Giants add pair for depth
The Giants didn’t land a big fish just yet on the first day of free agent negotiations Monday.
The most interesting development was the Buffalo Bills’ aggressive entrance into April’s NFL Draft quarterback sweepstakes by moving up from 21st to 12th overall in a trade that sent left tackle Cordy Glenn to Cincinnati.
But Carolina Panthers free agent All-Pro left guard Andrew Norwell, remained Giants GM Dave Gettleman’s presumed priority on the first day that teams could legally negotiate contracts with players’ agents.
And in the meantime Gettleman re-signed two depth players inexpensively: guard Jon Halapio, back on a minimal exclusive rights freeagent tender, and linebacker Mark Herzlich, a veteran unrestricted free agent.
Plus, the Giants on Tuesday also will be hosting Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart, on a visit after he stopped by the Lions, the Daily News has confirmed.
Mike Shula, the Giants offensive coordinator, has been Stewart’s coordinator in Carolina since 2013. And the Giants have been in the market all offseason for running backs, interviewing a ton of top prospects at the NFL Combine.
Halapio, a former Patriots 2014 sixth-round pick, was a bright spot late last season, starting the final six games at guard. That included a strong Week 17 performance by the offensive line. Orleans Darkwa rushed for a career-high 154 yards in a win over Washington.
Herzlich, who spent the entire 2017 season on injured reserve with a stinger, will return for an eighth year with the Giants. He won Super Bowl XLVI as a rookie and is the fourth-longest-tenured Giant on the current roster behind Eli Manning (2004), Zak DeOssie (2007) and Jason Pierre-Paul (2010). He is most valuable now on special teams.
The NFL free agent market also flooded with reported or expected veteran player releases, headlined by Miami defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. Cardinals RB Adrian Peterson, Dolphins LB Lawrence Timmons, Chiefs DE Tamba Hali, and safety Ron Parker, Ravens safety Lardarius Webb, Steelers DB William Gay, and Raiders OL Marshall Newhouse, an ex-Giant, also are hitting the open market. And Cowboys DB Orlando Scandrick, reportedly requested his release.