It’s been a rough five-year stretch for Big Blue. But can a new regime and a busy offseason reverse the recent misfortunes of the New York Giants?
It’s a proud franchise that has been down and out of the playoffs for the past five seasons. And truth be told, the last time the New York Giants won the postseason game was more than a decade ago. In 2011, they finished 9-7, allowed more points than they scored but eventually knocked off the New England Patriots, 21-17, at Indianapolis in Super Bowl XLVI.
Since then there’s been one playoff appearance and it was a humbling 38-13 loss to the Packers in the 2016 wild card round at Lambeau Field. A few head coaches have come and gone since the Tom Coughlin Era came to an end.
But now it’s 2022 and the new men in charge are general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll – each late of the Buffalo Bills. There are plenty of new faces via free agency and the draft. But which three additions stand out above the others?
New York Giants top offseason pickup no. 3: RB Matt Breida (Buffalo Bills)
The five-year pro will be playing for his fourth team in as many seasons. Matt Breida is a former undrafted free agent from Georgia Southern who spent his first three years in the league with the San Francisco 49ers. And the underrated performer enjoyed his best days with Kyle Shanahan’s club. In 2018, he made a career-high 13 starts and in 14 contests rolled up 1,075 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns.
In 2020, he was dealt to the Miami Dolphins and spent this past year with the Buffalo Bills. Breida provides solid depth behind Saquon Barkley, who looks to bounce back from a pair of injury-plagued seasons.