The New York Giants have 30 impending free agents as the new league year approaches and only a handful appear to be worth re-signing.
That’s a testament to poor roster building, but that’s a debate for another time.
Of the free agents worth bringing back to East Rutherford, should any of them warrant franchise tag consideration? Mason Cameron of Pro Football Focus doesn’t think so.
The Giants’ cap priorities lie in finding their franchise quarterback, whether that be via trade (Kirk Cousins), free agency (Sam Darnold) or the draft (Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders). That will likely require a significant cap investment, likely making a tag cost probative. Luckily, none of the Giants’ impending free agents warrant a franchise tag.
Darius Slayton would be the most logical option but the tag value for wide receiver is slated to be $25.7 million guaranteed. That’s nearly $20 million more than Slayton made in 2024.
Obviously, the Giants and general manager Joe Schoen aren’t going to do that.
The only other feasible option would be punter Jamie Gillan, but that would come at the expense of $6.5 million guaranteed — an astronomical number that doesn’t make fiscal sense.
Needless to say, do not expect the Giants to use a franchise or transition tag in 2025.
