Tom Rock: Grading the agreements made by the Giants and Jets
New York Giants tackle Jermaine Eluemunor (72) during the New York Giants training camp in East Rutherford, NJ, Monday, July 28, 2025 Credit: Ed Murray
GIANTS
OT Jermaine Eluemunor: A
The Giants were not going to find a better starting right tackle in this free-agency class than the one they already had, and getting him to sign a three-year deal at $13 million per season with a reasonable out after two was shrewd business. Andrew Thomas and Eluemunor were two of the top pass-protecting tackles in the league in 2024 and the Giants also have second-year player Marcus Mbow, who proved he can step in as a spot starter at swing tackle. That should be enough to allow the Giants to not worry about the position until the third day of the draft at the earliest.
TE Isaiah Likely: B-plus
The Giants have been looking for a stretch-the-field tight end for a while now, going all the way back to the days of Travis Beckum and Adrien (“the JPP of tight ends”) Robinson. Some have come closer to the ideal than others, but no one has really done it. We’ll trust John Harbaugh on this, given that he drafted and coached Likely for four seasons in Baltimore, but he can be a little streaky when it comes to controlling the ball and offers little in terms of blocking. It will be interesting to see how he and Theo Johnson coexist.
LB Tremaine Edmunds: B-plus
There was a time during his first season with the Giants that Bobby Okereke was looking like one of the best free-agent signings in Giants history. Now Edwards will come here and replace him. Still just 27 but with a lot of mileage heading into his ninth season, the former Pro Bowler with Buffalo recently released by the Bears will give the defense a new quarterback in the middle. If the Giants end up drafting Sonny Styles and Edmunds becomes his mentor, then the three-year, $36 million contract will become even more valuable.
P Jordan Stout: B
Maybe all these Baltimore transplants can share a moving van for their relocation to New Jersey. Punter Stout is another former Raven who comes in as part of the overhaul of the Giants’ special teams specialists. He replaces Jamie Gillan, kicker Graham Gano is likely to be cut in the coming days, and the search likely is on for a new long-snapper to take the place of Casey Kreiter.
S Ar’Darius Washington: C
Another of Harbaugh’s guys from Baltimore, Washington arrives on a one-year deal, and although he played late in 2025, he was still recovering from an Achilles injury. Expect him to take over some of the defensive and special teams duties that Dane Belton held for the Giants.
WR Isaiah Hodgins: C
The Giants waited too long to sign Hodgins last year when they needed help at the position. This year they wasted no time securing him on the opening day of the process. Ideally, the Giants won’t have to rely too much on his production with Malik Nabers and others lighting it up, but they learned the lesson from 2024: It’s better to have Hodgins and not need him than need him and not have him.
JETS
S Minkah Fitzpatrick: A
Darren Mougey certainly isn’t shy about making trades, and bringing in the safety from the Dolphins for a seventh-rounder is his latest big swap. Fitzpatrick has 21 career interceptions and has been named to five Pro Bowls. He gives Aaron Glenn a proven pro on the back end of the defense and should help solidify everything else on the field for the unit. Another good move for Mougey, but until he gives the Jets a quarterback with whom they can win, it’s all just extraneous movement.
LB Demario Davis: B
Glenn loved coaching Davis in New Orleans and now will bring him back to the Jets for a third stint as the leader of the defense and maybe the entire team. Davis has that kind of personality and it’s what the Jets are paying for; he’ll be the best ambassador for Glenn the locker room has had since the coach's arrival. At 37, it probably isn’t fair to expect steady production from Davis, but if he can help others buy in and play better, it’ll be worth the investment.
S Dane Belton: C-plus
Belton was a solid pro for the Giants who was always one of their top special teams contributors and was a solid defender when he was able to stay on the field. A few injuries held him back during his time in East Rutherford, but Belton had a good nose for the ball and is a very sound tackler. If he winds up paired with Fitzpatrick, that could help his game grow, too.
DT David Onyemata: C
Another player Glenn coached in New Orleans, Onyemata gives the Jets a big run-stuffer up front to help with the rotation and address an area that has long been one of their weaknesses.
DE Joseph Ossai: C
The Jets paid a lot ($34.5 million over three years) for a player who has never had more than five sacks in a season, but they are in desperate need of help rushing the passer after trading away Jermaine Johnson and coming off a season in which they posted only 26 sacks as a team. Ossai is only 25 and has never really been a full-time starter in his NFL career, so perhaps the Jets can coax better numbers from him.
DE Kingsley Enagbare: D
Another player who might be able to help with the pass rush . . . or not. He’ll certainly be given the opportunity this season as he’ll play on a one-year prove-it deal for the Jets.
Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.
