Giants news, 3/19: Buffalo model, Caleb Williams, Daniel Jones, more headlines

New York Giants news for Tuesday

Good morning, New York Giants fans!

Does the ‘very Buffalo-ish’ approach work?

The approach includes de-valuing positions like running back and safety; spend your resources on premium positions; and be quarterback-centric on offense, and do what you have to do to get the guy you want.

No, the Giants have not — yet — swung a Josh Allen-style trade. They did, though, prioritize paying quarterback Daniel Jones over running back Saquon Barkley.

Question is, does it work? Click here for a little point-counterpoint about the ‘Buffalo Model.’

From Big Blue View

• NFL free agency grades: How analysts think the New York Giants have done
• Greg Cosell’s top 5 WRs in the 2024 NFL Draft
• 2024 NFL Draft prospect profile: Jonah Elliss, EDGE, Utah
• 2024 NFL Draft prospect profiles: Who will be Giants?
• 2024 NFL Draft pro day tracker: Who are the Giants watching?

Other Giant observations

2024 NFL Draft: What it would cost Giants to trade up for a QB | CBSSports.com

Can the Giants make the leap for a top-three QB? The article covers what it would take for the Giants to move up with the Patriots in a draft pick trade in the three different scenarios for trading the pick (baseline value, medium value, competitive-market value). Then we’ll hit the price for moving up to No. 4 or No. 5 in the scenario where the Patriots keep the pick, or someone else outbids the Giants for No. 3 and they want to protect themselves from another trade up for the fourth QB on the board.

Is Caleb Williams all in with the Bears? | Pro Football Talk

The teams currently holding the first four selections all have defensive head coaches. Thus, if any of them (Bears, Commanders, Patriots, Cardinals) would take Williams and if Williams would thrive there, the offensive coordinator inevitably would become a “hot” head coaching candidate — and Caleb Williams would have to start over with another offensive coordinator.

Williams has reasons to eyeball the Giants at No. 6. He could thrive in that market, setting him up for many more millions in off-field earnings. And his coach would be an offensive expert who has shown he can get the most out of Josh Allen, when Brian Daboll was the offensive coordinator in Buffalo.

Drew Lock looking forward to be a member of Big Blue

Howe: What I’m hearing on QB ‘battles’: Daniel Jones vs. Drew Lock, Geno Smith vs. Sam Howell | The Athletic

Lock, indeed, was not offered a chance to compete for the starting job, according to a league source. The Giants did sell him on the idea of working with head coach Brian Daboll, who has a quarterback-friendly system that led to Jones’ best season in 2022.

Additionally, after working with Daboll, Taylor just earned a bigger contract with the New York Jets. Before that, former Buffalo Bills backup Mitch Trubisky also turned a 2021 stint with Daboll into a raise with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

How strong is Giants’ ‘faith’ in Daniel Jones? Examining New York’s QB plans | FOX Sports

The Giants seem to be hedging their bets against Jones for the short term. But are they also plotting out new options for the long term? Is their “faith” in the 26-year-old Jones as strong as it was when they gave him that massive deal with $82 million in guaranteed money last March, or are they feeling “buyer’s remorse” as NFL Network’s Rich Eisen reported he heard at the combine?

Is Deonte Banks ready to anchor Giants’ secondary after Xavier McKinney’s departure? | NJ.com

NFL free agency began one week ago. So the first wave is long since complete.

The Giants made a fascinating addition to their defense by trading for (and then giving a massive contract to) edge rusher Brian Burns.

More changes coming to coaching staff?

NFL Teams That Need to Decide If They’re a Contender or Pretender After Free Agency | Bleacher Report

Daniel Jones should be healthy after a knee injury limited him to six starts, but he’s still unproven at best. Jones hasn’t showed the potential to legitimately carry a roster that lacks star power. He’s never averaged more than seven yards per attempt—a number, by the way, that ordinarily is a tick below the league average.

