SUPER MARKET
Giants pursuing OL Norwell; to meet with ex-Panthers RB
The Giants know the fix they need for their offensive line cannot be solved with small moves and so they embarked on NFL free agency thinking big. They are heavily involved with landing Andrew Norwell, the top guard on the open market, and understand they will have to spend to get him.
Teams on Monday were allowed to open up negotiations, with contracts not able to be signed until Wednesday at 4 p.m., the start of the new league year. Expect Norwell to be secured before then, as he is in demand. The Giants hit the ground running, inquiring about Norwell, and are not alone in their pursuit of him; the 49ers and Colts are also interested, and the Cardinals might be as well. The expected price tag is more than $12 million per year.
Norwell is the priority for the Giants, but not the only player on their radar.
Running back Jonathan Stewart will visit Tuesday with the Giants, a source with knowledge of the situation confirmed, after meeting Monday with the Lions. He is free to sign at any time, as he was released by the Panthers on Feb. 28. Stewart turns 31 next week and, as a 10-year veteran, would be able to help show rookie Saquan Barkley the ropes, if the Giants select the Penn State sensation with the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL draft.
The Giants on Monday tended to some internal business, re-signing linebacker/special teams ace Mark Herzlich and offensive lineman Jon Halapio.
The Giants need insurance at running back, with Wayne Gallman the only back on the roster assured of a spot on the team. Their top rusher in 2017, Orleans Darkwa, is an unrestricted free agent. Stewart is on the downside of a solid 10-year career, all with the Panthers, where he worked with Mike Shula, currently the Giants’ offensive coordinator, and Dave Gettleman, the Giants’ new general manager. A bullish runner, Stewart has 7,318 career rushing yards and 51 rushing touchdowns but last season averaged only 3.4 yards per carry.
If the Giants take Barkley, they will no doubt tailor their attack around him. Stewart could be a useful, experienced presence in the backfield alongside the prized rookie, although he does not possess the pass-catching skills head coach Pat Shurmur craves in his running backs.
The Giants on Day 1 did not reach out to test the waters on Jerick McKinnon, the Vikings’ 25year-old running back, who will cost a great deal more than Stewart and would not nearly be as compatible sharing a backfield with Barkley.
Bringing back Herzlich, 30, on a one-year deal is an example of how highly he is thought of inside the building. He made the team in 2011 as an undrafted free agent from Boston College, having beat cancer, and forged an NFL career as a backup linebacker and special teams contributor. He missed the entire 2017 season after suffering a neck stinger in training camp, landing on injured reserve. He is considered a strong locker-room leader.
“I knew I was going to be playing somewhere I’m glad it will be back at home, in blue,’’ Herzlich told The Post. “Never gets old. After this many years playing for one team, it still feels like ‘man, I get to play football in the NFL.’ It’s crazy. It’s just a ridiculous dream that came true and keeps coming true. I see it as a major blessing.’’
Halapio, 26, had been an exclusive rights free agent. He was a sixth-round pick of the Patriots in 2014 after starting 43 games in college at Florida. He spent the 2016 season and the first four games in 2017 on the Giants’ practice squad before making his NFL debut Oct., 22 working on special teams in a loss to the Seahawks. Halapio made his first career start Nov. 23 at Washington at right guard after D.J. Fluker went down with a toe injury that eventually landed him on injured reserve. Halapio started the season’s last six games and showed enough to warrant another look.
The Giants are in an offensive line rebuild and will have three and maybe four new starters in 2018. Halapio will no doubt compete for a roster spot at both guard and center. He took to Twitter to excitedly announce his signing, posting he is “humbled and honored’’ to be returning to the Giants, adding “It’s a huge day for my family!’’