This year's NFL Free Agency window opened up on Monday, and quickly the New York Giants fan base had a collective groan. The face of their franchise, and easily their most electric offensive weapon was not only leaving, but also going to the hated rival Philadelphia Eagles. While the Giants front office may have let go of Barkley, they still won the day and enthusiasm should be high for Big Blue.
Mere hours later the New York Giants landed defensive end Brian Burns from the Carolina Panthers. Burns was traded for a second round pick and a fifth round pick, a massive discount from just a year ago. Last season at this time Burns was being asked about in NFL circles and it was reported that the Panthers inept front office declined two first rounders. Now, just one year later he falls into the laps of the G-Men. Not only is Burns now part of the fold, but he can take the place of Barkley as the most talented player on the team, and he will be for some time. Not only did Burns land in New York but he quickly signed a five-year extension, worth $150 million dollars with $87.5 million guaranteed.
Burns is one of the elite young pass rushers in the league. He is just 25-years-old and was a standout at Florida State University. Since entering the league he has been the focal point of offensive coordinators, yet they have barely slowed him down. Burns has 46 sacks since entering the league in 2019 topping out in 2022 with 12 1/2. He sits at sixth all time of the Panthers sack list and is consistently rated inside the top 5 rushers at his position.
New York wasn't done there as they soon added some offensive line help in Jermaine Eluemunor. Signing him to a two-year, $14 million dollar deal. Eluemunor is also on the right side of 30-years-old. The 6-4 330 pounder started 12 games at right tackle allowing just 21 pressures on 474 pass-block attempts. He is the prototype right tackle for a Giants team that needed help up front badly. As for who will run the ball in Saquon's absence? Well, that didn't take long to solve either when Joe Schoen signed Devin Singletary to a three-year deal worth $16.5 million dollars. Another bargain when you consider the Eagles gave Barkley $37.75 for the same three seasons. The undersized Singletary might not carry the load like Barkley did but at just 26-years-old he is coming off his best season rushing for a career-high 898 yards for the Texans, and maybe more importantly to the G-Men, playing in all 17 games.
If you still believe in the old saying that the game is won in the trenches, then the Giants certainly won the early stages of free agency, despite Barkley wearing green.