Giants free agency: Meet the newest members of the team
Panthers linebacker Brian Burns plays against the Atlanta Falcons during an NFL game on Dec. 17, 2023, in Charlotte, N.C. Credit: AP/Jacob Kupferman
Meet the newest members of the Giants this offseason:
Drew Lock, QB
Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock passes the ball before an NFL football game against the Eagles on Dec. 18, 2023 in Seattle. Credit: AP/Ben VanHouten
2023 team: Seahawks
Contract: One year, $5 million (fully guaranteed)
Lock joins the Giants as a likely backup to fellow Class of 2019 draftee Daniel Jones (and/or any rookie quarterback they may take high in April's draft). The 64-228-pound Lock backed up Geno Smith in Seattle for the last two seasons after being acquired from the Broncos in the Russell Wilson trade. He didn't play in 2022 but saw some action in relief of Smith in 2023, completing 63.2% of his passes for 543 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions (including a game-winning score to rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba against the Eagles in a Week 15 prime-time game, Lock's first win since 2020). Lock has thrown for 5,283 yards, 28 touchdowns and 23 interceptions on a 59.7% completion rate since entering the league as a second-round pick in 2019 out of Missouri.
Devin Singletary, RB
Texans running back Devin Singletary runs the ball during the first half of the NFL divisional round playoff game against the Ravens on Jan. 20 in Baltimore. Credit: AP/Terrance Williams
2023 team: Texans
Contract: Three years, $16.5 million (with another $3 million in incentives)
Singletary arrives to the Giants with some familiarity, having played for Giants coach Brian Daboll when the two were in Buffalo from 2019-21 (Daboll was Singletary's offensive coordinator at the time). A second-round pick of the Bills out of Florida Atlantic, the 5-7, 203-pound Singletary has rushed for 4,049 yards and 20 touchdowns and caught 175 passes for 1,164 yards and four touchdowns in 78 career games. He spent last year in Houston, where he originally served as Dameon Pierce's backup before eventually taking over the starting job. He rushed for a career-high 898 yards and scored four touchdowns while catching 30 passes for 193 yards.
Isaiah McKenzie, WR
Colts wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie celebrates the team's overtime win against the Titans after an NFL game on Dec. 3, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. Credit: AP/George Walker IV
2023 team: Colts
Contract: One year, veteran minimum
McKenzie, like Singletary, played under Daboll when both were with the Bills from 2019-21. The 28-year-old receiver has 152 career catches for 1,427 yards and 11 touchdowns and also has rushed for 244 yards and four scores in 93 games (28 starts) across eight seasons. The 5-8, 173-pound McKenzie also is an experienced returner, with 1,264 kick return yards, 722 punt return yards and a punt return touchdown (in 2020).
Jermaine Eluemunor, T
Raiders guard Jermaine Eluemunor warms up before an NFL football game against Kansas City on Nov. 26, 2023, in Las Vegas. Credit: AP/John Locher
2023 team: Raiders
Contract: Two years, $14 million
Eluemunor also has some familiarity with the Giants' coaching staff: new offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo coached Eluemunor with the Patriots in 2019 and 2020, then again with the Raiders in 2022 and 2023. Eluemunor has started 45 of 87 regular-season games, with 32 coming at right tackle, seven at left tackle and six at right guard. Eluemunor was a fifth-round draft pick of the Ravens in 2017 and was born in England before moving to the United States and playing football at Morris Knell High School in Rockaway, New Jersey, about 45 minutes from MetLife Stadium.
Jon Runyan Jr., G
Packers guard Jon Runyan looks on after an NFL game against the Giants on Dec. 11, 2023, at MetLife Stadium. Credit: AP/Bryan Woolston
2023 team: Packers
Contract: Three years, $30 million ($17 million guaranteed)
If the name doesn't sound familiar, it should: Runyan's father was a stalwart lineman for the NFC East rival Eagles from 2000 to 2008. The younger Runyan (6-4, 307 pounds) has spent all four of his NFL seasons in Green Bay. He has yet to miss a game since arriving in the league and has started every game since Sept. 20, 2021. He was a sixth-round pick out of Michigan in 2020. Per Pro Football Focus, Runyan allowed 22 quarterback pressures and two sacks at right guard in 2023, giving him a 92.4 pass rush win rate (ninth among guards).
Brian Burns, Edge
Panthers linebacker Brian Burns walks off the field after losing to the Packers during an NFL game on Dec. 24, 2023, in Charlotte, N.C. Credit: AP/Jacob Kupferman
2023 team: Panthers
Contract: Five years, $150 million ($76 million guaranteed)
The big splash of the Giants' offseason so far, Burns arrives after spending the first five years of his career in Carolina. A two-time Pro Bowler, Burns' 46 sacks since 2019 (when he was the 16th overall pick out of Florida State) are tied for 12th-most in the NFL, while his 59 tackles for loss are sixth-most. He also has 95 quarterback hits, eight forced fumbles and two recoveries (including one for a touchdown) in 80 career games. The 6-5, 250-pound Burns, who turns 26 in April, had received the non-exclusive franchise tag this offseason from the Panthers before they traded him to the Giants for a second-round pick (No. 39 overall) and a fifth-round pick (No. 141).
Jalen Mills, S
Patriots cornerback Jalen Mills reacts before the start of an NFL football game against the Jets on Jan. 7 in Foxborough, Mass. Credit: AP/Greg M. Cooper
2023 team: Patriots
Contract: One year, veteran minimum
Mills has split his eight-year NFL career between the Eagles (2016-20) and the Patriots (2020-23.) He has experience playing both cornerback and safety. He primarily spent time at safety last season for the Patriots, recording 45 tackles, a forced fumble, and a pass defensed in 17 games (eight starts). The former seventh-round pick of Philadelphia in 2016 has 406 tackles, 1 1/2 sacks, seven interceptions, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 106 games (83 starts).
Nick Klopsis is Newsday.com's sports editor. He often can be found studying NFL and college football film for his latest draft breakdown.
