Feb. 21, 2026, 8:01 a.m. ET
Free agency is always a gamble in the NFL. Sometimes you land a franchise cornerstone, other times you end up paying starter money for backup-level production.
During the 2000s, the New York Giants had their fair share of smart roster moves that helped bring home two Super Bowl titles in 2007 and 2011. But like every team navigating the open market, they also had some swings and misses.
With the 2026 free agency period around the corner, here is a look back at some worst free agent signings the Giants made during the 2000s decade.
After a solid run with the Philadelphia Eagles, the Giants made a lengthy investment in linebacker Carlos Emmons during the 2004 offseason, signing him to a long-term deal (5-year, $16.5 million) with the hope he could bring that same level of production to New York’s defense.
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It never really worked out that way.
Emmons struggled to replicate the impact he had shown in Philadelphia, and his time with the Giants was defined as much by missed games as it was by inconsistent play. Availability quickly became a concern, as he sat out 12 games over his three seasons in New York due to injuries.
When he was on the field, Emmons never quite played at the level the team expected when they handed him a multi-year contract in free agency. His tenure with the Giants ultimately came to an end in 2007 following a back injury.
Safety C.C. Brown (2009)
When the Giants signed C.C. Brown before the 2009 season, the move was supposed to bring some stability to the back end of the defense. Instead, it created a revolving door for opposing passing attacks.
The veteran safety’s deal was for just one-year, $1.6 million.
Still, Brown struggled to keep up in coverage all year long and often found himself a step behind receivers downfield. Quarterbacks didn’t hesitate to test him, and more often than not, it paid off. Big plays became a recurring issue whenever the ball went his way, turning what was meant to be a depth signing into a weekly liability in the secondary.
The Giants’ pass defense took a noticeable hit, and Brown never really carved out a reliable role as the season went on. Even though the team briefly considered bringing him back the following year, they ultimately decided to move in a different direction before the season began.
His stint in New York lasted just one forgettable season.
Linebacker Barrett Green (2004–2005)
The Giants took a chance on linebacker Barrett Green in free agency in 2004, bringing him in from the Detroit Lions on a five-year contract worth over $13 million, with the expectation that he could lock down the weak-side linebacker job for years to come.
That plan never really had a chance to materialize.
Green suffered a serious knee injury during the 2004 season that ultimately cut his time in New York short and derailed his career. The injury forced him off the field long before the Giants could see any real return on the multi-year deal they handed him in free agency.
Even when he was available, Green struggled to make much of an impact defensively. Across two seasons, he appeared in just 11 games with nine starts and failed to record a single sack while finishing with 39 total tackles.
Injuries are part of the game, but in this case, the Giants committed starter-level money to a player who was never able to consistently contribute.
Linebacker LaVar Arrington (2006)
On paper, this move felt like a steal.
New York signed three-time Pro Bowl linebacker LaVar Arrington after his release from Washington to a 7-year, $49 million contract, hoping he’d bring explosiveness to their defense.
Arrington had recorded 324 tackles, 43 TFL, 22.5 sacks, and three interceptions during his six-year tenure in the nation’s capital.
Instead, injuries immediately derailed the No. 2 overall pick from the 2000 draft during his time in New York.
Arrington played in just seven games before suffering a season-ending Achilles injury and finished the year with only 14 tackles and a sack. He never played another down for the Giants, making this signing more of a “what could’ve been” than anything else.
