Bleacher Report Reveals Off-season Grade for New York Giants

And there is one major headscratcher in the mix.

Bleacher Report’s grades for all 32 NFL teams ahead of OTAs next week are in, and the popular aggregator site’s assessment of the New York Giants’ off-season was up and down.

Overall, author Kristopher Knox gave the Giants a B for the roster tweaks general manager Joe Schoen made in hopes of improving a team that went 9-7-1 last year.

Factoring into that grade was an A- for free agency and trades made earlier in the year and a C+ grade for the 2023 draft class.

Notes Knox of the off-season moves:

The New York Giants' offseason goal was to maintain offensive continuity after reaching the divisional round in 2022. They did that by franchise-tagging Saquon Barkley and signing Daniel Jones to a four-year, $160 million contract. 

Did the Giants overpay for a quarterback with one season of above-average play on his resume? Yes, but doing so prevents New York from having to start over at the game's most important position. 

New York also managed to retain players like punter Jamie Gillan, pass-rusher Jihad Ward, linebacker Jarrad Davis and receivers Darius Slayton and Sterling Shepard. It then upgraded its receiving corps by signing Parris Campbell and Jamison Crowder and trading for tight end Darren Waller.

The acquisition of tight end Darren Waller via trade with the Raiders and the signings of linebacker Bobby Okereke, defensive linemen Rakeem Nunez-Riches and A’Shawn Robinson, and receiver Parris Campbell were significant upgrades that will hopefully address two glaring issues on both sides of the ball: a lack of deep play speed on offense, and a lack of run-stopping depth on defense.

But the comment about overpaying Jones? I’m not sure what Knox thought was a fair APY for Jones, but the quarterback’s $40 million APY is currently 11th in the league among quarterbacks.

That, however, isn’t the point made that stirred up the most surprise. That honor belongs to the draft grade of C+, for which Knox didn’t provide a reason behind his grade.

That said, we disagree with the grade for two reasons. First, the Giants managed to get amazing value in every round, as their draft picks were all projected to go a lot higher by many draft analysts than where the Giants got them.

Second, the team added some much-needed depth and speed at cornerback (which wasn’t really addressed during free agency), more speed at receiver in a guy (Jalin Hyatt) who could potentially develop into a No. 1 receiver, a true center who should end the revolving door the team has had at the position, and a solid running back that can take some of the onus off Saquon Barkley.

Knox concluded that while the team “has given itself a chance to improve upon last year's playoff campaign,” there are still concerns:

New York resides in the brutal NFC East, a division that sent two other teams to the playoffs in 2022. The Giants failed to land the true No. 1 receiver their offense has lacked, and they did practically nothing to address a run defense that ranked 31st in yards per carry last season (5.2).

With run-heavy teams like the 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles potentially standing between New York and a deep playoff run, that's a legitimate concern.

We’re sure that Okereke, Robinson, and Nunez-Roches would all like a word about that. And as for a No. 1 receiver, who says that tight end Waller can’t be that guy that draws double coverage and opens things up for others?

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