New York, NY—The Giants were ranked (31st) in total offense and (12th) in total defense last season. If the Giants want to make some noise in the NFC East Conference, GM Dave Gettleman has to improve in three areas (Wide Receiver, Edge Rusher, & Running Back).
The Giants need to put more talent on the perimeter for Daniel Jones. With NY having the 11th pick they should fill that void at the wide receiver position. Jaylen Waddle from Alabama is very high on the G-Men draft boards.
Andrew Thomas’s 2020 season started slow in his rookie season. He was inconsistent at the first half of the season but settled down in the second. The Giants are looking for Thomas to have a big season this year.
The Big Blue are very confidant that Saquon Barkley will make a full recovery from a torn ACL he suffered in the beginning of the season. But the Giants still need a veteran reliable back, probably looking towards free agency to get one.
Edge Rusher
The Giants recorded 40 sacks last season; Marcus Golden, who led the team with 10 has not been re-signed. Defensive end Leonard Williams had 11.5 sacks but the Giants don’t have a bona-fide outside linebacker that can finish. Inside linebacker Blake Martinez, a tackle machine, had 86 solo tackles, 3 sacks, and a pick. But the Giants still need a valid edge rusher or a defensive tackle to cause havoc in the back field. With the 43rd pick of the draft hopefully, they will land Florida State defensive tackle Marvin Wilson. So we will have to wait and see how the first two picks of the draft go for the G-Men.
Some Free Agency Signings
Former Team Minnesota (2011-2020)
Contract: 2 years, $14 million
The veteran tight end has agreed to a contract with the NY Giants. He signed a two-year deal worth up to $14 million, a source told the Daily News.
Rudolph was released by Minnesota in a cap-cutting move earlier this off-season. He was set to make a $7.65 million base salary, so anything close to the numbers the agency initially posted would be a very good look for Rudolph on the financial front.
The Notre Dame product has 453 career catches for 4,488 yards in 140 career regular season games and he has playoff experience — including a walk-off game-winning TD catch in overtime to beat the Saints on the road in Jan. 2020.
New York has Evan Engram under contract for the 2021 season, so there may be a lot of smash mouth coming to their offense this season.
As of Thursday, NY tight end cap hits included Engram ($6.013 million), Rudolph (unknown), Levine Toilolo’s restructure ($1.6 million) and Kaden Smith ($850,000). They also have three tight ends on reserve/futures contracts, including a player they like in Rysen John at only $662,500.
LB Reggie Ragland
Former Team (Buffalo Bills) (Kansas City) (Detroit Lions)
Contract: 1 year, $1.2 million. $990,000 salary. $137,500 in bonuses. Contract qualifies for the “veteran salary benefit”.
The Giants signed 27-year-old linebacker Reggie Ragland, having agreed to a one-year deal for $1.2 million.
Ragland was drafted in a second-round by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2016 NFL Draft; he was with them up until the 2019 season and was on the Super Bowl-winning team that beat the San Francisco 49ers at Super Bowl 54.
The Giants employ a 3-4 base defense that changes into many formations during games. They could utilize linebackers who can play and excel in multiple front schemes and Ragland fits the bill.
QB Mike Glennon
Former Teams: (Tampa Bay) (Chicago) (Arizona) (Oakland) & (Jackonsville)
Contract: 1 year, $1.35 million ($425,000 guaranteed).
$275,000 signing bonus. $1.075 million salary. $750,000 in incentives.
The G-Men have signed veteran quarterback Mike Glennon.
Glennon, 31, has played in 34 regular-season games with 27 starts in eight seasons with Tampa Bay, Chicago, Arizona, Oakland and Jacksonville. NYG will be his sixth team in six seasons.
The 6-7, 225-pounder is expected to back up Daniel Jones. Glennon has completed 599 of 980 passes (61.1%) for 6,235 yards, 43 touchdowns and 25 interceptions for a passer rating of 83.5. His best season was his first. As a rookie with Tampa Bay in 2013, Glennon started all 13 games in which he played and had career-high totals of 416 passes, 247 completions, 2,608 yards, 19 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Tampa Bay drafted Glennon in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft, 73rd overall, from North Carolina State.
