Giants ready to jump into trenches of FA market
The NFL Draft is drawing all the hype and attention in New York right now for good reason: the Giants and Jets own the second and sixth overall picks, respectively, and both could be drafting franchise-changing players.
For now, though, the draft can wait. Free agency is here.
While it doesn’t open officially until the start of the league year on Wednesday at 4 p.m. EST, NFL teams are permitted to contact and enter into negotiations with players’ agents starting Monday in the league’s 48-hour legal tampering window. So a ton of deals will get done before the sun even rises Wednesday morning.
The Giants hold a modest $20 million or so in salary cap space assuming they convert new linebacker Alec Ogletree’s upcoming roster bonus to a signing bonus to reduce his 2018 hit to about $4.5 million.
That’s enough to land one big fish but probably only one if GM Dave Gettleman intends to pay Odell Beckham Jr. big-time bucks on an extension, which now could be in serious jeopardy after the latest Beckham off-field controversy. And there are other ways to free cap space, too, if need be. Here are the top names to watch for Big Blue:
ANDREW NORWELL, LEFT GUARD, CAROLINA PANTHERS
The offensive line is the Giants’ priority in free agency. And Norwell to the Giants has picked up major steam since the Daily News identified him in early January as an obvious Gettleman target. Gettleman as Panthers GM originally signed Norwell (6-6, 325 pounds) as an undrafted free agent in 2014. Since then, Norwell has started 54 of a possible 64 regular season games in four years, including all 32 the past two seasons, and was named first-team All-Pro this past season, heading into free agency, where he no doubt will cash in to the tune perhaps of $12 million per year.
Norwell is known as a no-nonsense bully up front. And while Gettleman poaches his former Panthers, keep an eye also on Carolina
free agent guard Amini Silatolu (6-4, 305 pounds). He started three games for the Panthers last season and appeared in 14.
NATE SOLDER, LEFT TACKLE, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
I don’t see free agent left guard Justin Pugh returning if Gettleman gets Norwell because Pugh would command at least $10 million per year, and though he’s versatile enough to play tackle, Pugh prefers guard and also wants to win now. The Giants could pay both him and Norwell to fortify the line’s interior, but then that would likely leave them only drafting a left tackle, and they need to pay serious attention to Eli Manning’s blind side, where Ereck Flowers is no longer the answer.
Enter Solder, who really is the only elite left tackle in a terrible free agent market at the position. What does this mean for the Giants? Well, if they’re going to pay two linemen big bucks, I would think it’d be Norwell and Solder before it’s Norwell and Pugh, because of the position Solder plays. He’s protected Tom Brady ably, and though he’s battled some bruises lately, he still started all 16 games last season and played extremely well in the Super Bowl.
My best assessment is that Norwell is the priority, and if Gettleman whiffs there he’d move to a combo of re-signing Pugh and landing Solder, too, though Solder would be crazy expensive ($14 million a year).
OTHER POSITIONS TO WATCH
Even though the trade for Ogletree brought in a starting linebacker, don’t for a second think the Giants are finished upgrading that position. It is probably, like running back, more likely to happen through the draft than free agency, but keep an eye on LB and RB. Also, the Giants could be in the market to upgrade their wide receiver depth. The market isn’t thrilling but there are names such as Seattle’s Paul Richardson, Washington’s Ryan Grant, Atlanta’s Taylor Gabriel, the Colts’ Donte Moncrief, the Cardinals’ Jaron Brown and the Bills’ Jordan Matthews to keep an eye on.
WHO WILL THE GIANTS RE-SIGN?
My rapid-fire feelings on what the Giants will do with their own unrestricted free agents. Yes means they’re back. No, they’re gone. Maybe means: ‘So you’re telling me there’s a chance!’
YES: DB Ross Cockrell. Came on strong late last season. Could compete again as a starter.
MAYBE: RG D.J. Fluker. Until he actually signs somewhere else, Fluker is too good a fit attitude and talent-wise for me to call him a no.; RB Orleans Darkwa. A very good player and guy; I just can’t tell if he’s enough of a receiver for this coach.; LB Devon Kennard. Only at the right price; rushes passer well from LB, so could appeal in a 3-4 scheme.; LB Kelvin Sheppard. One more leader never hurts.; LB Mark Herzlich. At the right price, special teams needs help..
NO: LG Justin Pugh . Will get a ton of money elsewhere, wants to win.; C Weston Richburg. He didn’t like being put on IR last year and he’ll get paid in free agency.; RB Shane Vereen, DT Jay Bromley, LB Jonathan Casillas, LB Keenan Robinson, LB Akeem Ayers, WR Tavarres King, QB Geno Smith, DE Kerry Wynn, S Nat Berhe, DB Darryl Morris.
Restricted FAs: Expect center Brett Jones back. Giants can place one of three, one-year tenders on him to attach draft pick compensation in case he signs elsewhere.
Exclusive Rights FAs: The Giants can retain an exclusive rights player for an extra year cheaply, and linebacker Curtis Grant is my vote for one to bring back in 2018 if he fully recovers from a 2017 knee injury. Grant is fast and has good instincts.
WHO COULD GET CUT FOR CASH?
If the Giants are looking to dump contracts to create cap space, veteran wide receiver Brandon Marshall ($6.1 million cap hit) is the leading candidate to be waived. The Giants would eat only $1 million in dead money in 2018 by releasing Marshall while saving $5.1 million, per overthecap.com. The team also could save $6.5 million by cutting veteran defensive back Dominique RodgersCromartie ($8.5 million cap hit) and would eat only $2 million in dead money, and that seems increasingly possible after a report Saturday that the Giants have asked DRC to take a significant pay cut. This will leave the Giants hunting for DB depth given his versatility to play both the slot and outside but isn’t surprising considering he was suspended one game for walking out on ex-coach Ben McAdoo last season.
THE ‘DON’T FORGET’ LIST
Eli Apple’s fate remains unknown. Gettleman made it sound like he wants the young DB back after a trying second season, and the return for Apple presumably would be a lot less than the Chiefs got from the Rams (second and fourth-round picks) for an accomplished DB in Marcus Peters and a sixthrounder. But the Giants also potentially could void Apple’s remaining guaranteed money based on his late-season suspension and release him, too … Finally, the Giants could save $2.45 million by releasing receiver/return specialist Dwayne Harris, and eat just $1.6 million in dead money. In my opinion if he’s healthy, bring him back.