Big Blue View
The mail’s here!
John Foti asks: I don’t believe in making expensive free agent signings unless you believe the player is a finishing piece for the offense or defense. Before he lost his way, Jerry Reese did a good job with lower-cost signings like Kawika Mitchell or Antonio Pierce.
Bill Parcells used to bring players that he called “hold the fort guys”. These were vets who still had some good football left in the tank. He brought Pepper Johnson, Jumbo Elliott, William Roberts and Brian Cox to the Jets. The idea was to hold the fort until a younger player was ready or until they found a younger player and all these guys were lower cost additions.
When I look at Joe Schoen’s roster I would say that Eluemunor, Van Roten, and Runyan are hold the fort guys. I just don’t who they’re holding the fort for since I don’t see much younger talent in the pipeline. How do you analyze his approach to free agency?
Ed says: John, I think Schoen is a “supplement the roster in free agency” GM, not a “buy all the fancy new toys” GM. The only really big swing he has taken in three offseasons was to sign Bobby Okereke to a four-year, $40 million deal some saw as excessive. He did not overspend on any of his 2024 offensive line additions.
The thing about “hold the fort” is that those players you talked about were more about helping Parcells establish his culture than anything else. He brought in players he had won with to help get his program in place.
Chris Chianese asks: Ed, I think there are 4 things a team needs to be successful. You need a QB, LT, Edge rusher, No. 1 CB. The Giants have a LT (although he’s been hurt the last two years), With Burns and Thibs, they have a pash rush. The Giants don’t have a No. 1 CB. With the signing of Manuel to be the defensive backs coach to replace Henderson, might the Giants sign D.J. Reed to be that No. 1 corner? Let Banks be the No. 2 and maybe one day be that #1 one day?
What do you think about the Giants signing Reed? Another CB to be that No. 1?
Ed says: Chris, if you read my post on upgrading the defensive backfield you already know that I think cornerback is an area where the Giants are going to have to spend in free agency. Short of drafting Travis Hunter at No. 3 overall, I’m not sure how they get a No. 1 guy. They could, and probably should, add a player in the draft on Day 2 or early Day 3. A potential No. 1, though, probably has to come in free agency.
Reed would have to be on the list of possibilities. Charvarious Ward. Paulson Adebo. I’m not sure the list goes much deeper than that.
*David Whitford asks: My question surrounds the Giants not taking...
