Should the New York Giants consider a reunion with Adoree’ Jackson?

The New York Giants have made their six draft picks and are turning the page on offseason activities. These activities include post-draft free agent additions that do not count toward the 2025 compensatory draft formula.

Joe Schoen and the Giants have added cornerback David Long Jr. and wide receiver Allen Robinson since the end of the draft. According to Over The Cap, the Giants only have a little over $5 million in cap space. New York could push specific contracts in the future to create immediate space. Yet Schoen has previously stated the undesirability of this action, although he has had to do so several times during his tenure with the Giants.

With the undrafted rookie free agents, the Giants currently have 48 offensive players, 40 defensive players and four special teams players, for a total of 92 players. Despite the crowded depth chart, the Giants should still look for upgrades or consider financial maneuvers if the available players can significantly improve their chances of success.

Here are five names to consider for the Giants.

Loved’ Jackson, CB

Yes, the Giants should seriously consider bringing back the 28-year-old cornerback. Jackson had his worst season as a Giant last year, playing 792 snaps with a 65.9% catch rate. Jackson committed four penalties with six passes defended and one interception.

Jackson was friendly with the Giants when the team approached him – during a contract year – to play in the nickel to allow sixth-round pick Tre Hawkins III to start on the outside opposite fellow rookie Deonte Banks. In hindsight, that plan didn’t work, but it highlighted a team-first mentality on Jackson’s part.

The selection of Andru Phillips and the signing of David Long Jr. should not prevent the Giants from adding another defensive back. I will say though that the fact that Phillips was given number 22 throws some cold water on this idea. Jackson is known for his man coverage skills, but also possesses good immediacy and closing burst, with quality zone spatial awareness.

If the Giants go this route again, Jackson would receive the inside track for a starting role unless one of the younger players proves worthy enough to unseat him. I’d love for the Giants to entertain Stephon Gilmore or Xavien Howard, but they’re probably too expensive to consider. At the right price, Jackson makes sense if the Giants want to be more competitive in 2024.

Calais Campbell, DL

Campbell will be 38 when the season begins and will likely try to play for a real contender, but the Giants should still entertain him as an option. New York could use a complementary piece alongside Dexter Lawrence, and who better to help guide this potential power pass rush than a player as experienced – and still effective – as Calais Campbell?

Campbell played 712 snaps with Atlanta last year, recording 42 pressures and 6.5 sacks. He’s still a solid run defender who can line up outside of a four-man zone, giving the Giants the flexibility to use him as an end in certain situations.

The 6-foot-8, 285-pound Campbell fills a valuable hole and would play an important role in Shane Bowen’s defense. However, he cost the Falcons seven million on a one-year deal last season, and that might be too expensive for the Giants right now.

Ross Blacklock, D.L.

Former Tennessee Titan Ross Blacklock, who spent the second half of the 2023 season playing for Shane Bowen, may be a more realistic target than Campbell. Blacklock was a second-round pick of the Texans in 2020 and has played with four teams since then. The Titans signed him off the Colts’ practice squad last season, and he played 63 snaps for Bowen with four pressures.

His best season was in 2021 with the Texans, where he recorded 25 pressures. He was traded to the Vikings in a late-round pick swap in 2022. Texans general manager Nick Caserio said the Blacklock trade was “A difficult decision” And “Ross has been a good player for the organization for several years, a local kid, he possesses many athletic qualities and traits..”

Despite kind words from Caserio — who arrived with the Texans in 2021 — Blacklock found himself out of Houston, and he hasn’t been able to stick on a roster since.

I won’t act like Blacklock is the most exciting player for the Giants to pursue. Still, he may be one of the most realistic players available, capable of pushing the defensive line space and being valuable depth if injuries plague the Giants in training camp.

Emmanuel Ogbah, edge

The Giants could still use reinforcements behind Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Azeez Ojulari. Ogbah, however, might be too ambitious, as the former Dolphins defensive end is coming off a four-year, $65 million deal. He signed this contract extension with Miami on the first day of 2022 free agency and is once again a free agent.

Ogbah was able to provide the Dolphins with 612 snaps, 35 pressures and 7 sacks over two overtime seasons. In his first two years with the Dolphins, Ogbah played over 750 snaps each season and had over 60 pressures each year.

Ogbah possesses a body type and build that the Giants could use on their frontcourt. He is 6 feet 4 inches tall, weighs 278 pounds and is 30 years old. He may be looking for a deal to prove, but he’d probably have a clearer path to snaps in another situation. Regardless, he would fill a valuable role on the Giants that would likely only consist of a few hundred snaps if the Giants are injury-free.

Greg Van Roten, OL

I had to add an offensive player, and offensive linemen are always a need for the Giants, even though they’ve already signed four in free agency. Van Roten is 34 years old and would not be assured of a roster spot, but would provide familiar, capable depth at several positions along the front.

He has over 1,000 career snaps at both guard positions and has played 159 snaps at center in 2022 with the Bills. He spent his 2023 season with the Raiders and Carmen Bricillo. He played 1,025 snaps at right guard for Las Vegas and earned career-best marks Pro Football Focus.

Van Roten, Bricillo’s 33-year-old starter last season, allowed just 21 pressures and three sacks. He hasn’t committed any penalties and also has experience playing alongside Jermaine Eluemunor. If the Giants want more competition and more contingency plans in what appears to be a cursed offensive line room, then they could do worse than Van Roten.