The 2018 season was the New York Giants' 94th in the National Football League (NFL), their ninth playing their home games at MetLife Stadium and their first under head coach Pat Shurmur. The Giants entered the season looking to improve on their 2017 campaign, which saw the team finish with a 3–13 record, their worst since the adoption of a 16-game regular season. Despite starting 1–7 for the second consecutive year, the Giants managed to improve on their 3–13 campaign with a 30–27 win over the Chicago Bears. After a 17–0 shutout loss to the Titans in Week 15, the Giants missed the playoffs for the second straight season. The season was highlighted by blown fourth-quarter leads and poor defensive play much like 2015, the Giants were in 12 one-possession games and lost eight games by seven points or fewer. 5 out of their 11 losses were by a combined 10 points. The Giants finished the season 5–11 and last place in the NFC East for the second straight year and the first time they finished last in back to back years since 1977 and 1978.
Despite the 5–11 record, the season was highlighted with rookie running back Saquon Barkley who won many awards including Pepsi Rookie of the Year, FedEx Ground NFL Player of the Year, AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team and AP All-Rookie teams.
Player movements Free agency Players with the Giants in the 2017 season PositionPlayerTagDate signed2018 TeamNotesTERyan O'MalleyApril 6, 2018New York Giants1 year, $555,000 contract.CJon HalapioMarch 12, 2018New York Giants1 year, $555,000 contract.DTRobert ThomasMarch 15, 2018New York Giants1 year, $630,000 contractLBCurtis GrantNot tenderedCBrett JonesApril 9, 2018New York Giants1 year, $2.914 million contract.LBDeontae SkinnerWaived.QBGeno SmithApril 1, 2018San Diego Chargers1 year, $1 million contract.RBOrleans DarkwaRBShane VereenNew Orleans Saints1 year, $935,000 contractWRTavarres KingApril 5, 2018Minnesota Vikings1 year, $790,000 contract.GJustin PughMarch 17, 2018Arizona Cardinals5 years, $45 million contract.CWeston RichburgMarch 14, 2018San Francisco 49ers5 years, $47.5 million contract.GD. J. FlukerSeattle Seahawks1 year, $1.5 million contract.GJohn GrecoFebruary 21, 2018New York Giants1 year, $1.015 million contract.DEKerry WynnMarch 19, 2018New York Giants1 year, $1.25 million contract.DTJay BromleyNew Orleans Saints1 year, $790,000 contract.LBDevon KennardMarch 13, 2018Detroit Lions3 years, $18.75 million contract.LBJonathan CasillasLBKeenan RobinsonBuffalo Bills1 year, $790,000 contract.LBMark HerzlichMarch 12, 2018New York Giants1 year, $1.105 million contract.LBKelvin SheppardLBAkeem AyersCBRoss CockrellMarch 23, 2018Carolina Panthers2 years, $6.8 million contract.CBDarryl MorrisSNat BerheApril 4, 2018Pittsburgh Steelers1 year, $880,000 contract.
Players signed by the Giants from other teams Date Position Player Tag 2017 Team NotesOTNate SolderUFANew England Patriots4 years, $62 million contract, which made Solder the NFL's highest paid offensive lineman.OLBKareem MartinUFAArizona Cardinals3 years, $15 million contract.March 14GPatrick OmamehUFAJacksonville Jaguars3 years, $15 million contract.March 15SCurtis RileyERFATennessee Titans1 year, $630,000 contract.March 19WRCody LatimerUFADenver Broncos1 year, $2.5 million contract.March 26SMichael ThomasUFAMiami Dolphins2 years, $4 million contract.June 12TEScott SimonsonUFACarolina Panthers1 year, $705,000 contract.July 12GZac KerinUFADetroit Lions1 year, $630,000 contract.July 24OLBConnor BarwinUFALos Angeles Rams2 years, $5 million contract.August 3CBLeonard JohnsonUFABuffalo Bills1 year, $790,000 contract.
Draft
Notes The Giants were awarded a fourth-round compensatory pick (135th overall).
Draft trades The Giants traded a compensatory fourth-round selection (135th overall) and a sixth-round selection (176th overall) to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for a seventh-round selection in 2019 and linebacker Alec Ogletree. The Giants traded a fourth-round selection (102nd overall) and defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for a third-round selection (69th overall) and a fourth-round selection (108th overall). The Giants traded a seventh-round selection (220th overall) to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for defensive back Ross Cockrell.
