Giants have 5 fascinating reunion candidates GM Joe Schoen could target before training camp
New York still has room to improve the roster, and some old friends would be viable options in free agency.
The New York Giants are approaching training camp with a roster that still has room for improvement, and general manager Joe Schoen could look to some familiar faces to fill those gaps. After bringing back wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., the Giants have several former players available in free agency who could provide veteran depth at key positions. From offensive line help to defensive tackle rotation pieces, these reunion candidates could make sense for a franchise in the middle of a rebuild.
Guard Kevin Zeitler
The 36-year-old guard played for the Giants for two seasons in 2019 and 2020 after arriving as part of the Beckham trade to the Cleveland Browns. Guards tend to play well into their 30s, and Zeitler has done exactly that. He started and played 909 snaps at right guard for the Tennessee Titans last season, posting a 74.5 PFF grade and a 98.2 pass blocking efficiency while allowing 16 pressures.
Zeitler lacks positional versatility, having spent his entire career at right guard, but that consistency is the appeal. First-round pick Francis Mauigoa is slated to start at right guard, but Mauigoa was initially drafted as a tackle. Adding a veteran like Zeitler would give New York insurance if the rookie isn’t ready to start right away.
Linebacker Bobby Okereke
Okereke started his career with the Indianapolis Colts before spending three seasons with the Giants from 2023 to 2025 as a full-time starter. New York released him in March, but the linebacker room isn’t necessarily comfortable, even though first-round rookie Arvell Reaves is expected to line up at off-ball linebacker. The Giants also have Tremaine Edmunds at the position, so Okereke would serve more as a depth piece at this stage.
Last season showed some signs of regression, but Okereke still posted 103 tackles, 47 stops, and allowed a 91.4 passer rating when targeted. That production still carries value for a player who wouldn’t be forced into a starting role.
Cornerback Adoree’ Jackson
Jackson played for the Giants from 2021 to 2024 before signing a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. He posted three seasons with a PFF grade of at least 69.0 during his time in New York, including two above 72.0. Last season with the Eagles, he allowed an 89.3 passer rating when targeted with one interception and six pass breakups.
The Giants invested at cornerback over the past two offseasons, adding Paulson Adebo and Greg Newsome in free agency while drafting Colton Hood in the second round. Cornerback remains a premium position where depth matters, though. If New York isn’t comfortable with Deonte Banks, bringing back Jackson for depth purposes would be a reasonable move.
Kicker Brandon McManus
McManus barely qualifies as a reunion candidate, having spent only a 2014 offseason with the Giants before being traded to the Denver Broncos ahead of the regular season. He went on to start for Denver from 2014 to 2022, winning a Super Bowl after the 2015 campaign where he converted 10 of 10 field goals and three of three extra points in the playoffs.
McManus struggled last season with the Green Bay Packers because he was playing through an injury, losing his confidence and delivering a poor playoff performance that cost the Packers seven points against the Chicago Bears. Two years ago, however, he converted 20 of 21 field goals. The Giants currently have two inexperienced kickers in Ben Sauls and rookie Dominic Zvada, so a veteran presence could strengthen that competition.
Defensive tackle Jordan Phillips
Phillips spent time with the Giants during the 2024 offseason before being traded alongside a seventh-round pick to the Dallas Cowboys for a sixth-round pick. He never played a regular season game for New York. The veteran has been in the NFL since 2015, spending most of the past few years with the Buffalo Bills.
Last season, Phillips played 202 snaps as a rotational player in Buffalo and generated five pressures. Run defense remains a recurring weakness in his game, but he adds value as an interior rusher. The Giants overhauled their interior defensive line after trading Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals, bringing in Shelby Harris and DJ Reader while drafting Bobby Jamison-Travis. Defensive line is a position that requires rotation, and Phillips could provide another useful body in that mix.