Don't Count Out The 2024 New York Giants
The New York Giants have made some significant moves this offseason. After the draft and free agency, they look like a completely different team in many ways. New York lost a major star but brought in some massive playmakers. So, how do some of these changes affect the Giants this year?
The Brian Burns Trade
Brian Burns was drafted in 2019 by the Carolina Panthers and has been one of the few bright spots on that team. The linebacker has 46 career sacks, eight forced fumbles, and a defensive touchdown. At just 26 years old, Burns seems to be right in his prime.
The Giants traded away two 2024 draft picks and a 2025 pick in exchange for Burns and a 2024 4th rounder. This is a powerful pickup for a defense that’s already sneaky good. Burns lining up with Dexter Lawrence and Kayvon Thibodeaux could be dangerous for opposing QBs, and the Giants might end up with a top-five defensive front this year.
The Running Back Situation
The giant talking point this offseason for the Giants is the loss of Saquon Barkley. The star running back left in free agency and signed with the rival Philadelphia Eagles. The Giants then brought in veteran running back Devin Singletary. New York also used the aforementioned fourth-round pick in the Brian Burns trade to draft Tyrone Tracy 166th overall.
While the running back room appears weaker without Saquon, Devin Singletary is no slouch. He doesn’t bring the “wow” factor that Barkley had, but he averages 4.6 yards per carry, more than Barkley’s 4.3. He also suffered only one significant injury in his NFL career, a hamstring strain in 2019. Consistency has been an issue for the Giants, and Singletary brings that to the team. The New York offense can open up in a big way with a guy they can rely on being there for every snap.
Daniel Jones And His Offensive Weapons
The Giants drafted Malik Nabers out of LSU sixth overall. He was seen as a top wide receiver in this draft. Nabers brings much-needed explosiveness to this offense. The Giants already have a sneaky good WR room with Jalin Hyatt and Wan’dale Robinson, so the wide receiver room in 2024 has tremendous potential.
Quarterback Daniel Jones is this team's massive $160 million question mark. Jones surprised people in 2022 when he threw for over 3,000 yards and led the Giants to their first playoff win in over ten years.
He has difficulty staying healthy, but a healthy Jones has shown promise in a Brian Daboll-led system. With a reworked offensive line and new weapons on offense and defense, Jones has all the help he needs this year. With one year left on his contract before an opt-out option, it’s a make-or-break season for the 27-year-old.
How Does It Play Out For The Giants?
The Giants' schedule in 2024 is statistically one of the hardest in the NFL. At their worst, they'll win four games, and the season is lost by Week Eight. At their best, it’s not unrealistic to see a nin-win season in New York this year.
Head coach Brian Daboll found a spark with Daniel Jones before. If he can do that again, the Giants have a real shot to repeat their 2022 success. The roster is stronger than it's been in years, even without Saquon Barkley. The pieces are all in place this year; it’s just a matter of Jones staying healthy and this revamped team finding some consistency early on. It might be too early to hop on a hype train, but the New York Giants have a lot of promise this year.
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