New Giants

The New York Giants have been the most active team in this year's NFL Free Agency market. They have added more new players than even the Oakland Raiders. The Giants have added 13 free agents. All 13 of the new players have been starters or significant contributors in the league. They will be counted on to do the same for a Giants team that disappointed last season. This is a team that is only a couple of seasons removed from a Super Bowl title.

Here are the new faces on the New York Giants:

DE  Robert Ayers
CB  Zack Bowman
 T    Charles Brown
FS  Quentin Demps
WR Trindon Holliday
RB  Rashad Jennings
 G   John Jerry
WR Mario Manningham
LB  Jameel McClain
CB  Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
 G   Geoff Schwartz
CB  Walter Thurmond
 C   J.D. Walton

Of the 13 new players, seven figure to be starters or key contributors-cornerbacks Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Walter Thurmond, offensive linemen Geoff Schawrtz and J.D. Walton, linebacker Jameel McClain, running back Rashad Jennings, and returner Trindon Holliday. The Giants will have new corners and a rebuilt offensive line next season. Good thing as both areas were a mess last year.  Rodgers-Cromartie and Thurmond could be a real nice tandem. The Giants line had been solid for a long time. That time was coming to an end. Schwartz has been on the verge of becoming an impact lineman for a few seasons now. He just needs a chance. The Giants were wise to give him that chance. Schwartz and Walton are solid additions to get the line back to solid. John Jerry and Charles Brown have starting experience and should help solidify the line by providing depth, if not starting.

I think what I like best about the Giants moves in free agency is that they added quality football players. They certainly added quantity but it wasn't like the crazy signings that the Philadelphia Eagles threw together in 2011. The Eagles seemed to be adding every big-name player that they could get in their building without any regard to how those players fit together or the scheme that they played (Asomugha!). The Giants went after good football players at reasonable salaries. Rodgers-Cromartie was the only splashy signing. Most were like the Schwartz signing. Which is one of my favorite signings. They also signed fairly young players. All of the thirteen have 4-6 seasons of NFL experience. The free agents that make the most impact on their new team often come from the solid, young football player category. Nice work Giants.

Another New York Giant newcomer that I think will do well is new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo. He replaces the retired Kevin Gilbride. McAdoo was the quarterbacks coach for the Green Bay Packers. Coaching Aaron Rodgers might not be the most difficult assignment in football but there's something about McAdoo that makes me think that he will do well with an offense of his own.