New York Giants Free Agency Grades: New York Giants Winner or Loser?

The New York Giants are a team that caught a lot of flack for doing nothing in free agency prior to the 2011 National Football League season. The fans were particularly upset that the Giants didn’t bring back WR Steve Smith and TE Kevin Boss. The Giants marched forward with little known Jake Ballard and preseason sensation Victor Cruz.

Ballard put up better numbers than Boss ever did and Victor Cruz vaulted himself into what would have been a pro-bowl appearance if the Giants didn’t make the Superbowl.

Ballard’s 604 yards receiving didn’t make him the league’s best TE or anything, but it was a solid year for him.

Cruz on the other hand had the best year in New York Giants long storied history: 82 receptions for 1536 yards and 9 touchdowns even though he only had 2 receptions for 17 yards in his first two games.

The Giants took a similar approach this off-season as the were pressed up against the cap, free agency activity has been very slow.

Giants re-sign

Terrell Thomas, Justin Tyron, and David Carr.

The Giants gave a nice contract to Thomas at four years for potentially 28 million dollars thought it is a prove it deal, with little money early. Thomas doesn’t have blazing speed to begin with and a second ACL tear isn’t going to help any, but even with that said it’s a solid move. He was however one of the best CB on the roster, and he is a play-maker.

Grade B

David Carr has a lot of physical ability, though no one knows what he still has left on the field in game situations-and the Giants hope the don’t find out.

Grade B-

I usually just give depth players a grade of C because they are average moves to me, but I’m going to knock it up a bit because the Giants run a very complicated passing offense and Carr now has a lot of experience running it, more so than any other QB the could add. He has more value to the Giants than any other team.

Giants sign Martellus Bennett for one year at 2.5 million dollars.

I don’t want to make it seem like I’m a homer for the Giants and love ever move that the make because that is not true, but prior to the free agency period I wrote that my number one target for the Giants in free agency was Martellus Bennet. The Giants like big TE who can block and have some ability as a pass catcher. Bennett is one of the league’s best blocking TE which is huge for the Giants for a number of reasons. First with Bennett the Giants can now use less of the extra linemen set that they like to use because they have a #1 or #2 TE (depending on what else they do) who can actually block. Bennett has athletic ability too. He has dropped some passes which is something that will need to be rectified if he wants to ever get his big payday.

Grade B+

Sign Chris Horton S

Horton didn’t play football last year and hasn’t been particularly productive since his rookie year. The Giants safety depth is terrifying to me. This something that will have to be improved in free agency. Or the Giants can hope that Chad Jones will finally be able to make a contribution in the N.F.L.

Grade: C-

That’s all folks! The Giants have made no other moves.

Grade: B

If we’re grading what the Giants have accomplished in free agency, it’s not much, but what they have done was fixed two of their problems. With the injuries to Jake Ballard and Travis Beckum the Giants need a TE. Bennett fits the system well and was a terrific addition. The re-signing of Terrell Thomas was a good move provided Thomas can fully recover from his ACL Tear. The Giants lost Aaron Ross so cornerback depth was a serious concern.The move of re-signing Justin Tyron was terrific. He showed off some serious speed and ability in his limited time. He could end up being a very good signing for the Giants as their fourth cornerback. The Giants shown (as other teams before them) that teams don’t win championships in March. They are really pushing forward that again this year, will it again be effective, or have they lost too much the last two seasons?

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