Quote from: uconnjack8 on March 12, 2024, 08:19:03 AMWill preface my post by saying that I am uncharacteristically pessimistic right now. So apologies for raining on the optimism parade.
My first thought about this thread is that I cannot recall a "rebuild" ever starting with a spending spree on the 1st day of FA. I realize there was only one big money contract and we haven't seen any of the contracts full details.
Burns from what I have seen looks like a good pass rusher who is a average run defender and mediocre tackler. The projection involved to make his contract in line with his performance feels to me just like the Olivier Vernon signing in 2016. A young player who has pretty good numbers but is coming into his prime and will be better with the Giants than he was with his previous team. Vernon wasn't bad, but I seem to recall people couldn't wait to get rid of his contract in a couple of years after he was signed.
One of my biggest fears this offseason after the departure of Wink was that the Giants would now need to re-tool the defense to make the new system work. A 2nd round pick for a very good pass rusher is not a big price, but when coupled with one of the biggest contracts ever given to a DE, that's a lot. Hopefully Deonte Banks and most of the secondary are a scheme fit as well as the LBs (I doubt it though).
Keep in mind this team now has over 50 million/year invested in two players on the DL. With Thibodeaux added in with his rookie deal its over 60 million/year in 3 players on the DL. I think the game is won and lost in the trenches, just have a hard time thinking its a good idea to invest 25% of the cap in 3 guys on the same unit.
The guards that were signed seemed to have good pass blocking ratings and much weaker run blocking ratings. The money invested was not huge (especially when you look at other guards signed yesterday) and I think its nice to see a theme of trying to develop one thing the unit is good at. One of the problems of the past is that there was a hodge podge of good zone blocker vs good man to man vs good in pass pro but not good in run blocking. Are either of these two guards thought to be much better than Glowinski was when he was signed? I'll assume they both fit what the new OL coach wants.
These moves tell me the plan is to move forward with Jones and try to get him better blocking to pass the ball. I am very much anticipating that a WR is drafted at #6 to give Jones a difference maker. I would also expect the 2nd round to be used on offense considering the investment made on defense already.
My conclusion thus far is that Schoen spent money on day 1 of FA because he feels pressure to make immediate improvements not start a rebuild. Jones will need to show he can really be a valuable pocket passer as he will no longer have the run game to lean on. It will likely be used more like it has been in Buffalo.
We'll see how the rest of the offseason goes and hopefully the moves they have made will be successful.
Well done.
Regarding the spending spree, I heard on Talkin Giants the Giants spent $200 million yesterday, which led all teams. As you say, that is most definitely not how traditional rebuilds are done
Just one update, CB DW signed elsewhere