NFL free agency is off and running, and we’re keeping track of every major signing, trade and release of the 2021 offseason, with analysis from our NFL Nation reporters and grades from our experts. The new league year begins March 17 at 4 p.m. ET, which means free-agent signings can be made official after that. The first round of the 2021 NFL draft begins April 29 on ESPN.
The New York Giants enter free agency this year in the midst of rebuild with a limited amount of money to spend. That doesn’t mean they don’t have plenty of needs though. A No. 1 wide receiver and dominant edge rusher are at the top of this year’s wish list. So is another starting cornerback and backups at quarterback and running back. And then there is taking care of their own, with defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson topping the list as they want to bring one of their captains back. It all comes down to what they can make work financially.
Here’s a breakdown of every 2021 NFL free-agent signing by the Giants, and how each will impact the upcoming season:
The Giants agreed to a two-year deal worth up to $6 million with the former Las Vegas Raiders running back, according to sources.
What it means: This likely spells the end of Wayne Gallman’s time with the Giants. Booker is the veteran backup behind Saquon Barkley. And the Giants needed a veteran backup behind Barkley, because their star running back is coming back from an ACL tear. He’s not going to return and play 100% of the snaps coming off that injury, especially early in the season. So Booker it is. He might not be as good a pure runner as Gallman, but he’s probably a more well-rounded back. This was key. Boooker averaged 4.5 yards per carry last year for the Raiders and caught 17 balls out of the backfield.
What’s the risk: Though he doesn’t have a ton of NFL mileage on his body, Booker will turn 29 in May. He’s been a career backup with only seven starts to his name. It’s not as if he’s super-cheap. This is decent backup running back money for a position one could argue is best to be filled by a cheap late-round pick on a rookie contract.
The Giants announced they have agreed to terms with the defensive lineman, who spent last season as a reserve with New York.
What it means: The Giants brought back some depth for the interior of their defensive line, a necessity with the likelihood Tomlinson, a coveted free agent, does not return. Johnson is a run-stuffer who played reasonably well in a rotational role last season. Should Tomlinson leave, Johnson could fill that void. He signed a one-year deal with the Giants last offseason, so he has familiarity in the defense and knows the system well. That is why this deal makes sense.
What’s the risk: Not much. It’s not expected to be a deal that breaks the bank and the Giants already know what they’re getting with Johnson. He is known as a strong worker, fits their culture and played pretty well in their defense in 2020. It would only be a risky investment if the Giants were looking to expand his role greatly and had him pegged as a full-time starter, but that does not appear likely.