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Giants' Head-Scratching Offseason Failure is Rearing its Ugly Head
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- Giants' Head-Scratching Offseason Failure is Rearing its Ugly Head
The New York Giants were dealt some brutal news in practice earlier this week, as wide receiver Calvin Austin III suffered a torn ACL and will miss all of 2026 .
The Giants signed Austin to a one-year deal in free agency, hoping that the former Pittsburgh Steelers speedster would operate out of the slot.
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That clearly isn't happening now.
The likely scenario is that Darnell Mooney will move inside, which will all but guarantee that rookie Malachi Fields will have the No. 2 outside role behind Malik Nabers.
Darius Slayton will serve as a depth piece, and Odell Beckham Jr. seems likely to make the roster as an auxiliary option, as well.
But is that enough wide receiver depth for Jaxson Dart and the Giants' aerial attack?
Dart absolutely needs a bevy of weapons at his disposal entering his sophomore campaign, and there is no doubt he is in better shape than last year in that regard.
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart. Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images.
However, New York knew that Nabers was recovering from a torn ACL. It also knew that Slayton, who had an awful year last season, was working his way back from core muscle surgery. And Fields, while impressive, is just a rookie.
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The Giants had the opportunity to sign one of Stefon Diggs, Deebo Samuel or Keenan Allen this summer. They watched as all three went elsewhere, with Allen, the last of the bunch to sign, just agreeing to a one-year deal with the Indianapolis Colts, a contract that featured a mere $2.8 million in guarantees.
You're telling me New York couldn't match that?
The Giants should have pursued a move for Allen regardless of Austin's status, but now that Austin is out, their decision to pass on the veteran looks that much more glaring.
Even Diggs' contract with the Washington Commanders featured only $7.15 million in guarantees. This after Diggs just posted a 1,000-yard season.
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I understand New York doesn't have a ton of wiggle room under the cap, but the Giants absolutely could have afforded either of those moves. Samuel, as well (although he may have largely preferred to return to San Francisco).
Instead, Big Blue is left hoping that Beckham — who didn't even play in the NFL last year — ends up representing a key piece.
New York had multiple opportunities to add another wide receiver this summer. It passed on every chance it received. And now, it is surely regretting it.
