Top 10 NFL Free Agents New York Giants Must Try to Sign

It's always good to get your priorities straight.

That goes for NFL free agency too. The New York Giants can't go into this year's signing period on a willy-nilly spending spree, sort of like they did last spring. They'll have to be somewhat frugal and enter free agency with a prioritized list of targets.

This article will list 10 free-agency targets for New York, starting with the most important players to sign. Now, there's no way the Giants land all 10 of these potential free agents. If the Giants miss on the ones at the top of the list, the urgency to land the ones at the bottom becomes greater.

Review this list of impending free agents and, in the comment section, share how you'd prioritize these targets.

1. Jason Pierre-Paul

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The Giants' No. 1 priority in free agency this spring is to retain defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul. That should have been abundantly clear after Steve Serby of the New York Post reported on Tuesday that the team is jockeying to use the non-exclusive franchise tag on Pierre-Paul.

While that tender would lock Pierre-Paul up for the not-so-cheap price of $14.6 million for one year of service, New York would prefer to get him under contract long term for a lower cost per year (Serby estimates the $11 to $12 million range). If JPP's feeling lucky, he can play out the one-year, fully guaranteed franchise tag and test the open market in 2016.

That would be a risky route for Pierre-Paul to choose, considering his injury history. New York seems interested in making the defensive end a "Giant for life," and JPP would be wise to play the part. If he has another dominant season like the one he had in 2011, it'd be nice to see him do it in Big Blue threads.

2. Orlando Franklin

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The Giants need at least one more lineman to field a decent starting five. If they attack this positional unit in free agency—which they should—Orlando Franklin should be the team's top target.

Franklin has a couple of characteristics that make him a coveted blocker, the first being his durability. The Giants have grown all too accustomed to watching offensive linemen fall victim to injuries. That shouldn't be much of a problem with Franklin, who has started 63 of a possible 64 regular-season games through four seasons with the Denver Broncos, per Pro-Football-Reference.com.

If Franklin plays his fifth NFL season in New York, he'll bring with him a valuable versatility. Before switching to left guard last season, the 6'6", 315-pound blocker played three seasons at right tackle. During his only season as a guard, Franklin played a major role along an offensive line that allowed only 17 sacks—the fewest of any NFL team, per ESPN.

3. Devin McCourty

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As decimated as the Giants could be at safety come March 10, no option should be off the table. It may seem like a pipe dream to rob the 2014 Super Bowl champions of one of their best defensive backs, but that's exactly what the team should at least try to do with the targeting of the New England Patriots' Devin McCourty.

McCourty is a pure athlete in the secondary with plenty of experience playing cornerback. During his rookie season, he intercepted seven passes from his right cornerback position en route to a Pro Bowl. Since the former first-round pick moved to safety full time, his interception total has dipped, but his overall impact has not.

If anyone has a bead on McCourty's plans in free agency it would be his twin brother, Jason, a corner for the Tennessee Titans. Recently, he told Dan Duggan of NJ.com that brother Devin considers New England his "home" and believes "that's where he'll want to play his entire career."

Money talks, however, and it could lead McCourty to walk.

4. Mike Iupati

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If the Giants miss on Orlando Franklin, that's OK; there are other options to be had. One of them is Mike Iupati, who has developed into one of the NFL's most dominant forces over the last few years.

From his left guard position, Iupati has made each of the last three Pro Bowls. His efforts have helped transform the San Francisco 49ers offense into one of the league's best rushing units, and that's the exact type of platoon New York wishes to establish. Imagine Rashad Jennings and Andre Williams finally running behind a line of formidable run-blockers.

Iupati can make that happen for the Giants. Although he lacks Franklin's proven versatility, New York can reshuffle the lineup around Iupati's skill set. There's no question: He'd be worth it.

5. Antrel Rolle

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After Jason Pierre-Paul, the Giants' next biggest in-house priority is Antrel Rolle. New York only has three safeties currently under contract for 2015: Cooper Taylor, Nat Berhe and Thomas Gordon. That's because Rolle, Quintin Demps and Stevie Brown are all impending free agents.

The Giants can't allow this positional unit to completely fall apart. While Devin McCourty would solve this potential problem as fast as he could sign his name on a contract that binds him to New York, a more realistic and affordable option would be to retain Rolle. The 32-year-old has been a consistent playmaker for 10 seasons; he should have a few more left in him.

