By Eddie Castro
Aside from the actual NFL games themselves, if football fans had to pick a No. 2 exciting moment, it would be two things. The release of the NFL schedule, which reveals who your favorite NFL team will be going head-to-head with throughout the year, and the start of free agency. For the New York Giants, the team is looking to make a splash in free agency after an abysmal 2025-26 campaign, in which they finished in last place in the NFC East division with just four victories.
Before free agency kicked off, the Giants made a few changes to their coach staff. The team was able to come to terms with former Baltimore Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh, who was sought out to be the hottest coach on the market after 18 seasons in Baltimore.
The team also hired a new offensive and defensive coordinator for the upcoming season in Matt Nagy and Dennard Wilson. With the coaching staff now in place, General Manager Joe Schoen wanted to make a statement that “Big Blue” is serious about taking the next step forward in building a winning culture.
As we go to press, the Giants wasted no time adding talent to the roster on day one of the legal tampering period. The team signed Tight End Isaiah Likely to a 3-year/$40 million deal, the first player to reunite with his former coach. He becomes another weapon for quarterback Jaxon Dart with Wan’Dale Robinson leaving the team and signing with the Tennessee Titans on Monday. Other notable signings are Tremaine Edwards (3 years).
The former bears linebacker will now be the “quarterback” for the defense. Cornerback Greg Newsome II and punter Jordan Stout were other pickups for New York. The Giant’s next move should be on the offense seeking a No.2 receiver to compliment Malik Nabers, who is returning from a Torn ACL he suffered early last season.
As for the New York Jets, on day 1 of the NFL’s legal tampering period, the Jets signed six players on defense to free agent deals highlighted by a trade they made with the division rival the Miami Dolphins that sent Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Jets in exchange for a 2026 seventh-round pick. A potential high reward with less capital Gang Green had to give up.
The Pro-Bowl safety went on to sign a 3-year/$40 million extension with New York. The Jets are also bringing back linebacker Demario Davis(2-years/$22 million). Davis returns for what will be his third stint with the Jets. He brings leadership to a defense that has not had that signature voice on that side of the ball since C.J. Mosley retired.
At 36, Davis is still playing at an elite level as he is coming off a career-high in tackles in 2025 with the Saints. The Jets would add more to their defense adding former Bengals defensive end Joseph Ossai (3-years/$36 million) and two other players on defense on 1-year deals. On the offense, as we go to press, the Jets are bringing back a familiar face to play quarterback for the team in 2026 in Geno Smith. Smith was acquired via trade with the Las Vegas Raiders now returns to the franchise that drafted him back in 2013.
Free agency officially kicked off yesterday (Wednesday March 11). It is expected that but the Giants and the Jets will still be wheeling and dealing as they attempt to put a stop to the bleeding that has seen the Giants not make the playoff since the 2022 season and their neighbor Jets franchise not make a playoff appearance since 2010.
Free agency and of course the draft are many ways our beloved New York Football team can end their respective droughts and stop us from turning away from our televisions. We shall see what the rest of a busy football week brings.
Sports Notes: (World Baseball Classic) As we go to press, Team USA Baseball is 3-0 and more than likely on their way to the knockout stage of the tournament with wins against Brazil, Great Britain, and Mexico whom they have not beaten in 20 years until this past Monday.
The match ups for the Knockout stage have not been announced at this time with the round Robin round still in progress.