Fansided

NFL free agency update: Jonathan Stewart lands with Giants

By John Buhler

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 07: Jonathan Stewart No. 28 of the Carolina Panthers runs the ball against the New Orleans Saints during the first half of the NFC Wild Card playoff game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 7, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Layne Murdoch/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 07: Jonathan Stewart No. 28 of the Carolina Panthers runs the ball against the New Orleans Saints during the first half of the NFC Wild Card playoff game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 7, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Layne Murdoch/Getty Images) /
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Jonathan Stewart will be reunited with a familiar face in free agency. He will sign with the New York Giants, where Mike Shula is his offensive coordinator.

Running back Jonathan Stewart had spent his entire 10-year NFL career with the Carolina Panthers. He was their No. 13 overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft out of Oregon. However, a change of guard offensively in Charlotte led to his release from the team. Stewart has found a new one in the New York Giants, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Though Stewart is on the wrong side of 30, this move is one in the vein of continuity. The Giants have undergone a coaching regime change this offseason as well. Former Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur will be taking his next stab as a head coach. Helping him out on offense will be former Panthers offensive coordinator Mike Shula.

Shula had been the Panthers’ offensive coordinator for a better part of a decade. Stewart had his best season as a professional playing for Shula in 2015, a year where the Panthers went 15-1 en route to a Super Bowl 50 appearance. New York has struggled to run the ball for years, really since Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs pounded the rock during the Tom Coughlin Super Bowl years.

New York still has a way to go to be competitive in a tough NFC. The Giants went 3-13 last year, but will have the No. 2 overall pick. However, the Giants have to decided if that No. 2 overall selection is best used on a future franchise quarterback or on Penn State Nittany Lions phenom running back Saquon Barkley. Adding Stewart gives Giants much-needed depth at tailback.

Contract Details

No details of Stewart’s contract have been revealed at this time. We do know that he’s not going back to the Panthers and that he knows what he’s getting into with Shula as his offensive coordinator. Expect Stewart to split carries in a running-centric New York offense. Unless Shula wants to see Eli Manning air it out, then we’ll see.

National Reaction

Next: 2018 NFL free agency tracker

Grade

While the notion of getting a running back that has great familiarity with the team’s new offensive coordinator, this deal has to be underwhelming for New York Giants fans. New York has to get more dynamic offensively, especially at quarterback and running back. Using Manning and Stewart in 2018 feels like treading water in mediocrity. However, a youth movement on the Giants offensive is inevitable. We won’t really know how to feel about this signing until the money comes in or who the Giants use their No. 2 pick on this spring.

Grade: B-

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