The high rewards that the Giants hoped for on their low-risk trade for linebacker Isaiah Simmons are coming too late to boost anything but his free-agent value.
Simmons sealed a Week 11 win with a pick-six, forced and recovered a fumble in Week 16, and gave the Giants a chance to rally with a late third-down sack against the Rams last week in just his third start of the season, which suggests he is finding his place in coordinator Wink Martindale’s position-less defense just as their time together might be ending.
“I treat every year like a contract year — or at least I try to,” Simmons told The Post. “I just try to take every opportunity I have to showcase what [I’m blessed] to be.”
The Giants have major decisions to make this offseason with $34.8 million in salary-cap space, and running back Saquon Barkley, safety Xavier McKinney and cornerback Adoree’ Jackson entering free agency.
Putting those three big names aside, here are other contributors who, for one reason or another, could be playing their final game for the Giants on Sunday:
Free agents
LB Isaiah Simmons
Acquired in late August for a seventh-round draft pick, the former top-10 pick fills a niche role as an athlete on passing downs but hasn’t been able to fully overtake hard-nosed Micah McFadden as a starter in the middle.
QB Tyrod Taylor
Quality backup quarterbacks are expected to be in high demand this offseason after so many teams’ seasons were ruined by injuries. Taylor’s market could price out the Giants, especially if they plan to draft competition for Daniel Jones. Sitting for three games behind rookie Tommy DeVito was the sour writing on the wall.
WR Sterling Shepard
Smart fans will give him a round of applause Sunday the first time that his name is called. His 90th game over eight seasons with the Giants could be the last of a career plagued by injuries but marked by leadership in good times and (mostly) bad. He is No. 6 in franchise history in catches.
OLB Jihad Ward
Would you have guessed that Ward is third on the team in sacks with four? He is well-respected in the locker room but makes no bones about his plan to play wherever Martindale is coaching. That might not be with the Giants in 2024.
OG Ben Bredeson
Regarded as the Giants’ second-best offensive lineman entering the season, Bredeson provided much-needed durability (team-high 947 offensive snaps played) and versatility (three interior positions) but he allowed five sacks and his overall play regressed. He is the NFL’s No. 75-ranked guard by Pro Football Focus.
OG Justin Pugh
Signed off the couch in Week 5, Pugh’s veteran savvy stabilized the offensive line at its lowest point. The dependable Pugh has started 11 straight games at left tackle or left guard. He only wants to play for the Giants to bookend his career, which subtracts some negotiation leverage. But can they afford to let him retire?
DT A’Shawn Robinson
Not only has he handled a heavier workload since the Leonard Williams trade, he is playing better as the season progresses. If he is available for a second consecutive one-year, $5 million contract, the Giants should consider him as a placeholder until their younger options develop.
WR Parris Campbell
Actually, he probably already played his last game for the Giants considering he has been a healthy scratch four straight weeks — costing him $100,000 each time. His speed and versatility looked like a free-agent fit. But his role quickly was de-emphasized, leaving him with 20 catches for 104 yards.
WR Isaiah Hodgins
After looking like a bargain building-block starter during the 2022 run to the playoffs, Hodgins (18 catches for 194 yards and three touchdowns) was another victim of a dormant passing attack. He is a restricted free agent, but is the original-round tender — projected by OverTheCap.com to be one year, $2.8 million — too rich now?
DB Nick McCloud
Another restricted free agent. Is his versatility across the secondary — he started at outside cornerback last week — and punt-gunner excellence worth the $2.8 million tender?
LS Casey Kreiter
He has signed eight consecutive one-year contracts, including four with the Giants. It’s possible he looks elsewhere if there is a special teams coaching change, but coordinator Thomas McGaughey called him the “glue” of the unit.
Four 2020 mid-round draft picks
RT Matt Peart, CB Darnay Holmes and LBs Cam Brown and Carter Coughlin were taken between picks No. 99 and 210. They have combined for 208 games played, mostly on special teams. Holmes is responsible for 11 of the group’s 17 combined career starts (eight after Peart this week) but was phased out this year.