In fact, some of Rolle's best play has come in the last couple of years. Since he was named captain before the 2013 season, no Giant has registered more tackles (185) or interceptions (9). The Giants should reward his leadership and unparalleled impact in the defensive backfield with a new contract.

6. Brandon Graham

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Even though the Giants are likely to retain Jason Pierre-Paul's talents, the team can do even more in free agency to bolster the pass rush. One player to target is Brandon Graham, whom the Philadelphia Eagles drafted two picks before Pierre-Paul back in the spring of 2010.

Shortly after that draft, the Eagles looked like dopes for passing on JPP. In recent years, however, the tides have turned. Graham has become the NFL's most efficient pass-rusher, according to Pro Football Focus' productivity formula (h/t Chris Wesseling of NFL.com). Whether he's lined up as a defensive end or a rush linebacker, Graham is a guy who flat-out knows how to get to the quarterback.

Graham came off the bench in Philadelphia and is now looking for a chance to start. He's also looking for a big payday (up to $30 million for four years, reports Geoff Mosher of CSN Philly). If Graham's still hanging around during the second wave of signings, the Giants should test his interest in a cheaper rate.

7. Bruce Carter

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The Giants are close to fielding a fine group of linebackers. Jon Beason and Jameel McClain can get the job done in the middle, and Devon Kennard is promising as a strong-side 'backer. The team could use a fresh start, however, on the weak side.

With Jacquian Williams and Spencer Paysinger both slated to hit free agency next month, the Giants should look to bring in a reliable linebacker who can hold down the job. Bruce Carter fits that description. The former second-round selection finally came alive in the Dallas Cowboys' 4-3 base defense last season, intercepting five passes and returning one for a touchdown.

Carter has incredible speed for a linebacker—once recording a 4.39 40-yard dash—and would flesh out the Giants' linebacker corps nicely. Although he can be effective on either side of the defense, his pass-coverage skills make Carter the weak-side linebacker New York always wished it had in Williams.

8. Walter Thurmond III

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The Giants could use more hometown help in the secondary, even if they re-sign Antrel Rolle. The cornerback position needs a hand, and Walter Thurmond III could be the guy to lend one.

Last spring, the Giants hoped Thurmond would be their man in the slot. The corner came from the Super Bowl-winning Seattle Seahawks secondary, and he talked a big enough game, per the New York Daily News (h/t NFL.com), to be considered a mini Richard Sherman. Thurmond only saw action in two games, though, as a torn pectoral muscle relegated him to injured reserve for the rest of the season.

Everybody deserves a second chance, even cocky cornerbacks. Thurmond has been in the league for five seasons and has never completed a full 16-game season. The potential is still there to give him another shot, especially when that shot should be at or near the veteran minimum.

9. Cecil Shorts III

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The Giants need a backup plan at slot receiver just in case Victor Cruz isn't himself in 2015. Luckily for them, there projects to be a deep pool of pass-catching talent available on the open market this spring. The most tantalizing targets are Dez Bryant, Randall Cobb, Jeremy Maclin, Demaryius Thomas and Torrey Smith.

Look just beyond this blinding first-wave talent, and Cecil Shorts III will be there for the taking. Over the last three seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Shorts has put up moderate (and diminishing) production. But consider the quarterbacks throwing him the ball during that span: Blaine Gabbert, Chad Henne and Blake Bortles.

Shorts has only won 14 games during his four NFL seasons. Team him up with Eli Manning in a well-run Ben McAdoo offense, and maybe he can help match that total in 2015 alone.

10. Larry Donnell

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This one should be easy, and that's why it's last on the Giants' list of free-agent priorities. Larry Donnell is a rare exclusive-rights free agent, which means if the team offers him a three-year, veteran minimum contract, he must accept it or leave the NFL.

Donnell doesn't have any negotiation leverage, and that must burn because he does have breakout potential. Last year, the tight end emerged as a pretty solid red-zone threat. Although his rawness led to four painful fumbles, Donnell finished with the respectable stat line of 63 catches, 623 yards and six touchdowns.

The potential is there for Donnell to become one of the league's dominant pass-catching tight ends, but he must refine his game in 2015. In the meantime, the Giants can retain his talents for an incredibly team-friendly rate.