The New York Giants made news on Tuesday with re-signing quarterback Daniel Jones to a four-year deal worth $160 million and only $82 million guaranteed. Also, general manager Joe Schoen placed a non-exclusive $10.1 million franchise tag on running back Saquon Barkley.
This means that New York will have its starting quarterback and running back for next season. The Giants are looking to try to extend running back Saquon Barkley long-term and they have also started talking to defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence about a long-term deal also.
New York still has work to do this offseason to fix its roster after going 9-7-1 and winning a playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings a season ago. The New York Giants' next step should be finding a true number-one wide receiver for Daniel Jones. Well, should they look at DeAndre Hopkins from the Arizona Cardinals or Mike Evans from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?
Hopkins is going to be 30 years old and Arizona is looking to shop him. The New York Giants have the 25th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and the Cardinals might be looking at a potential soft rebuild here. He will have a cap hit of $30 million and $26 million for the next two years according to spotrac.
If the Cardinals got out of his contract now, it would be a $22.6 million dead cap hit for them entirely so maybe the Giants could get lucky and wait that one out, but his suspensions and injuries may not be worth it for them.
Mike Evans is going to be 29 years old next season. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may be looking to tear it all down and start over after quarterback Tom Brady retired. Evans will be an unrestricted free agent after next season and will maybe try to get something for him instead of losing him for nothing.
Mike Evans would be owed $23 million next year, according to spotrac. If Tampa Bay would move on from him, it would be a $21.396 million dead cap hit. Evans would be a better fit for at least one season, but the New York Giants would have to look to lock him up long-term also.
In all honesty, the New York Giants are maybe just better off drafting and developing their own wide receivers. This is something that general manager Joe Schoen has preached since becoming the general manager from day one. Head coach Brian Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka will be happy to have continuity next season.
Owner John Mara likes to see it and general manager Joe Schoen did a very good job here without compromising the future either. They are going to have to build through the draft and fix up some other things and find more talent.