Perhaps a deeper offensive line is the solution, but the Giants are otherwise banking on a ton of internal development.

Giants’ top free-agent fits remaining: Who could Joe Schoen sign on the cheap? | The Athletic

While the soon-to-be 25-year-old Clyde Edwards-Helaire has battled injuries and primarily played backup, he knows how to make defenders miss after the catch. He topped the list of available running backs with an average of 13.4 yards after catch per reception. His pass-catching prowess could be an attractive option for the Giants in the absence of a true three-down back like Barkley.

Giants NFL free agency grades: Big Blue swings big with Brian Burns | New York Post

NFL free agency saw some big names change team. The Giants lost Saquon Barkley and Xavier McKinney but made a big trade for Brian Burns, let’s grade all their offseason moves thus far.

Spida Burns

2024 NFL Free Agency: 5 perfect scheme fits and 3 questionable moves | PFF

The real question is whether Burns can live up to a lofty contract that pays him more annually than every edge defender not named Nick Bosa. Burns began to look like an elite pass-rusher in 2020, but his production since then has been more good than great, albeit on a struggling Panthers squad.

Burns is still just 26 years old, so his best days may be ahead of him. The Giants are taking a huge gamble on him based on projection and fit in a more comfortable role. With the massive amount of resources they have invested in their defensive line, they need Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux to give them elite production.

Every Team’s Updated 2024 NFL Draft Needs, Top Targets After 1st Wave of Free Agency | Bleacher Report

Day 3 Draft Target: WR Ainias Smith, Texas A&M. New York still needs receiver help, even after adding Isaiah McKenzie in free agency. While the Giants probably won’t find the No. 1 target they lack, they could find a developmental prospect with upside on Day 3. Texas A&M receiver Ainias Smith, for example, is a shifty, fluid pass-catcher who suffered a leg fracture in 2022 but rebounded with a 795-yard campaign in 2023.

Around the league

New Eagles QB Kenny Pickett on reports of his Steelers exit: ‘I’m confident in the way I handled it’ | NFL.com

Cowboys reportedly rework Dak Prescott’s contract to reduce cap hit | ESPN.com

Former Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch retires from NFL after six seasons | NFL.com

Commanders’ Austin Ekeler energized, ready to prove himself again | ESPN.com

Report: Vikings to have private workout with J.J. McCarthy next week | Pro Football Talk

Jeremiah: Some teams view Malik Nabers, not Marvin Harrison Jr., as top WR on their boards | CBSSports.com

Bills give CB Taron Johnson 3-year, $31M contract extension | ESPN.com

Dolphins star Tyreek Hill had alleged domestic dispute in January, vows to clean up off-field behavior | CBSSports.com

What signing K.J. Osborn in free agency means for the Patriots | Pats Pulpit

Free-agent WR Mike Williams to visit Panthers, Jets and Steelers this week | NFL.com

Mark Donovan says Chiefs could “leave Kansas City” if sales-tax vote doesn’t go their way | Pro Football Talk

Cardinals announce renovation plans for State Farm Stadium | The Athletic

Five takeaways from the first wave of 2024 NFL free agency | PFF

NFLPA president Jalen Reeves-Maybin believes shift to grass fields “can happen” | Pro Football Talk

BBV mailbag

Have a Giants-related question? E-mail it to bigblueview@gmail.com and it might be featured in our weekly mailbag.

BBV podcast

You can find and subscribe to Big Blue View radio from the show’s home page

BBV YouTube

You can find and subscribe to Big Blue View YouTube from the show’s home page

Follow BBV

BBV on Twitter: Follow @BigBlueView

Ed Valentine: Follow @Valentine_Ed

BBV on Facebook: Click here to like the Big Blue View Facebook page

BBV on YouTube: Subscribe to the Big Blue View YouTube channel

BBV on Instagram: Click here to follow our Instagram page

BBV podcasts: Click here to subscribe to BBV Radio