Giants: No Saquon, No QB. What’s Next?

Free agency is lurking, franchise tags have been applied, and the NFL draft is a long six weeks away. This time of year, teams hold their cards close to their chest, and try and figure out their next big move. With the Giants, we have to deal with a few facts: Saquon Barkley is a free agent now. Daniel Jones is a big question mark (injury). If both of them are gone, who should fans be excited about to watch play?

Now, I understand that this sounds dramatic. However, it is fair for Giants' fans to feel they need to prepare for a roster that doesn't have a lot of starpower.

Let's ask another question. So far we've only mentioned offensive players. Who was the Giants' biggest star (and name) on defense? Coming out of 2023, #29 is solid answer. Safety Xavier McKinney had 78 tackles and three interceptions last year. He too, is now a free agent. Though there is a good chance that he'll return, McKinney could very well be gone, too.

What a difference a year makes. After an incredibly disappointing year, I'm stating the obvious when I say the Giants have so much work to do. Let's play "Hypothetical fan General Manager" here, and state, realistically, if all the above is true, who would we buy a ticket to come watch play?

Last year's offensive performance was disgusting. The Giants scored 29 total touchdowns last year. That was the fourth lowest in the NFL. Only the Patriots, Panthers, and Jets (fewest) were worse. So, we need some playmakers.

Who is going to score points? If there is no Jones, let us get excited to at least be interested in a new franchise name like Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy at quarterback. Walking out of the 2024 draft with optimism is so important this year.

If Barkley moves his life to somewhere in Texas, who runs the ball? This is puzzling because the life of a running back in the NFL is not what it used to be. Josh Jacobs and A.J. Dillon are also free agents. It's possible a late-round draft pick could step in here as well.

Lastly, after addressing the obvious glaring needs, the NFL offseason so far has been so unpredictable, you have to leave space for an "I did not see that happening" moment. QB Russell Wilson can be obtained for super-cheap (no thanks). Justin Fields can be traded for (Giants have two second round picks).

There are also some bargains available on defense. We saw about a dozen safeties suddenly find themselves team-less this week. Chase Young, Devin White, and Za'Darius Smith all need a home.

Lastly, head coach Brain Daboll has gone from coach of the year, to wondering if Daboll has come undone. All is not lost, but Daboll and GM Joe Schoen have the opportunity to get this GMen train back on track. Let's hope over the next two months, they make some moves that give fans something to look forward to.

Because right now, we're just not so sure.

Although the Super Bowl is behind us, there are still plenty of football subjects to dive into. Of course, the combine, free agency, and the draft are all approaching. However, in addition, there are a few NFL teams who have hinted at wearing new uniforms next season.

Typically, a full unveiling of these fresh threads comes in late spring or summer once the schedule is out and new players are on the roster. Still, there are some things we already know. Part of this has to do with licensing agreements. The NFL and Nike (their official uniform partner) need to go through certain protocols in order for new uniforms to be allowed. At times, this can take a few years. So, in short, preparation for these expected uniform changes began long ago.

Present-day NFL allows for teams to have their typical home and away set and the alternate look. Often, this is a nod to a throwback uniform that was a fan-favorite years ago. For example, in 2023, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers brought back the special edition creamsicle uniform.

Before we take a look at the NFL teams that will be sporting a new uniform look in 2024, let's address a related topic.

Again, this is easier said than done, but here are a few suggestions for teams that can use an upgrade. First, the New York Giants should make their throwback look permanent. This sports the "Giants" logo on the helmet with the red and white striped jersey sleeve the team wore in the '80s and '90s. Bringing back the red alternate jersey then allows for the special look twice a year. The same argument can be made for the Philadelphia Eagles. When you have that sharp "Kelly Green" set, there is no reason not to wear them at any opportunity. As for a complete overhaul, let's suggest the Indianapolis Colts go back to the drawing board. The white horseshoe helmet works (just change the facemask to blue), but the jersey and pants are stale. Less can be more these days with uni designs, so how about adding a little life here? At least the jersey can be as exciting as the future franchise quarterback, Anthony Richardson.

Those three thoughts may be long shots. However, these are not. Here are the four teams we expect to rock new uniforms looks next season.

Let's call it Aaron Rodgers 2.0. It's definitely not a bad idea to try this experiment all over again. With Rodgers back from a gut-wrenching injury, 2024 could be what fans expected 2023 to be. Perhaps having extreme patience will make the wait worthwhile. The assumption is that the Jets new uniforms, which will be unveiled in April, will resemble the "Legacy" look.

With the offensive rookie of the year in C.J. Stroud being the face of the franchise, this feels like the perfect time for the Texans to change up their look. Aside from the red alternative helmet and jersey, their previous uniform set did fall victim to the Colts' disease of just too boring. Let's just hope they don't get too flashy. The Tennessee Titans twice wore their Houston Oilers throwbacks in 2023. It has been revealed that the Texans are now doing the right thing and incorporating this iconic H-Town Blue color into the new look.

This should fall into the category of adjustments instead of a completely new look. There has been a ton of speculation already. We do believe the orange jersey will sustain. The biggest challenge the team has had with their current look is the slash-style "stripe" on the pants that don't mix and match. So, 2024 will feature a new QB in Denver, sporting the updated look.

This one flies under the radar a bit. The Lions revealed the alternate blue helmets last year. Some wonder if the popular black jersey from the early 2000s will return. It would be unfortunate for the Lions to get too far away from their traditional blue, however a stronger color scheme might be just what the team needs to take that extra step. The black jersey option might also be a good match for Dan Campbell's MCDC Metallica fandom.