3 Giants who won’t be back next year and best options to replace them
By Scott Rogust
The New York Giants have an important offseason ahead of them following their Divisional Round elimination. Here are three players who won’t be back, and their best possible replacements.
No one envisioned that the New York Giants would win nine games, let alone a playoff game, in their first season with head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen. This was a roster that was left over by previous general manager Dave Gettleman, who left the new regime with very little cap space. Yet, Schoen brought in solid players within their price range, and Daboll was able to coach them up to compete throughout the year.
They were able to clinch the No. 6 seed in the NFC and managed to make it to the Divisional Round after defeating the No. 3 Minnesota Vikings 31-24. Yet, they realized that they are a ways away from competing against the Philadelphia Eagles, who defeated them 38-7.
This offseason, the Giants are expected to have over $50 million in cap space available to them. Giants fans will see what roster Schoen and Daboll want to build. With that, there are going to be some players on the 2022 roster who won’t return.
These three players may have played their last game with the Giants, and here are some replacements for each of them.
Giants rumors: 3 players who won’t be back and who could replace them
Pick Analysis. LB. New York Giants. 3. player. 31. Scouting Report. Jaylon Smith
Jaylon Smith is the poster child for the Giants LB group that needs a change
The Giants linebacker corps needs an overhaul. That was evident, considering how far the Eagles running backs were able to make it upfield in Philadelphia on Saturday. It was always an area of weakness heading into the season after they released Blake Martinez, who was easily their best inside linebacker. Not to mention that Darrian Beavers, their sixth-round pick who showed promise throughout the preseason, missed the entire 2022 campaign due to a torn ACL.
New York did eventually promote Jaylon Smith, former Dallas Cowboys linebacker and Notre Dame star, as their starting middle linebacker. This season, Smith recorded 88 combined tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack, and one fumble recovery. In coverage, Smith allowed 23 receptions for 224 yards on 28 targets, per Pro Football Reference.
Smith is set to hit free agency, but the Giants need to add a better option at inside linebacker. Luckily for New York, there are some options this offseason.
Giants best replacement options for Jaylon Smith
- Tremaine Edmunds (Free Agency)
- David Long Jr. (Free Agency)
- Trenton Simpson (NFL Draft)
When looking at free agency options, Tremaine Edmunds sticks out. Not only is Edmunds one of the top young inside linebackers available, but Schoen was the assistant general manager for the Bills when the team selected him in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Edmunds is only 24, but he cost a lot. Long could get paid handsomely as well. The Giants could opt to select a linebacker in the first round, as there will be plenty to choose from. Trenton Simpson is a name who has climbed up NFL Draft boards as of late.