The New York Giants enter the 2026 offseason at a crossroads. After another uneven campaign defined by defensive lapses and interior offensive line instability, the franchise is no longer in patchwork mode — it’s in foundational mode. According to FOX Sports’ latest top-100 free agent projections, two names stand out as potential fits in East Rutherford: defensive playmaker C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum.

They address two entirely different issues, but both strike at the heart of what the Giants have lacked: identity and reliability.

Gardner-Johnson Would Inject Edge and Versatility

If the Giants want to change the personality of their defense and truly add an enforcer in the secondary, Gardner-Johnson is the type of signing that does it overnight.

Few defensive backs in the league combine range, instincts, and attitude quite like he does. He has proven capable of playing deep safety, covering the slot, rotating into split-field looks, and triggering downhill in run support. That versatility matters in today’s NFL, where offensive coordinators relentlessly hunt mismatches and force safeties into space.

The Giants’ secondary has flashed talent in stretches but has struggled with communication breakdowns and inconsistent ball production. Gardner-Johnson brings both swagger and takeaways. He’s at his best when allowed to read the quarterback, bait throws, and drive on underneath routes, intercepting six passes each in the 2022 and 2024 Super Bowl seasons for the rival Eagles.

Beyond the X’s and O’s, there’s an emotional component. He plays with visible energy, talks, competes, and raises the temperature of the unit around him. For a franchise that has too often looked reactive rather than imposing, that edge could shift the tone.

Financially, he wouldn’t come cheap. But if the Giants are serious about building a defense that can compete in a division loaded with high-level quarterback play, investing in a multi-positional defensive back entering his prime makes sense. It’s not just about plugging a hole — it’s about establishing an identity on the back end.

Linderbaum Could Finally Stabilize the Offensive Core

While Gardner-Johnson would bring attitude, Linderbaum would bring structure.

The Giants’ offensive line issues haven’t always been about talent on the edges — they’ve often been about interior cohesion. Missed protection calls, inconsistent push in the run game, and difficulty handling interior pressure have stalled drives before they ever developed.

Linderbaum changes that equation immediately, having been to three straight Pro Bowls and being PFF’s fourth-best center in 2025. He could command a deal north of $18 million per year, judging by the center market, but could be well worth the price tag in free agency.

One of the league’s most technically refined centers, he combines leverage, mobility, and football IQ. He excels in both zone and gap schemes, climbs cleanly to the second level, and anchors against power. Perhaps most importantly, he commands protection — something that would benefit a Giants quarterback room that has faced constant interior disruption.

A center of his caliber doesn’t just improve one position; he elevates the entire front. Guards play freer next to him. The run game gains clarity. The quarterback operates with cleaner pockets and more confidence stepping up. On top of all of that, Linderbaum is familiar with head coach John Harbaugh and would be a great fit as he implements the “Baltimore Way” in East Rutherford.

In an offseason where splash signings will grab headlines, Linderbaum would represent something different: long-term infrastructure. Championship offenses are built from the inside out, and if the Giants want sustainable success rather than temporary flashes, anchoring the middle of the line is non-negotiable.

Gardner-Johnson brings fire. Linderbaum brings the foundation. If New York can land even one of them, it would signal that this rebuild isn’t cosmetic — it’s structural.