There are three players headed for unrestricted free agency from last season’s team that the Giants should prioritize bringing back. These players are at different stages of their careers, and their roles will not all look the same for next season’s team.

But the Giants can look to last season and the not-so-distant past as guides for why these free agents should be welcomed back to MetLife Stadium. With apologies and all due respect to Adoree’ Jackson and Sterling Shepard, let’s dive into why each of these players is worth re-signing for New York.

Of the three Giants discussed in this article, McKinney will almost certainly be the most impactful on the field in 2024, especially relative to position.

McKinney is a homegrown, above-average player in his position. His play has improved with each season, and he has been voted team captain for two years in a row.

The second-round pick out of Alabama was one of the NFL’s best safeties this past season. Rate stats such as yards per completion, yards per target, and passer rating against all improved from last season, despite McKinney facing the most targets in coverage of his career.

While there might be concerns about McKinney’s fit for next season as the Giants move from Wink Martindale to another defensive system, bringing him back should be an organizational goal. It signals to other drafted players that talent and production are rewarded in New York, and taking care of its own players bolsters a team’s reputation around the league.

Durability is certainly a concern for a player who has only played two full seasons in four tries, but that might help the Giants keep the cost of a new contract down. McKinney is not a superstar, but he’s solidly in the upper range of NFL safeties. He should be retained.

QB Tyrod Taylor

2023 might well go down as the year of the backup quarterback. We’ve seen both the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers make the playoffs despite starting multiple quarterbacks during the regular season.

The Cincinnati Bengals and Indianapolis Colts were able to remain in the postseason hunt until the end with their QB2s. And on the flip side, the New York Jets illustrated what happens when a team forgets to fill in the backup quarterback slot on the depth chart entirely.

All of that to say, the Giants should do what they can to bring back Tyrod Taylor in 2024.

Taylor, in fact, made five starts this season and was pressed into meaningful duty in two other games. Big Blue went 2-3 in those starts, with Taylor throwing five touchdowns against three interceptions, an uncharacteristically high number for a QB that has protected the ball fiercely in past seasons.

Whichever path the Giants pursue for their starting quarterback, Taylor is the next man up. If the team does intend to run it back with Daniel Jones, well, we’ve seen him struggle to stay healthy throughout his NFL career.

If the sixth pick of the 2024 NFL Draft is used on a signal caller, Taylor would make a fine mentor for the rookie. He could serve as a de facto coach on the field while also providing meaningful competition during training camp. If coach Brian Daboll doesn’t feel like the new guy is ready for Week 1, Taylor could credibly hold down the job for a few games.

Taylor’s familiarity with Daboll’s offense is a valuable asset and makes him an ideal fit to return to the Giants’ quarterback room in 2024.