New York Giants Free Agency Update: Calm Before The Storm

Giants Will Be Aggressive, But Selective

John Mara met the press yesterday, once again reiterating his desire to upgrade his sagging football club.  Stating he believed that the Giants had a solid nucleus, Mara unveiled his free-agent strategy:

“We’re going to do whatever we feel is necessary to improve the team, but that doesn’t always involve spending the most money,” Mara told the Daily News. “I think it’s been pretty well-established in this league that spending the most money in free agency doesn’t always produce results.”

He went on to say that the team will not spend for the sake of spending.

“We see it year after year, the teams that go out and spend a fortune in free agency don’t always end up being successful,”  said Mara. “You have to spend it on the right guy at the right time. We did spend a lot last year and I’m not saying we’re not going to spend any money this year. We’ll look and see who’s out there and we’ll make a determination as to whether that particular player can help us and is it at the right price.”

Tender Offers

Thursday is the last day to offer tenders to free agents. Thus far it appears the Giants have offered nine of their eleven free agents deals.  Only TE Darcy Johnson and CB Kevin Dockery have not been tendered.

According to Ralph Vacchiano of the Daily News, here is the latest…..

S C.C. Brown – - “Right of first refusal” tender, $1.226 million *

OL Kevin Boothe – - Tendered … Level unknown

DT Barry Cofield – - Second-round tender, $1.759 million

CB Kevin Dockery – - No tender. Now an unrestricted free agent.

WR Derek Hagan – - Tendered. … Level unknown

WR Domenik Hixon – - Second-round tender, $1.684 million

TE Darcy Johnson – - No tender. Now an unrestricted free agent.

WR Sinorice Moss – - “Original pick” tender, $1.176 million. Compensation: Third-round pick. **

DE Dave Tollefson – - Second-round tender, $1.684 million

OL Guy Whimper – - “Original pick” tender, $1.176 million. Compensation: Fourth-round pick.

LB Gerris Wilkinson – - “Original pick” tender, $1.176 million. Compensation: Third-round pick.

Combine Notes

USC safety Taylor Mays, whose draft stock had been dropping, wowed onlookers with a 4.43-second, 40-yard-dash time.  Mays was originally – but erroneously – clocked at 4.24 seconds, which would have made him the fastest player at the combine.  Clemson WR Jacoby Ford has posted the fastest 40 with a 4.28.  Mays is the only defensive player in the top ten in the 40-yard dash.

One of the purest athletes that has emerged at the combine is Pitt TE Dorin Dickerson .  His 4.40, 40-yard-dash time has certainly bolstered his draft chances.  His size (6′4″, 226) makes him a either a big WR or an H-Back.  The Giants don’t need either  of those at this time, but someone is going to get lucky with this kid.

Draft Notes

To appease readers who have been clamoring for more draft analysis……

Who the Giants draft may or may not depend on what they do in free agency.  If they sign Karlos Dansby, he would be their MLB and would be flanked by Michael Boley and Clint Sintim (in the best case scenario).  They would still have Jonathan Goff, Bryan Kehl, Gerris Wilkerson and – most likely – Chase Blackburn.  Do they still draft Rolando McClain if he falls to them?  Would Brandon Spikes be an upgrade over any of those players I mentioned?

None of the names I keep hearing at the safety position have impressed me.  Mays, as you have just learned, can run.  Earl Thomas of Texas is highly regarded, but he is only 5′11″, 197.  I think that’s smallish for an NFL safety these days.  Tennessee’s Eric Berry is 6′0″, 211 and a tad slower than Mays in the 40, but he is considered a top five pick. Unless the Giants trade up, they won’t get him.

One possibility here for the Giants could be USF’s Nate Allen.  He is a good blend of size, speed, power and agility.

John Fennelly is the founder of BlogNYG.com and the senior writer at SNY's Giants Football blog