5 targets for Giants in 2022 NFL free agency
By Scott Rogust
The New York Giants do not have a ton of cap space to work with this offseason unless they make some drastic roster decisions. Here are five free agents they should target this offseason.
The 2021 season was disastrous for the New York Giants. Enough so where they allowed general manager Dave Gettleman to “retire” and fired head coach Joe Judge after the debacle that was the second-half of the season, summed up with back-to-back quarterback sneaks in New York’s own territory.
For the first time since bringing in George Young in the 70’s, the Giants hired a general manager from outside their organization in Buffalo Bills assistant general manager Joe Schoen. Shortly thereafter, New York hired Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll to be the team’s next head coach.
The Giants are not in enviable territory due to the cap hell Gettleman left the organization in, as they are $11 million over the salary cap threshold. In hindsight, it did not make much sense to have a lame duck general manager with three disastrous seasons on his resume spend big money in free agency. But we digress.
New York will not be shopping at the top of the free agency market this offseason, but they can look for more affordable options to sign to fill needs across their roster. Here are five free agents the Giants should target.
5. DeShon Elliott, S
The Giants watched as defensive coordinator Patrick Graham leave New York to take the same position with the Las Vegas Raiders. After, the Giants interviewed candidates and ultimately decided to hire Don “Wink” Martindale for their vacancy. It was a huge signing by the Giants, considering how good the Baltimore Ravens defense was under him.
With Martindale bringing in a new defensive scheme for the Giants, it would make sense for him to bring in some players who know how to implement it. One free agent they should target is safety DeShon Elliott.
The Ravens selected Elliott in the sixth-round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Elliott has had his fair share of injuries throughout his young career. In his one full season of work in 2020, Elliott recorded 80 total tackles, four defended passes, 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. In coverage that year, he allowed 23 completions for 342 yards and three touchdowns on 39 targets, per Pro Football Reference.
This past season, Elliott played in six games due to tearing his biceps and pectoral muscle. He posted 23 total tackles and one interception.
The Giants are expected to lose Jabrill Peppers to free agency this offseason. They can bring in Elliott as depth behind Xavier McKinney and Logan Ryan.