The New York Giants are looking to build off of the momentum that was created during the 2022 season. They surprised everyone, going 9-7-1 in the regular season and earning a Wild Card spot in the playoffs. Big Blue made the most of their playoff appearance, defeating the Minnesota Vikings during Super Wild Card Weekend before being defeated by the Philadelphia Eagles handily in the Divisional Round.
This offseason, the goal for general manager Joe Schoen was to close the gap between the NFC East rivals as much as he could. Filling all of the holes in one offseason is impossible, but the Giants’ roster is certainly improved heading into 2023.
Weapons were added offensively around Daniel Jones, as the Giants’ offense will have more speed and explosiveness this season. Acquiring tight end Darren Waller from the Las Vegas Raiders was the biggest move. Wide receivers Parris Campbell and Jamison Crowder were signed in free agency while Jalin Hyatt was selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
All of those players bring an added dimension to the team’s offense, which was sorely lacking big play ability in 2022. Defensively, Schoen made moves to ensure the Giants can stop those kinds of big plays in the running game.
Linebacker Bobby Okereke and defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson were signed in free agency. To bolster the secondary, the Giants used their first-round pick on cornerback Deonte Banks out of Maryland.
If there is one more move that Schoen is going to make this offseason, it should be adding a pass rusher. That is exactly what Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report suggested for the team. Ballentine suggested that the Houston Texans look to trade Jerry Hughes to the Giants before the season starts.
What could a trade between New York and Houston look like? Ballentine suggested that the Giants trade a fifth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft to the Texans in exchange for the veteran pass rusher. For the rebuilding Texans, turning players not on the team’s current timeline, such as Hughes, into draft capital would be viewed as a win.
For the Giants, their pass rush could use a little more juice. Azeez Ojulari and Kayvon Thibodeaux have plenty of upside as promising young pass rushers, but options are lacking beyond them. Adding an established player of Hughes’ caliber would be a nice boost to the unit and provide the youngsters with a mentor to lean on.
The interior of the Giants’ defensive line is set with Dexter Lawrence, Leonard Williams and Robinson. It is time they find some similar firepower to come off the edge and take advantage of teams not being able to send double teams on the perimeter.
