The New York Giants wasted no time making waves as the NFL’s legal tampering period kicked off on March 9, 2026. With the official free agency signing window set to open at 4:00 p.m. ET on March 11, the Giants signaled a bold new direction, reshaping their roster with a flurry of headline moves and strategic releases. As the dust settles from the first hours of negotiations, it’s clear that New York is determined to retool under new leadership and capitalize on a record-setting $301.2 million salary cap for the 2026 season.
Perhaps the most eye-catching addition is veteran off-ball linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, who inked a three-year, $36 million contract after being released by the Chicago Bears. Edmunds, a two-time Pro Bowler with the Buffalo Bills and a former first-round pick, brings a wealth of experience and production to a linebacker corps suddenly in flux. The Giants had just parted ways with Bobby Okereke, the team’s captain and tackling machine, who was released while in the final year of his four-year, $40 million deal. With off-ball linebacker Micah McFadden also entering free agency, Edmunds’ arrival addresses a glaring need.
Edmunds, who has started 119 games across eight NFL seasons, boasts an impressive résumé: 900 total tackles, 14 interceptions (including a pick-six), 59 passes defensed, 24 quarterback hits, 8.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. He’s notched at least 100 tackles in every season, and his consistency is matched only by his durability—he became the youngest player in NFL history to reach 100 career games played. In 2025, Pro Football Focus awarded him an 81.1 run defense grade, though his 52.9 mark in pass coverage suggests there’s room for improvement. Still, Pro Football and Sports Network ranked him as the sixth-best off-ball linebacker in the league last year, with an Impact Score of 89.3.
General manager Joe Schoen’s connection to Edmunds dates back to their time together in Buffalo, when Schoen was assistant GM. That familiarity likely helped seal the deal. The Giants aren’t finished at linebacker just yet, with speculation swirling around a possible return for McFadden or even a move for Ohio State’s Sonny Styles in the upcoming draft. For now, Edmunds is expected to anchor the middle of a defense eager for a fresh start.
On the offensive side, the Giants made an early splash by signing tight end Isaiah Likely to a $40 million deal. Likely, a 6-foot-4, 245-pound pass-catcher out of Coastal Carolina, spent his first four seasons with John Harbaugh and the Baltimore Ravens, tallying 135 receptions, 1,568 yards, and 15 touchdowns in 63 games. He appeared in 14 games (six starts) in 2025, posting 27 catches for 307 yards and a touchdown, while helping block for a Ravens rushing attack that led the NFL in yards per rush (5.3) and ranked second in rushing yards per game (156.6).
With new head coach John Harbaugh at the helm, the Giants are reportedly crafting an innovative offensive scheme built around tight ends. According to the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy, “#Giants are considering using 4 tight ends, per source: using Daniel Bellinger as a hybrid TE/fullback, using Chris Manhertz as extra OL, using Theo Johnson as a ‘Y’ tight end and using Isaiah Likely as a flex tight end on perimeter for a downhill running game in a zone scheme.” However, Bellinger, a former second-round pick, has since departed to reunite with a familiar face elsewhere, leaving the Giants to potentially target another veteran or look to the draft for a replacement.
Likely’s role is already defined: he’ll serve as a flex tight end on the perimeter, essentially a big-bodied wideout tasked with stretching the field and bullying defensive backs. Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Matt Nagy appear intent on capitalizing on Likely’s unique blend of size and receiver-like skills. His tenure in Baltimore was marked by flashes of brilliance—he caught a career-high six touchdowns in 2024 and became the second-fastest Ravens tight end to reach double-digit receiving scores—but also inconsistency. With the Giants planning to lean on multiple-tight end sets, Likely should find himself in more favorable matchups and less pressure to carry the load alone.
Meanwhile, the Giants continued their roster shake-up on special teams by releasing punter Jamie Gillan and agreeing to terms with Jordan Stout, who was named first-team All-Pro and made the Pro Bowl in 2025. Stout, a fourth-round pick in 2022, led the NFL in net punting average (44.9) and ranked third in gross punting average (50.1) last season. Over his four years, he’s played in every game and downed 100 punts inside the 20. Gillan, who joined the Giants in 2022 and punted 280 times for an average of 40.5 yards, was let go to free up cap space for Stout’s contract.
Elsewhere, the Giants re-signed wide receiver Gunner Olszewski, a special teams ace who returned 24 punts for 216 yards and 26 kickoffs for 682 yards in 2025. Olszewski’s versatility was on display last season, including a memorable 33-yard touchdown pass to quarterback Jameis Winston on a trick play. He’s also etched his name in Giants history with a 94-yard punt return touchdown, the second-longest ever for the franchise.
In the secondary, the Giants are reportedly among “8 to 9 teams” showing preliminary interest in Steelers cornerback James Pierre, according to NFL insider Josina Anderson. Pierre, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound defender, went undrafted out of Florida Atlantic in 2020 but has carved out a solid career in Pittsburgh, with a brief 2024 stint in Washington. He’s logged 147 tackles, four interceptions, 22 passes defensed, five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and a defensive touchdown. Pierre’s 2025 season was a breakout—30 tackles, one interception, 11 passes defensed, and a fumble return touchdown. Pro Football Focus graded him second among all cornerbacks with an 86.2 overall and an elite 88.7 in coverage, lauding his instincts and stinginess in coverage. With the Steelers deep at corner, Pierre is expected to draw competitive offers as an unrestricted free agent, and the Giants’ interest signals a continued focus on fortifying their secondary.
The Giants’ free agency activity comes as the league embraces a new financial landscape. The 2026 salary cap’s $22 million jump gives New York plenty of room to maneuver, especially as they juggle 21 unrestricted free agents—including key contributors like Daniel Bellinger, Dane Belton, and Chris Manhertz—plus several restricted and exclusive rights free agents. With the official signing period just days away, fans can expect more moves as the Giants look to fill out the roster and address lingering needs at linebacker, tight end, and cornerback.
As the Giants chart a new course under coach Harbaugh and GM Schoen, the early days of free agency have already set the tone for a team unafraid to make bold decisions. With high-profile signings, calculated releases, and an aggressive pursuit of top defensive and special teams talent, New York is sending a clear message: they’re aiming to contend now, and they’re not waiting around for the rest of the league to catch up.