The New York Giants have a lot of decisions and work to do this offseason after a disappointing 6-11 season.
They have a slew of players headed for free agency and will have to make decisions on whether to bring them back next season.
Here’s a quick list of players they should let walk.
CB Adoree' Jackson
Adoree’ Jackson played fairly well for the Giants, but the previous regime under Dave Gettleman signed him to such an above-market deal that he’d have to play at an All-Pro level for it to have been worth it.
That’s not Jackson’s fault. The Giants are likely done with him, however, as general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll want to put their own stamp on this roster.
WR Parris Campbell
This should go without saying as Parris Campbell spent the final month on the sidelines as a healthy scratch.
He simply did not fit into the offense after signing a one-year, ‘prove-it’ deal worth $4.7 million.
The emergence of young receivers such as Jalin Hyatt and Wan’Dale Robinson pretty much made Campbell’s role obsolete.
OL Matt Peart
Matt Peart has never distinguished himself as a factor along the offensive line after the Giants made him a third-round pick back in 2020.
He only hit the field this season because the Giants had an extraordinarily high number of injuries on the offensive line. He was not drafted by Schoen, so they’re likely to let him seek employment elsewhere.
OL Shane Lemieux
Another Dave Gettleman draft pick that was retained due to the injury spate along the line.
Shane Lemeiux was actually part of the problem there, as he was injured often and played inconsistently when he was healthy.
RB Saquon Barkley
There’s an old saying when it comes to players who want top dollar after their team has a miserable season.
“We finished last with you, we can finish last without you.”
Saquon Barkley is still a viable player and a top back but he was injured again this year, costing him games, which re-raises the red flags.
Using the franchise tag on Barkley will cost the Giants around $12.4 million this season. For a team with just $34-38 million in available cap space and a ton of needs, can they afford to dedicate that to a running back with an injury history?
LB Jihad Ward
Linebacker Jihad Ward played a very specific role for the Giants and played it well. It was dirty and rarely resulted in positive grades, skewing the public perception. Still, with Wink Martindale now gone, there’s no reason for the Giants to bring back his favorite player, especially since the role carved out for Ward will no longer exist.
LB Cam Brown, LB Carter Coughlin
For linebackers Cam Brown and Carter Coughlin, this decision has already been made. Despite their consistency and production on special teams, the Giants have already informed them that they’re moving on.
