As painful as it is to admit, the New York Giants made several moves that should make the Dallas Cowboys jealous this offseason. Not for signing the specific players the Giants added, but because they addressed their needs in free agency.
Most will see the tight end signing of Isaiah Likely as a game-changer for the offense, and many believe Malik Nabers' injury return alone is a major acquisition. Darnell Mooney is another potential weapon that the Giants invested in to give quarterback Jaxson Dart the proper tool belt to dominate with.
Meanwhile, it could be New York's underrated signing of Calvin Austin III that really burns the Cowboys during one of their upcoming NFC East clashes with the Giants this coming fall.
Austin goes to East Rutherford, NJ, from the Pittsburgh Steelers on a one-year, $4 million contract. He comes in cheap for a reason, having never gone below 10.6 yards per reception in three seasons in the Steel City. Austin has eight career touchdowns in his 84 catches and 1,100 yards on the dot.
His success rate is low (46.9%), but if this Giants offense develops as it should under new head coach John Harbaugh, then Austin should have more open looks than he'll know what to do with.
The signing was low-cost, helped advance their franchise player, and looks like it can pay dividends. Did Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones make any similar moves this offseason?
Hell, could Jones have made that same signing?
Cowboys Could've Used an Extra Set of Hands Like Calvin Austin III
While far from a weak spot on the team, the Cowboys could've used extra receiving depth to replace Jalen Tolbert, who signed a one-year deal with the Miami Dolphins. The only move made at the position was placing a franchise tag on George Pickens, who still needs a long-term contract.
America's Team still has Ryan Flournoy and KaVontae Turpin to help Pickens (and CeeDee Lamb); however, the options beyond them are less than stellar. Jonathan Mingo was an afterthought last season, Parris Campbell is injured more often than not, and the jury is still out on Traeshon Holden after the undrafted WR spent his rookie year on the practice squad.
Austin is an explosive athlete who has the speed (4.32-second, 40-yard dash) and leaping ability (39-inch vertical) to compensate for being under 5-foot-10. He could've provided depth in the slot or the outside. We know he can make timely plays, and the thought of him doing so against first-year defensive coordinator Christian Parker's defense is frightening.
It could've been with Dallas franchise quarterback Dak Prescott instead, but Jones appears set to replenish receiver depth through either the draft or the undrafted free agent market. Let's hope that the Giants don't make the Cowboys pay for that potential gaffe.