jackson, among others.
That aggression continued during the 2021 NFL draft as general manager Dave Gettleman pulled off multiple trades, stockpiling both future assets and positioning themselves for solid picks. Over the first few rounds, they ended up with an explosive playmaker in Kadarius Toney and a top-end edge rusher in Azeez Ojulari.
All told, NFL Network’s Gil Brandt believes the Giants had one of the league’s most successful offseasons, ranking them at No. 5 overall.
Quarterback Daniel Jones is heading into a sink-or-swim Year 3 — but never let it be said GM Dave Gettleman didn’t do everything in his power to give him the weapons needed to succeed. Receivers Kenny Golladay (signed on a four-year, $72 million contract) and Kadarius Toney (drafted 20th overall after Gettleman, yes, traded down!) and versatile tight end Kyle Rudolph (signed to a two-year, $14 million deal) join a skill-position group that will be further augmented by the return to health of running back Saquon Barkley.
On defense, Gettleman secured a long-term agreement with centerpiece defensive lineman Leonard Williams. He also rolled the dice on comeback Adoree’ Jackson (three years, $39 million) rebounding from the knee injury that ruined his 2020 season. Another move that could pay huge dividends: snagging pass rusher Azeez Ojulari, a first-round talent who slipped to the second round.
Gettleman knows his job is on the line and that a poor offseason in 2018 stunted the growth of his team, so this was an attempt to course-correct. If it fails, both he and Daniel Jones are likely on their way out of East Rutherford.
The good news? At least on paper, the 2021 Giants should be a much better team than they’ve been over the past decade (2016 being the anomaly).
The four teams ranked ahead of the Giants on Brandt’s list were the New York Jets (4), Jacksonville Jaguars (3), New England Patriots (2) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1).