Supplemental Draft
The Giants selected Western Michigan cornerback Sam Beal in the 2018 Supplemental draft. As a result, the team forfeited their 3rd-round selection in the 2019 draft.
Undrafted free agents The Giants signed a number of undrafted free agents. Unless stated otherwise, they were signed on May 11, 2018.
Position Player College NotesTEStephen BaggettEast CarolinaWaived on May 14, 2018.WRJawill DavisBethune–CookmanWaived during final roster cuts on September 1, 2018; resigned to practice squad.CEvan BrownSMUMade roster.TTyler HowellMissouriWaived on June 11, 2018.DTTyrell ChavisPenn StateWaived during final roster cuts on September 1, 2018.LBTae DavisChattanoogaMade roster.CBAaron DavisGeorgiaWaived/injured on June 12, 2018.CBBryon FieldsDukeWaived on May 14, 2018.CBGrant HaleyPenn StateWaived during final roster cuts on September 1, 2018; resigned to practice squad.SSean ChandlerTempleMade roster.GNick GatesNebraskaPlace on injured reserve on September 1, 2018.RBRobert MartinRutgersSigned on May 14, 2018; made roster.CBMike JonesTempleSigned on May 14, 2018; waived on June 4, 2018.TEGarrett DickersonNorthwesternSigned on June 4, 2018; waived during final roster cuts on September 1, 2018; resigned to practice squad.SMike BasileMonmouthSigned on August 8, 2018; waived on August 20, 2019.
Other signings Date Position Player Previous team NotesMarch 7ILBAlec OgletreeLos Angeles RamsAcquired via trade (see trade details).RBJonathan StewartCarolina PanthersFree agent signing; 2 years, $6.9 million contract.March 14CBTeddy WilliamsCarolina PanthersFree agent signing; 1 year, $880,000 contract.March 19CBB. W. WebbCleveland BrownsFree agent signing; 1 year, $815,000 contract; 7th team in 6 NFL seasons.March 19DEJosh MauroArizona CardinalsFree agent signing; 1 year, $880,000 contract. April 5CBWilliam Gay Pittsburgh SteelersFree agent signing; 1 year, $1.105 million contract.April 21PRiley DixonDenver BroncosAcquired via trade (see trade details).May 2QBAlex TanneyTennessee TitansFree agent signing; 1 year, $550,000 contract.May 2NTA. J. FrancisWashington RedskinsFree agent signing; 1 year, $705,000 contract.May 2CBC. J. GoodwinArizona CardinalsFrom waivers.May 3SOrion StewartWashington RedskinsFree agent signing; 1 year, $480,000 contract.May 14CBChris Lewis-HarrisDenver BroncosFree agent signing.May 14WRAlonzo RussellArizona CardinalsFree agent signing.May 14GChris ScottCarolina PanthersFree agent signing.May 14GMalcolm BuncheJacksonville JaguarsFree agent signing.May 22WRRussell ShepardCarolina PanthersFree agent signing; 1 year, $1.3 million contract.June 5PTaylor SymmankMinnesota VikingsFree agent signing.June 11CBKenneth DurdenTennessee TitansFree agent signing.June 11OTJarron JonesDallas CowboysFree agent signing; 1 year, $480,000 contract.July 25DEIzaah LunsfordGreen Bay PackersFree agent signing.July 30CBKenneth DurdenNew York GiantsFree agent signing; resigned by the Giants having been waived on July 11, 2019.August 1OTVictor SalakoCleveland BrownsFrom waivers.August 20RBJhurell PressleyJacksonville JaguarsFree agent signing.August 20LBWarren LongSeattle SeahawksFree agent signing.September 2WRKaelin ClayBuffalo BillsFrom waivers.September 2DEMario Edwards Jr.Oakland RaidersFrom waivers.September 2CBAntonio HamiltonOakland RaidersFrom waivers.September 2CBMike JordanCleveland BrownsFrom waivers.September 2SKamrin MooreNew Orleans SaintsFrom waivers.September 2CSpencer PulleyLos Angeles ChargersFrom waivers.September 4NTJohn JenkinsChicago BearsFree agent signing; 1 year, $790,000 contract.September 5LBNate StuparNew Orleans SaintsFree agent signing; 1 year, $850,000 contract.September 18FBElijhaa PennyArizona CardinalsSigned off the Cardinals practice squad.September 19WRStacy ColeyMinnesota VikingsFrom waivers.September 19TEGarrett DickersonNew York GiantsSigned off the practice squad.October 9TBrian MihalikNew York GiantsSigned off the practice squad.October 16WRBennie FowlerNew England PatriotsFree agent signing.October 16LBUkeme EligweNew York GiantsSigned off the practice squad.October 16CBGrant HaleyNew York GiantsSigned off the practice squad.
