Giants free agency primer: Saquon Barkley and other big moves to watch

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- In his first season as New York Giants general manager, Joe Schoen didn't have money to spend. His biggest free agent signings were guard Mark Glowinski and backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor.

Last year, with more money at his disposal, Schoen was more active but still didn't make any big splashes. Instead, the Giants concentrated on re-signing building-block players while adding middle linebacker Bobby Okereke in free agency and trading for tight end Darren Waller.

The Giants are currently $38.1 million under the salary cap, according to Roster Management System. That number can easily approach $50 million if they convert a chunk of Dexter Lawrence's and Andrew Thomas' 2024 base salaries to roster bonuses as expected.

Still, don't expect Schoen and the Giants to go all-in when the free agent negotiating window opens Monday and players can officially begin signing at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday.

"We don't have that many young players that we're looking to extend like we had last year," Schoen said. "So, it's balancing signing those guys outside the building that can be role players or starters, but also understanding we want to build this through the draft. When we took the job, we still wanted to build the team through the draft and supplement it with free agency. And that's still going to be the case."

There is one area, however, where the Giants are willing to pay. League sources expect the Giants to exploring signing a player near the top of the guard market. They're also expected to be looking pretty seriously for an accomplished edge rusher to complement Kayvon Thibodeaux.

Those could be the biggest paydays of the offseason. In addition, there are other positions in need of reinforcements and some in-house business that begins with running back Saquon Barkley and safety Xavier McKinney, who are both expected to hit the open market.

Here's what to expect as free agency begins:

Offensive line

There is a strong possibility that Barkley walks, and Waller might retire. So where is all the money going on offense?

Well, the Giants are about to invest in the offensive line, particularly the guard position, where they don't have a penciled-in starter on either side. The door is still open for a return for veterans Ben Bredeson or Justin Pugh, but first, the Giants are expected to make a run at the top guards on the market, according to multiple sources.

Among the primary names to monitor: Robert Hunt, Jonah JacksonandMike Onwenu. Signing any of them will be costly, with Hunt's contract potentially topping out near $16 million per year.

At tackle, Evan Neal is the Giants' starter on the right side -- for now. There will be someone else to at least compete with him. The door isn't closed on Tyre Phillips, who outplayed Neal the past two years, as he's doing well in his rehab from a torn quad. He should be back by the start of the season.

Another name to watch isJermaine Eluemunor, who played under new Giants offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo in Las Vegas. That move would likely bump Neal inside to guard. But more likely, the addition will be a sign-to-compete right tackle.

Quarterback

Even though signs are pointing to the Giants addressing this position early in the draft, they need a contingency. That means adding or retaining a quarterback in free agency.

Taylor may return, even though he wasn't thrilled with how the second half of this past season played out. If he doesn't re-sign, the Giants appear to be looking to add depth to their QB room with Sam Darnold, Joshua Dobbs or Easton Stick, which would only further solidify they're dead serious about adding a quarterback in the first round of the draft -- where they own the No. 6 pick.

Running back

This is a tricky one because it's all contingent on what happens with Barkley and whether he gets a deal for the Giants to match. It certainly seems the Giants are ready to move on and don't want to touch anything over $10 million per season.

"They just don't see the value in investing $10 million in a running back," one league source told ESPN at last weekend's NFL scouting combine.

Of course, the Giants offered Barkley more than that last year. So it's entirely possible they stretch past their desire again.

This time, however, it seems unlikely. Instead, it seems the Giants might invest in a midrange back -- someone like Zack Moss, Antonio Gibson, Devin Singletary or Alexander Mattison -- and supplement the position in the draft.

There also have been some rumblings about the Giants adding a fullback. This would be a change. They did not have a fullback on the roster in the first two years under coach Brian Daboll.

Edge rusher

The Giants desperately want to add at edge rusher. They're going to monitor the top of the market (i.e.,Danielle Hunter) but aren't really looking to spend in that range, one source told ESPN at the combine. But there are a lot of quality, starting-caliber options, such as A.J. Epenesa, Bryce Huff, Andrew Van Ginkel, Josh Uche and Leonard Floyd, a player the Giants have long coveted. That's more likely the path they travel in free agency.

Bottom line: Expect a notable move for the Giants for an edge rusher to play opposite Thibodeaux. It's a position at which they need depth with Azeez Ojulari coming off a down season and entering the final year of his contract.

McKinney

The McKinney situation is a head-scratcher. He wants to get paid near the top of the safety market; the Giants don't really want to go there.

Usually, when a good, young player -- McKinney is only 24 -- hits the market, he gets paid. But this isn't a normal year. There are many quality veteran safeties on the market who will likely be available at affordable contracts. This could affect McKinney's market and overall deal.

It seems the Giants are a little wary about paying the top-five safety money McKinney thinks he deserves. That hesitance is based on positional value and McKinney's history, which includes butting heads with former defensive coordinator Wink Martindale and a bye week ATV accident that derailed his 2022 season.