The [Giants](https://www.nj.com/giants/) have exclusive negotiating rights with their pending in-house free agents until noon on March 9.
That’s when the NFL’s free agency negotiating window — and, really, actual [free agency](https://www.nj.com/giants/2026/02/would-signing-these-two-prominent-free-agents-help-make-giants-a-contender.html) — begins.
If the Giants don’t reach a deal with an in-house free agent by noon that day, there’s a very good chance that player will leave — even though the official signing period doesn’t start until 4 p.m. on March 11.
So which in-house free agents should the Giants push hard to retain? And who should they let walk?
Let’s break down that question, while taking a look at the Giants’ most prominent pending free agents.
**LIKELY WON’T RETURN**
QB Russell Wilson, OL Evan Neal, DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches, RG Greg Van Roten, OL Josh Ezeudu
**Analysis:** The Wilson signing failed spectacularly. (Expect him to retire.) Ditto for Joe Schoen drafting Neal (seventh overall) and Ezeudu (third round) in 2022. Two more wasted picks. Nunez-Roches, who turns 33 in July, can no longer stop the run. Van Roten is solid but not spectacular — and is about to turn 36. The Giants need a younger right guard.
**WORTH RETAINING**
RT Jermaine Eluemunor, WR Wan’Dale Robinson, TE Chris Manhertz, LS Casey Kreiter, CB Cor’Dale Flott, WR Gunner Olszewski, TE Daniel Bellinger, S Dane Belton, ILB Micah McFadden, DT D.J. Davidson
**Analysis:** Robinson and Flott are the Giants’ top in-house free agents, and John Harbaugh — who now has final say on personnel — should work hard to re-sign both. Robinson gives the Giants a slippery presence in the slot, while Flott blossomed into a very good outside corner in 2025. Both would be significant losses if they depart.
Eluemunor is a bit trickier, since he is 31. But he pass-blocked well while playing on a two-year contract from 2024-25. You could make a legit case for bringing him back with a short-term commitment.
The other guys here are lower-profile players.
Bellinger lost his starting job to Theo Johnson in 2024, so he probably doesn’t even want to come back. Manhertz is a solid veteran presence. He is worth keeping as a backup, especially since he won’t be expensive. Kreiter will provide special teams consistency with kicker Graham Gano out the door. (The Giants are going to cut Gano.)
Olszewski is an OK returner, but not great. Belton has turned into a strong special teams player, though he isn’t starter material on defense. The Giants could easily move on from Davidson, who is inconsistent. McFadden was trending upward, but he got hurt in Week 1 last year and didn’t return.