Feb. 27, 2026, 5:00 p.m. ET
After looking back at the New York Giants’ best free agent signings of the 2010s, we now flip the script and revisit the deals fans would rather forget.
The Giants have long been one of the NFL’s more aggressive teams in free agency. While some of those moves paid dividends, others aged poorly, and in some cases, almost immediately.
Here’s a look back at the worst free agent signings the Giants made during the last decade.
Geoff Schwartz signed a four-year, $16.8 million deal with the Giants in 2014 to help solidify the offensive line, but injuries quickly got in the way. He appeared in just 13 games across two seasons before being released in 2016, making the signing a forgettable one for Big Blue.
Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.OT Marshall Newhouse (2015)
Signed to help provide depth along the offensive line, Marshall Newhouse ended up starting 14 games for the Giants in 2015. Unfortunately, his play was inconsistent throughout the season as the offensive line struggled as a whole, making the move another miss in the team’s ongoing effort to fix the unit.
WR Brandon Marshall (2017)
After a productive run with the Jets scoring 14 touchdowns the year prior, the Giants brought in Brandon Marshall on a two-year deal to boost their receiving corps alongside Odell Beckham Jr. The move didn’t pan out, as Marshall lasted only five games in New York due to injury, and finished the year with just 154 receiving yards in five games before landing on IR. He was released after the season.
RB Jonathan Stewart (2018)
The Giants signed veteran running back Jonathan Stewart to a two-year, $6.8 million deal in 2018, but he barely saw the field. Stewart played in just three games before suffering a foot injury that ended his season, finishing with only 17 rushing yards. He was released the following offseason.
OG Patrick Omameh (2018)
Patrick Omameh signed a three-year, $15 million contract with the Giants in 2018, but lasted just six games as a starter before being benched. He struggled in pass protection and was released during the season, leaving behind $3.5 million in dead cap money.
OLB Kareem Martin (2018)
The Giants signed Kareem Martin to a three-year, $15 million deal in 2018, hoping he’d boost their pass rush. Martin never developed into a consistent contributor, finishing with just 5.5 sacks in two seasons before being released in 2020.
OT Nate Solder (2018)
General manager Dave Gettleman, in his first offseason leading New York, made Nate Solder the highest-paid offensive lineman in the league when they signed him to a four-year, $62 million deal in 2018, hoping he’d finally stabilize the left tackle spot. Instead, Solder struggled in pass protection throughout his time in New York and never quite lived up to the contract, making the deal one of the more disappointing signings of the era.
WR Golden Tate (2019)
After trading star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. during the 2019 offseason, the Giants brought in veteran Golden Tate, who signed a four-year, $37.5 million deal and was expected to be a steady veteran presence in the passing game. However, a suspension to start the season and inconsistent production limited his impact. Tate finished with 676 yards in his first year and never fully lived up to the contract before being released after the 2020 season.
