The Top 5 Free Agent Signings In Giants History

The New York Giants are one of the most recognizable football teams in NFL history. The logo, the blue jerseys, and the rivalries that come along with Giants football are some of the best in football. Unsurprisingly, a franchise of that caliber has the ability to attract big-name free agents, especially whenever Big Blue was considered a serious title contender. Several signings stand out as huge additions that helped the Giants reach the heights necessary to claim the Lombardi Trophy.

It is not often that offensive linemen are featured on lists like this one, but they are always sneaky-important, and O'Hara certainly earned his spot. When the Giants signed O'Hara to a three-year deal worth just over $5 million, he was coming to a team that had just gone 4-12, largely because the offensive line was one of the worst in the NFL. O'Hara was expected to settle down a terrible position group, and that is exactly what he did as soon as he put on blue threads.

After three solid seasons anchoring the offensive line, one of which included a Super Bowl victory, O'Hara earned himself another deal. This one was a five-year extension, and O'Hara rewarded New York's faith by being selected to three Pro Bowls and earning a second team All-Pro distinction, manning the pivot for several of the Giants' glory years.

Another part of the offensive rebuild that brought in O'Hara, McKenzie was a critical, often overlooked signing that allowed the Giants and quarterback Eli Manning to play comfortably in both facets of the offense. McKenzie had to play fantastic football to live up to his massive (at the time) seven-year, $36 million contract, and while he never received any formal accolades, his consistently solid play made him worth every penny.

Health was a big part of McKenzie's success with the Giants. He never missed more than four games in a single season throughout all seven of his years in New York, making him one of the most available players in the league during that span. He was a part of both Super Bowl-winning teams, and without his solid, reliable play at one of the most important positions in the NFL, the Giants might have two fewer Lombardis in the trophy case.

Pierce joined the Giants in 2005 and immediately made his presence felt on defense. He operated as the defensive play caller for New York, instantly amassing 100 tackles, 2,5 sacks, and a couple of interceptions in his first year as a Giant. The next season, he was named to the Pro Bowl for the only time in his career, and he carried that fantastic play into New York's Super Bowl run in 2007. That year, Pierce continued to tackle at a high level, and more importantly, he scored 11 tackles in the Super Bowl itself. Without its defensive captain, it is hard to envision New York's defense being as successful as it was.

Perhaps the most notable name on this list, Burress was an integral part of New York's championship run in 2007. After two solid seasons with the Giants, Burress put together one of the best campaigns of his career when he notched 1,025 yards and 10 touchdowns. More important than the numbers was the fact that Burress gave Manning a target he could trust in every single situation, including the most pressure-filled ones. Burress proved that when he caught the game-winning touchdown in the 2008 Super Bowl against the Patriots, with only 35 seconds left on the clock.

While there is an argument that Burress should be in the No. 1 spot, Rolle's leadership of a legendary playoff defense means he belongs in the place of honor. Signed to a five-year, $37 million deal in 2010, big-time money at the time for a safety, Rolle immediately took ownership of one of the best defenses in the NFL. That defense was particularly elite in the playoffs, where they never allowed more than 20 points in a single game, despite facing some of the best offenses in the NFL. Without Rolle, none of that defensive production would have been possible.

Beyond his contributions to New York's Super Bowl team, Rolle provided an insanely high level of consistency and reliability. He did not miss a single game in his five years playing in New York. Rolle also remained a quality starter throughout that span, a remarkable feat for a safety.

Without the group of free agents listed above, it is not entirely inconceivable to think that the Giants would not have won either Super Bowl in the 2000s. O'Hara, McKenzie, and Burress laid the groundwork for the offensive turnaround that saw the Giants win in 2007, while Pierce led the defense that essentially shut down the New England Patriots in that championship game. Later, Rolle took over for Pierce, providing a leader and a culture-changing presence to the locker room in New York's 2011 run.