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Evan & Tiki

Giants Need Free Agency, Jets Need the Draft

Evan & Tiki

Audacy

Sports

4.2988 Ratings

🗓️ 9 March 2026

⏱️ 21 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Evan and Tiki explain why the Jets can afford to be patient and build around the draft, while the Giants have too many holes to sit back and wait. They break down the Giants’ reported interest in Kenneth Walker, why it feels real, and what that would say about New York’s plans for the running back room. The conversation also touches on Travis Kelce’s uncertain future, the exploding wide receiver market, and why the Giants may need to overpay if they want real help at receiver. It is a smart opening stretch on how both franchises are attacking free agency and why the Giants may have far more pressure to act now.

Transcript

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0:00.0

I don't think, by the way, it is 12 noon, we hit the clock. I don't think the Jets are going to be super active today and tomorrow because I don't think they're going to be fishing in the high end of free agency. Right. So I think a lot of Mugi's moves are more going to be later in the week on the second and third tier of free agent. And there's not anything wrong with that because I think the core that jets are about to build is going to be through the draft. And I think a lot of the moves they're going to make in the next couple of days is kind of on the edges. Do they need another starting safety opposite Minka Fitzpatrick? Yes. Do they need a starting cornerback? Yes. Could they use a linebacker and edge pass rusher? Like they have many things.

0:37.8

Another receiver opposite Garrett Wilson? Yes. They got to figure out the offensive line spot. Like are they bringing John Simpson back? Are they signing AVT? Like they've got lots of questions. But I think most of the bigger answers is actually going to come from the draft. Right. More so than the next year. Yeah, because they have so much draft capital, even if they want to move next years, which I doubt you'd only do that for a quarterback. For the Giants, though, it feels like a lot of what they need to do is going to happen in free agency. Yes. Not that they don't have draft position because they do, obviously, picking it number five, but there's so many holes with the New York Giants from

1:11.2

cornerback and safety maybe depth. Obviously, linebacker, potentially if you move off Kavon,

1:17.3

Tibado, you need another edge rusher, offensive line issues, wide receiver. Like there's a ton of

1:22.7

different pieces, not in drastic dire need, but holes that you need to fill for the New York Giants, which are easier to do in free agency.

1:30.5

The challenge is navigating the salary cap, but that's not going to be, I think, its biggest issue as it's been made out to be, because they have so much space in the subsequent years.

1:39.8

We're also going to find out in regards to the Giants if this Kenneth Walker thing is real or not.

1:43.9

Because we have heard for a week or so now that the Giants are in on Kenneth Walker. He's obviously the biggest and best running back free agent on the market with Preas Hall off the board, with the franchise tag that the Jets gave him. Is it real or not? And I don't know. Is it a smokescreen? Why would it be a smokesc, I guess? Why would they're interest in Kenneth Walker not be real? It doesn't make any sense because it's not like they're using it as leverage against somebody else already on their roster. Right. They got two running backs, good running backs with rookie on rookie deals. They restructured Devin Singletary. They got two other, we'll call them lottery tickets

2:18.9

in a sense with Turbo and Eric Gray. So it's like it's not as it's not like you're saying,

2:27.1

we want Kenneth Walker so that you'll take a lesser deal to stay with us. So it has to be true.

2:32.2

Yeah, I think they're interested in them. So that would I think be a shock to a lot of giant fans, even though it's been rumored for a week now if they end up with Kenneth Walker. So that's something to keep an eye on. The other big piece of news is about Travis Kelsey. Now, there have been reports in the last five minutes that he's going back to Kansas City, but Diana Rusini phrases it a little bit differently. Here's what she writes about Travis Kelsey.

2:52.6

Tide-end Travis Kelsey and the Kansas City Chiefs are working on a deal to bring them back

2:56.3

to KC, but nothing has been finalized.

2:59.2

It would be a one-year deal worth up to $15 million.

3:02.2

Kelsey is exploring the market with a few select teams, sources say.

3:07.4

So that sounds as if it's likely he goes back to Kansas City. Right. But it's not a done deal. I don't see how it makes any sense for him to go someplace else. I agree with you. Unless it's a team that is, no team is ever going to say we're a tight end away from being a Super Bowl champion. You know what I mean?

3:24.3

So it doesn't make sense for him to go try to prove it somewhere else in his 14th season,

3:29.7

not be good because he clearly has slowed down and then be, I don't know,

3:35.2

marginalized in his last season.

3:36.9

It doesn't make any sense.

3:37.5

The only way Travis Kelsey would leave Kansas City is if his

3:42.4

fiance says, I'd rather live in

...

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