The end is near.
The Giants’ miserable 3-13 season concludes Sunday against the Eagles, but 18 of their 22 starters (when healthy) remain under contract in 2025.
Whether that’s a good thing or not — upgrades are needed — remains to be seen.
Here are 12 Giants who could be in uniform for the final time in Week 18 — for one reason or another:
Free agents
WR Darius Slayton
The Giants’ leading receiver in four of the last six seasons had a great rapport with Daniel Jones — one of the reasons that he re-signed to a two-year deal in 2023 — so he is starting over with a new quarterback whether he stays or goes.
Part of Slayton’s value is his command of Daboll’s complex offense and translating it to younger players such as Malik Nabers.
S Jason Pinnock
One of the early strengths of this front-office regime was finding contributors on waivers.
None more significant than Pinnock, who has started 36 games over the last three seasons.
He has 6.5 sacks as a weapon on blitzes, three forced fumbles and two interceptions during that span, but Schoen has let three better safeties leave as free agents because of his positional-value beliefs.
RG Greg Van Roten
Signed during training camp when it was clear that versatile Jermaine Eluemunor was needed at tackle, Van Roten is the only player on either side of the ball to play every snap.
He is the No. 30-ranked guard in the NFL by Pro Football Focus.
Whether the Long Island native returns could depend on his willingness to sign another one-year deal and compete to start.
QB Drew Lock
About to make his fifth start of the season, Lock had one of the best single-game performances in Giants’ history last week after previously throwing more pick-sixes (three) than touchdowns (one) since replacing the released Daniel Jones.
The quarterback depth chart is due for a full overhaul.
Lock will land as a proven No. 2 option somewhere.
Will he want to mentor a rookie here?
QB Tommy DeVito
The fan favorite will suit up, but DeVito might have already “played” his final game for the Giants barring something unexpected with Lock.
DeVito is a restricted free agent, so the Giants have the right to keep him on a non-guaranteed tender.
But he has bigger dreams than being a third-stringer.
Do they do the local boy a solid by letting him test his market?
OLB Azeez Ojulari
The former second-round pick won’t play because he is on injured reserve for the third time in four seasons.
He had six sacks in a limited role earlier this season, which could convince a pᴀss-rush-needy time to pay him more than the Giants would match to be their third rusher.
P Jamie Gillan
Gillan is averaging a career-low 43.9 yards per punt, but his inside-the-20-yard line percentage is a career-best 49.1.
Before he missed four games because of injury, he missed a PAT in Week 2.
DB Isaiah Simmons
Entering the season with renewed expectations as a hybrid linebacker/slot corner, Simmons played sparingly.
The former first-round pick made the biggest play of one of the Giants’ three wins — blocking a field goal returned for a touchdown — and is Malik Nabers’ closest friend on the team.
Possible cap casualties
K Graham Gano
Since signing an under-the-radar mistaken extension, Gano is 18-for-26 on field goals and has missed 16 of 33 games because of injury.
Gano’s long this season is 50 yards, which suggests maybe some waning leg strength in the formerly automatic Pro Bowler as he nears 38 years old.
The Giants can save $3.16 million and take on $2.5 million ᴅᴇᴀᴅ money if he is released.
DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches
Signed in 2023 to be No. 5 on the defensive tackle depth chart, Nunez-Roches was elevated to starter in 2024.
The path to upgrading the NFL’s worst rushing defense starts with upgrading the complements to Dexter Lawrence.
Nunez-Roches could return to providing solid depth, but at what cost?
The savings would be $3.6 million against a $1.43 million ᴅᴇᴀᴅ-cap charge.
Trade candidates
WR Jalin Hyatt
The 2023 third-round pick disappeared this season as he managed just eight catches for 62 yards on 328 snaps (down from 557 as a rookie) in 15 games.
The Post confirmed that a frustrated Hyatt mentioned a trade during a practice early in the season, but he denied requesting to be dealt.
Do the Giants trust the speedster to step into the outside role if Slayton leaves town?
RT Evan Neal
It is inconceivable that the Giants will exercise Neal’s fifth-year option for 2026, which means that he will be entering his contract year.
The former No. 7 overall pick won’t be the starting right tackle, so the options are to make him a backup, turn him into a guard or deal him for anything so that all sides get a fresh start.
