TAKING STOCK: 2022 NEW YORK GIANTS

BY ADAM GREENE

After suffering their sixth consecutive loss, three of those coming to their NFC East counterparts, the New York Giants season mercifully came to an end on Jan. 9 as did Joe Judge’s tenure as head coach.

Judge might have survived another pathetic, losing season since the Mara family apparently loved him, but he couldn’t shut his mouth in interviews, unleashing what can only be compared to crackhead rantings about his greatness as a head coach and all the players who secretly wanted to play for him. That, if it really happened, probably counts as tampering. But since none of these NFL players existed outside of Judge’s fevered imagination, nothing’s come of that.

NEW YORK GIANTS

2021-22 Record: 4-13, fourth place NFC East

Playoffs: N/A

NOW WHAT?

The Giants hired the head coach they wanted from the start of interviews in former Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. Daboll helped turn Josh Allen not only into an NFL QB, but one of the best in the league in his time with the Bills. He was obviously the right man for the job and the guy New York was correct to covet. Only, thanks to mishandling the league’s Rooney Rule and pissing off Brian Flores, they now have a lawsuit that NFL media will mostly ignore.

Regardless of that, if Daniel Jones has a chance to become a legit NFL starting QB (and he has the raw ability), Daboll is probably the guy that can get it out of him.

FREE AGENCY

Here’s something that will be difficult to believe considering their roster — The Giants are, at present, $11.5 million over the salary cap. Where did they spend it? Not a one of their departing free agents is worth keeping and only $4.2 million of that is dead cap, with $4 million belonging to Nate Solder. They’ll have to restructure guys they want to keep to free up money for their upcoming draft class. With two high first round selections and no serious expectations for Daboll as a first year head coach other than being better than Judge, I don’t see them spending real money or making a splash.

My guess is they’ll target some cheaper offensive linemen and roll with what they have after the draft.

DRAFT

New York holds the Nos. 5 and 7 picks in the upcoming draft and, as long as they don’t whiff on those, they should be able to add no less than five starters with two firsts, a second and two thirds (thanks to a trade with the Miami Dolphins).

In my first mock draft, I had them taking George Karlaftis out of Purdue at five and Ikem Ekwonu out of NC State at seven, shoring up both their offensive and defensive lines. That’s where they need to start, then go for the skill positions later in the draft.

NFC EAST

The NFC East was better last season, with two teams making the playoffs and no indication either the Dallas Cowboys or Philadelphia Eagles will drop off. Further, the Washington Commanders are only a QB away from getting right into that mix and should take care of that in free agency with plenty of solid guys available.

New York looks like a fourth place team again, but one that should win more games and at least be competitive if Daboll can get anything out of Jones.

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.

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