New York Giants Free Agency Targets

Leading up to free agency I thought it would be fun to take a look at some teams and players that could fit what they do well. Though this would be much easier if the league would announce the cap number already. The Giants are a team that is going to be pushed hard up against the cap with some tough decisions to make. There are a number of aging veterans who are going to be cut or flat out released. Because of the cap, especially if the number is lower than expected as Pro Football Talk.com has stated, the Giants are a team that is going to be bargain hunting this off-season.

The Giants have asked Brandon Jacobs to take a significant pay-cut to which he has responded that “it’s not good for his soul” to take a heavy pay cut. Jacobs has been more than fair with his contracts with the Giants. He took less money than the open market might have given him to be with the Giants and I think restructured his contract so the Giants could bring back Bradshaw. He is willing to take “a paycut” but not a significant pay cut. Unfortunately I think Jacobs is cut.

Other candidates to be cut include OL David Diehl (I think he is retained), Antrel Rolle (has a huge salary, but I’m confident he’ll remain on the team at least this year), and Chris Canty.

Osi Umeinyora will not be cut, but he might be traded.

Players that are coming off the cap are numerous, they are highlighted by Rocky Bernard, Mario Manningham, Kareem McKenzie, Dave Tollefson, Terrell Thomas, Aaron Ross, Tyron Smith,  Steve Weahterford, Jon Goff,  Chase Blackburn, David Carr, and Deon Grant.

Players that will be resigned are: CB Justin Tyron and CB Terrell Thomas, Steve Weatherford, and David Carr. Maybe Chase Blackburn or Jon Goff. I don’t see both being re-signed and possibly neither.

With those re-signings the positions that would be vulnerable are Tight End (both Beckum and Ballard are candidates to be IR and both will start the season the PUP list), Safety (there would be no depth), WR (depth), and LB depth depending on what they do with Blackburn and Goff.

Update: the Giants have brought back WR/Return Man Domenik Hixon

Giants Free Agent Targets

Tight End:

Here is what Jerry Reese said about the Tight End Position at the combine

“Right now, we only have a couple of tight ends that are healthy, so that’s definitely a concern for us,” Giants’ GM Jerry Reese said in a recent interview. “We have the two guys that had the ACL surgery. We have Bear Pascoe who’s healthy and we have a young practice squad kid that we like, Christian Hopkins. So that’s a concern for us. We’ll address it somehow, with the draft or free agency, but we’ll definitely look to address that. And hopefully, those guys with the ACLs  (Jake Ballard and Travis Beckum) will be back at some point.”

The Free Agent tight end class is not terrific but there are some intriguing options for the New York Giants. The Giants have long shown that they like to address needs immediately in Free Agency and not wait for the draft. I believe they will sign at least one tight end, but possibly two.

The Best potential free agent Tight End is Fred Davis of the Washington Redskins, but I imagine he’ll be re-signed or given the franchise tag.

One intriguing Tight End for the Giants could come from another division rival and that is Martellus Bennett. Bennett is a bit of a knuckle-head, but perhaps away from the dysfunction that is the Dallas Cowboys and with the keys handed to him to begin the season as a starter, Bennett will come to realize his potential. Bennett is a big tight end with a very good skill set who was just unable to put it together with the Dallas Cowboys. Bennett could thrive with the Giants if given the chance.

Scott Chandler of the Buffalo Bills is the kind of Tight End the Giants have been playing with since Shockey departed. A guy who is a big red-zone target, but otherwise mostly used as a blocker. Chandler has a skill set that is very similar to that of Jake Ballard who was not a great blocking tight end, but a bigger body. Chandler will probably be re-signed by the Bills because they are cheap. If not Chandler would fit in nicely with the G-men.

Seattle Seahawks TE John Carlson is a guy who is use to Giants speculation. For awhile there was speculation that the Giants would move Osi Umeniyora to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for John Carlson and a draft pick. Carlson was a forgotten man last year in Seattle with the arrival of Zach Miller. Carlson could be a guy the Giants can get cheap for a year while he tries to resurrect his monetary value.

Jeremy Shockey is also a free agent. I doubt he ends up with the Giants.

Prediction:

Jacob Tamme, Colts

Tamme seems like the kind of lack-luster Tight End that could fit in well with the Giants. He’s not a terrific player, he’s not going to cost a lot of money there could be some familiarity with him vicariously through Peyton Manning. The Giants also seem to be holding out hope that Jake Ballard will miss just be on the PUP list and not miss the whole season.

Prediction 2: Visanthe Shiancoe the former New York Giant had one really good year with the Vikings, but other than that was merely average. Shianco was originally a blocking TE for the Giants so they must at least appreciate his blocking abilities and he has shown with the right quarterback he can be a Red-zone target. The Giants use their Tight Ends as safety valves not features of their offense which is why he makes sense.

SAM Linebacker

I think the Giants will move forward with Mark Herzlich/Chase Blackburn/Jon Goff at Middle Linebacker, but towards the end of the season they took Kiwanuka out of the SAM linebacker role for a majority of the time so I expect them to look for a SAM linebacker and move Kiwanuka back to DE to help the potential loss of Osi Umeinyora and Dave Tollefson.

Prediction: Manny Lawson, LB, Bengals

Lawson did an admirable job for the Bengals last year as a run stuffer and do it all linebacker. Lawson is not a terrific pass rusher (which is why he is no longer a 49er), but a very solid all around linebacker. He will not be extremely expensive, he’s a veteran, and he has a good size/speed combination.

Safety:

I think the Giants will look for someone to fill Deon Grant’s role here, just not Deon Grant.

Fewell used a lot of 3 safety sets his first two year with the Giants, but also when he was with the Bills. It’s an important position in his defense. They have to have someone there incase Tyler Sash can’t fill that void.

Targets:

Jim Lehonard, Jets

Lehonard is not a terrific player, but he would be a very good backup safety who sees a lot of snaps. He’s a smart player. He also has some return ability, he’s been injured a times too so he should come pretty cheap.

I think ideally it is Lehonard.

Madieu Williams, SS, 49ers

The former Minnesota Vikings player and most recently of the 49ers Williams is another viable backup type who won’t kill you if he has to see a lot of snaps

Bob Sanders, Colts/Chargers

He can never stay healthy, but perhaps he’s someone to at least look at. I wouldn’t expect him to be signed though

Prediction: Minnesota Vikings Tyrell Johnson

Johnson has a lot of talent, but never realized it. The Giants like to bring in players that they had considered highly once before to try them out and see if they can get them to realize their potential. Also the Giants are probably looking at giving Tyler Sash the opportunity to fill Deon Grant’s void. The question is he up to the task.

I think the Giants will be very quiet in free agency this year. They don’t have a ton of glaring needs and besides that they don’t really have a lot of roster room to sign a lot of players either. I think they will also consider some other veteran type linebackers potentially a WR for Special teams (but could easily re-sign Devin Thomas along with Domenik Hixon) and a backup quarterback if David Carr is not re-signed. But other than that it should be another quiet off-season for the Giants as they know that they have a lot of young studs who have to get paid over the following two off-seasons like Will Beatty (if he plays like a Franchise LT this year) Hakeem Nicks, Jason Pierre Paul, and Victor Cruz. Players that play expensive positions.

My last word is though if Jacobs and/or Diehl get cut I wouldn’t rule out a surprise signing along the offensive line, perhaps  Demetrius Bell or some player of that ilk.

What are your thoughts?

See anywhere else the Giants could unload some money in free agency?