There's a trait that many bad teams share, and it's the abundance of side characters that get remembered – often fondly – well after their opportunities came and went. The football world is well aware of defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence's status as a tragic hero, just how talented receiver Malik Nabers is, and the quarterback situation from hell.
But along the way, New York Giants fans got to see Elijah Garcia, Chris Manhertz, and Tre Hawkins exceed expectations, even for mere flashes in a marathon season.
Among those unheralded contributors was edge rusher Tomon Fox. On Friday, New York ensured he'd get another opportunity to parlay his performance into an opportunity on a better team.
The Giants re-signed the depth edge rusher ahead of free agency.
Fox bounced between the practice squad and active roster, nine times to be exact in 2024. He still managed to make himself useful. He played the 19th-most snaps on New York's defense (207) and the eighth-most on special teams (203).
That versatility could serve him well as he looks to carve out a longer-term role. He's proven to be a fringe-roster depth piece who can see significant special teams time and serviceable depth on the defensive line, albeit with little upside.
In 11 games, Fox logged a sack, 14 tackles, two tackles for loss, and three quarterback hits.
Like quarterback Tommy DeVito, whom the Giants expect to sign before free agency, Fox is an exclusive rights free agent, due to his status as a former undrafted free agent. As such, his deal is just one year for the league minimum. If he had not been signed, he would have been an unrestricted free agent after just three years, compared to the typical four-year rookie contract.
Related: Giants Predicted to Sign 9-Time Pro Bowl QB to $20 Million Contract
This is a move that won't move the needle in terms of cap space or the win curve. He's not a regular, or a rotational piece with upside. But no roster is complete without special teams contributors who can find themselves in the box score on a good day, and the Giants are (slightly) better for having him around.
His roster spot on the 2025 team isn't guaranteed. However, Fox is positioned to once again play a role as an extra in New York's hunt for competency.
Related: Joe Schoen Reveals Giants' Plan at Quarterback
Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published March 7, 2025 at 1:07 PM.