Practice squad Having been cut as the roster was trimmed to the 53-man limit on September 1, Jawill Davis, Garrett Dickerson, Grant Haley, Jhurell Pressley, Alonzo Russell, Victor Salako, Avery Moss and Calvin Munson cleared waivers and were resigned to the practice squad. They were joined over the following days by linebacker Ukeme Eligwe and defensive tackle Josh Banks, who had been waived by the Giants on September 2. On September 13, Munson was released and replaced by offensive tackle Brian Mihalik.
Other departures Date Position Player NotesMarch 22WRDwayne HarrisReleased (vested veteran).March 22DEJason Pierre-PaulSelected 15th overall in the 2010 NFL draft; traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (see trade details).April 19WRBrandon MarshallReleased (vested veteran).April 20TJessamen DunkerWaived.April 23WRDarius PoweWaived.May 7SRyan MurphyWaived.May 7GDamien MamaWaived.May 7PAustin RehkowWaived.May 7WRCanaan SeverinWaived.May 7RBTerrell WatsonWaived.May 11TLaurence GibsonWaived.May 14TAdam BisnowatySixth round pick in the 2017 NFL draft; waived.May 14CBC. J. GoodwinWaived.May 14TEStephen BaggettWaived.May 14CBBrandon DixonWaived.May 14CBBryon FieldsWaived.May 14LBDerrick MathewsWaived.May 22STim ScottWaived.June 4WRKeeon JohnsonSigned as an undrafted free agent in 2017; waived.June 4CBMike JonesWaived.June 4CBJeremiah McKinnonWaived.June 11TTyler HowellWaived.July 11CBKenneth DurdenWaived.July 12GEthan CooperWaived.July 25PTaylor SymmankWaived.July 25TEKyle CarterWaived.August 1TJarron JonesWaived.August 3CBKenneth DurdenWaived.August 6CBTeddy WilliamsRequested release due to family reasons.August 20LBMike BasileWaived.August 26CBrett JonesTraded to the Minnesota Vikings (see trade details).September 1RBJhurell PressleyWaived during final roster cuts.RBJalen SimmonsWRKalif RaymondWRTravis RudolphWRAlonzo RussellWRJawill DavisWRAmba Etta-TawoWRMarquis BundyWRRoger Lewis Jr.TEGarrett DickersonTERyan O'MalleyTVictor SalakoGMalcolm BuncheGZac KerinDTIzaah LunsfordDTRobert ThomasDTTyrell ChavisDTA. J. FrancisLBAvery MossLBCalvin MunsonLBWarren LongCBGrant HaleyCBMike JonesCBOrion StewartSAndrew AdamsKMarshall KoehnGChris ScottReleased (vested veterans) during final roster cuts.LBMark HerzlichCBLeonard JohnsonCBChris Lewis-HarrisSeptember 2QBDavis WebbThird round pick in the 2017 NFL draft; waived.September 2WRHunter SharpWaived.September 2TEJerell AdamsSixth round pick in the 2016 NFL draft; waived.September 2DTJosh BanksWaived.September 2GJohn JerryReleased (vested veteran).September 2CBWilliam GayReleased (vested veteran).
Trade details On March 7, 2018, the Giants acquired linebacker Alec Ogletree from the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for a 4th (#135, John Franklin-Myers) and a 6th (#176. John Kelly) round pick in the 2018 NFL draft. In the deal, the Giants also acquired a 7th round pick in the 2019 NFL draft.
On March 22, 2018, the Giants traded defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for their 3rd round pick and swapping 4th round picks in the 2018 NFL Draft.
On April 20, 2018, the Giants acquired punter Riley Dixon from the Denver Broncos in exchange for a conditional 7th round draft pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
On August 26, 2018, the Giants traded center Brett Jones to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for a 7th round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.