Notable Free Agents: SS Landon Collins, CB B.W. Webb, FS Curtis Riley, OG Jamon Brown, DL Kerry Wynn, WR Bennie Fowler, TE Scott Simonson, DE Josh Mauro, G/C John Greco, WR/ST Russell Shepard, WR Cody Latimer, C Spencer Pulley (RFA), WR Corey Coleman (RFA)
Quarterback: Popgun armed and timid in the pocket, 38-year-old Eli Manning has reached a stage of his career where he makes teammates look worse and can only function competently when everything is perfect around him. The G-Men have had losing records in five of the last six seasons, and the tie that binds is Eli, whose utter lack of quick-twitch athleticism can doom New York’s offense week to week and even contributed to in-season in-fighting among Giants players.
Offensive Line: Not helping matters, of course, is a swinging-gate line that trotted out sub-replacement-level starters at center, right guard, and right tackle for the duration of 2018. The Giants’ line was an especially major liability in run blocking, permitting an NFC-high 110 tackles for loss. GM Dave Gettleman needs to sign free agent RT Daryl Williams, who he drafted in Carolina.
Secondary: No. 3 receiver, defensive line depth, and edge rusher also warrant mentions for one of the NFL’s neediest teams. Gettleman drafted free agent Devin Funchess in Carolina, and signing him would solidify New York’s three-receiver set with Funchess opposite Odell Beckham and Sterling Shepard in the slot. FS Riley and SS Collins’ free agency, reports the Giants may release top CB Janoris Jenkins, and 2018 third-round supplemental pick CB Sam Beal’s (shoulder) lost season render the secondary a potential disaster area. Last year’s Giants allowed an NFC-high 61 completions of 20-plus yards.
