Amid Monday’s beginning of the NFL free agency period, the New York Giants made a lesser-known move: They resigned one of their own on a one-year deal. According to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, New York will bring back punt returner Gunner Olszewski on a one-year contract.
The Giants also lost one of their best offensive playmakers during the same hour the news broke on Olszewski’s signing. Per multiple sources, former superstar running back Saquon Barkley signed a massive three-year, $37.75 million deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles will give him $26 million guaranteed at signing.
New York Giants: Re-Sign Punt Returner Gunner Olszewski
The New York Giants immediately went into free agency to re-sign punt returner Gunner Olszewski to a one-year deal. Olszewski started the 2023 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers but was released after the team’s first two games. New York signed Olszewski to their practice squad in late October before quickly promoting him to the active roster. The Bemidji State product returned 23 punts for the Giants, accumulating 273 yards and a touchdown. He did not play receiver nor operate as a kick returner.
WR/KR Gunner Olszewski has agreed to terms with the Giants on a 1-year deal, per source.
Olszewski solved the Giants punt return problems last season. Averaged a healthy 11.9 yards per return with a touchdown in 10 games with them last season.
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) March 11, 2024
Olszewski enjoyed a bounceback season, averaging 11.9 yards per punt return a year after posting just 6.9 yards per return in 2022. The 27-year-old started his career with the New England Patriots in 2019. The undrafted free agent played well as a rookie before earning first-team All-Pro honors in 2020. He collected a league-best 346 punt return yards and a touchdown on twenty tries. He again posted solid numbers in 2021 before falling off in 2022. However, Olszewski bounced back in 2023, with the Giants prioritizing his return for next year.
New York Giants: Eyeing Potential Rebuild in 2024
The New York Giants must make a massive decision regarding next month’s NFL draft. The NFC East club is fresh off a poor 5-11 season, finishing third in the division. Quarterback Daniel Jones, albeit injured, played poorly, throwing two touchdowns against six interceptions. The Giants could opt to select a quarterback in the 2024 NFL draft, signaling the end of Jones’ tenure as the starting quarterback with the club. New York will also head into next season without star running back Saquon Barkley after he darted for the Philadelphia Eagles. Barkley posted 7,311 scrimmage yards and 47 touchdowns in six years with the Giants.
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