Following a disastrous 3-14 season that exposed several major issues, the New York Giants enter an offseason that could drastically alter the future of the franchise.
Owner John Mara said 2025 would essentially be a playoff-or-bust season, and with the third overall pick in the NFL Draft, more than $57 million to spend in free agency and several positions to be addressed, things could get crazy for New York.
There are three positions that must be addressed in 2025 offseason, and with so many assets, GM Joe Schoen has no excuses. Here are New York’s three greatest needs:
3. Defensive end
With Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux on the D-line, you’d think that the Giants would be looking at their defensive front with glee. However, outside of these three stars, the rest of the unit is incredibly weak.
The Giants should not have had to rely on players such as undrafted free agent Elijah Chatman or seventh-round pick Jordon Riley as much as they did this season. Alongside them are underwhelming Rakeem Nunez-Roches, D.J. Davidson and Casey Rogers.
With Josh Sweat (Philadelphia Eagles) and Chase Young (New Orleans Saints) available in free agency, Schoen could swing a deal to add another solid starter. Additionally, there are talented players the Giants could draft outside of the first round (Tennessee’s James Pearce, Mississippi’s Walter Nolen) who could make an early impact.
2. Cornerback
This was by far the biggest concern for the Giants outside of the No. 1 need. 2023 first-round pick Deonte Banks had a serious second-year slump, but the rest of the unit was wildly disappointing, too.
The Giants could address their massive issue at corner in the draft. With the third overall pick, the Giants could select Colorado cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter or Michigan corner Will Johnson. Taking a corner so high is always risky, but if it pays off, New York could be set at the position for a long time.
If New York aims to address the position through free agency, this year’s class is deep. It features Charvarius Ward (San Francisco 49ers), Mike Hilton (Cincinnati Bengals) and Byron Murphy (Minnesota Vikings).
1. Quarterback
This should come as no surprise. After the release of Daniel Jones in late November, the Giants are once again in search of a quarterback.
If either the Browns, who will select at No. 2, or Titans, who have the first overall pick, opt to not draft a QB, the Giants could be in position to select either Miami’s Cam Ward or Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders from a weak QB class. This is likely the most ideal scenario, as it could set New York up with a potential star at QB for the foreseeable future.
However, if Sanders and Ward are gone by pick three, several free-agent QBs could be solid bridge players, including Justin Fields. He played well enough with the Pittsburgh Steelers early in the season (4-2 as starter, 65.8% completion percentage) to likely earn a starting spot with a team next season. The 2021 first-round pick of the Chicago Bears is a pending free agent, still young (25) and likely wouldn’t cost an exorbitant contract.
