The New York Giants are an absolute dumpster fire in 2023. They had high hopes after making the playoffs a year ago and those dreams of making a return vanished into thin air very quickly this season. Now, the Giants must look ahead and start to think about the future of the team. That not only includes potential draft prospects but also whether to retain some of their key players. As is the standard every season for every team, the squad is not the same from year to year. That notion very much rings true for bad teams, and the Giants are one of them. Here are 2023 Giants players who could be wearing a new jersey in the 2024 offseason.
Giants Players Who Could Go Elsewhere in 2024 Offseason
Saquon Barkley
One of the best running backs in the league, Saquon Barkley is a game-changer. When he is playing healthy football, he is very hard to contain. He’s been one of the faces of the Giants’ franchise since he was drafted second overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. Barkley won 2018 rookie of the year by rushing for 1,307 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also caught 91 passes for 721 yards and four touchdowns. Injuries have limited Barkley since that rookie season. However, when he’s on the field, he’s a threat on the ground or in the passing game. Last season proved that as he rushed for a career-high 1,312 yards.
This season however has been a different story for not only the Giants but Barkley himself. He missed nearly a month of game action with a high ankle sprain, an injury he’s had to deal with before. Since he’s come back, he’s been the entire focal point of the offense which hasn’t yielded positive results though. Barkley is a free agent this upcoming offseason. The Giants franchise-tagged him last offseason and Barkley decided to sign a one-year deal with the team. Now, the Giants must decide whether to either sign him to a long-term deal, franchise tag him again, or let him test free agency. After a season like this and an overhaul of the roster coming, it should come as no surprise that the Giants might indeed lean toward letting Barkley see what he can get elsewhere in 2024
Adoree’ Jackson
The Giants’ cornerback room a couple of years ago was a major mess and a big weakness overall. In 2021, they decided to sign Adoree’ Jackson to help fill that void. For the first four seasons of his career, Jackson played for the Titans and was a very solid cover corner. He played all over the field, particularly in the slot and on the outside. Since he came to the Giants, he’s been mostly used as an outside corner. Jackson hasn’t had the statistical numbers you’d like to see as he’s only had one interception in three seasons with the Giants. However, the stats don’t tell the whole story. He’s been a key piece for this defense and a veteran mind for the other players.
While that is all true, Jackson is in the final year of his current deal with the Giants. The team has also heavily invested in the cornerback room this last offseason. In the 2023 NFL Draft, the Giants drafted Deonte Banks in the first round and Tre Hawkins III in the 6th round. Hawkins has seen the field intermittently throughout the season but was a preseason star. Banks has already proved to be a great cover corner and got his first interception a couple of weeks ago against the Commanders. Jackson has dealt with some injuries this season and has sometimes been pushed to the slot at various points. The Giants could move in a younger direction this offseason and let the veteran walk away toward a new destination.
Xavier McKinney
Adoree’ Jackson isn’t the only player in the Giants’ secondary who could be playing elsewhere next season. Since he was drafted in the second round by the Giants in the 2020 NFL Draft, Xavier McKinney has produced as a safety. He showed some serious flashes in 2020 but in 2021, he had the best season of his career. McKinney brought in five interceptions, one that he brought back for a touchdown against the Raiders. He also had ten pass deflections that season, making himself a threat in the safety position. Last year was a mixed bag for McKinney, he made some very important plays for the team. He did though break his hand halfway through the season on the team’s bye week due to an ATV accident. He wasn’t back until late in the season, where he did contribute.
This season, just like the Giants’ season as a whole, has been a letdown. McKinney hasn’t played up to his standards. The only notable stat has been one forced fumble. Other than that, he’s been a non-factor and his tackling has also been a concern. McKinney also made some interesting comments a couple of weeks back, questioning whether the leaders of the defense’s words were being heard. It was a notable comment from a team captain that showed the cracks in the foundation of the team. It might be smart for the Giants to go in a different direction this offseason due to McKinney’s lack of production and question marks about his leadership.
Main Photo: [Kevin R. Wexler – The Record] – USA Today Sports
