New York Giants Free Agency Preview: 10 Players New York Must Target

The 2012 NFL Free Agency period is set to begin on Tuesday, and the New York Giants look like they are making room to bring in their own and (hopefully) some other names as well.

Brandon Jacobs became a cap casualty last week and Eli Manning restructured his deal. The Giants are under the new cap figure, which is $120.6 million up from $120.375 million.

With all that in mind, who are some big name free agents the Giants could be targeting? I'll give you 10.

Cortland Finnegan, CB

The Titans have pretty much made it clear they are not going to bring back Cortland Finnegan and the Giants are attempting to bring back Terrell Thomas but have not been able to come to an agreement yet. 

If he hits the free-agent market and someone is willing to pay more for him, the Giants would be in trouble at corner. 

Aaron Ross played well in the playoffs, but he is not the long-term solution across from Corey Webster 

Stephen Tulloch, MLB

The Giants have two middle linebackers that are free agents and if they feel like Jonathan Goff can't come back 100 percent from an ACL injury, they may go in a different direction. 

Fans were hoping the Giants signed Tulloch last season but he signed a one-year deal with the Lions. Tulloch is an upgrade over Goff, but is he worth it?

Dallas Clark, TE

The Indianapolis Colts released a few veterans the other day and Dallas Clark was among them. Although he does not offer much as a blocker, he would be a serious weapon over the middle in the passing game. 

The only problem is how much he is going to command dollars wise—the Giants cannot afford to pay someone a substantial salary who has missed a significant number of games the last two seasons. 

Brandon Carr, CB

As I said in the first slide, the Giants will only pursue a cornerback if they feel the negotiations with Terrell Thomas are not going well. 

Though they may have stalled recently, according to Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News, there are no indications the Giants want to see him in another uniform. 

That said, Thomas may want more money than the Giants are willing to give up. Brandon Carr would be a terrific addition to the secondary. 

Jared Gaither, OT

Jared Gaither spent the last five games of the season with the San Diego Chargers and actually played well despite being cut from the Kansas City Chiefs. 

The Chargers will no doubt try to re-sign him. But the Giants do need help all along the offensive line and after telling free agent RT Kareem McKenzie to find a new team. 

The Giants could put Gaither at left tackle and field a competition for the right tackle spot between Will Beatty and James Brewer. 

Curtis Lofton, MLB

It is becoming more and more possible the Atlanta Falcons are going to let Curtis Lofton test the free-agent market. The Giants would not only get a dominant player for their 4-3 defense, but also finally appease the fan outcry for a playmaking middle linebacker. 

They have somewhat ignored the position for the last couple of seasons, although Jonathan Goff was primed for a breakout campaign before tearing his ACL in the 2011 preseason. 

That put a dent in the front office's plan for the linebacker of the future. The Giants will evaluate Goff during this process and make a decision to keep him or let him walk. 

I would be very surprised to see that unfold, but you never know with knee injuries. 

John Carlson, TE

The Giants had their eyes on Carlson last year and many of the fans were clamoring for the Giants brass to bring him in—but it never transpired. 

Now that he is a free agent and coming off an injury that cost him the entire 2011 season, he could be brought it for much less. 

At 6'5'', 251-pounds, Carlson is a nice blend of speed and power and offers everything the Giants want in a tight end—he excels in the red zone and is able hold his own as a blocker.

Demetrius Bell, OT

One of the true great left tackles in the 2012 free-agent class, Demetrius Bell will likely be too expensive for the Giants. 

That is of course unless the Giants continue to make room under the cap. They recently released Brandon Jacobs and cut $6.75 million off the books from Eli Manning's contract, but even those cuts did not get them very far under.

They still can make some moves, like cutting David Diehl who is scheduled to make $3.875 million this season, to make room for a big name or two.

If GM Jerry Reese can make some magic happen, getting one of these top-tier tackles is a real possibility. 

Mike Tolbert, RB

My gut feeling is the Giants will look to the 2012 NFL Draft to fix the running back situation. But last year they did bring  in Jason Snelling when they thought they might lose Ahmad Bradshaw. 

Now that they've lost Jacobs, I seriously doubt they are going to trust the backup running back duties to D.J. Ware and Da'Rel Scott. 

Mike Tolbert is a perfect compliment to Bradshaw. He is a big-bodied back who can get tough yards as well as a weapon as a receiver out of the backfield. 

Not to mention—and this is huge—he can pass-block, which would give Bradshaw a break. 

Ben Grubbs, OG

Ben Grubbs is one of the best interior run blockers in the league and the Giants had the worst rushing attack in the NFL last season. 

Seems like a match made in heaven, no? 

The left guard position was pretty much a disaster in 2011 and Reese could look for a replacement unless he and the coaching staff trusts Kevin Boothe or Mitch Petrus (which is very possible). 

If it were up to me and I could get enough under the cap, I'd make a play for Grubbs. Why settle for a plus-size model when you can get a Playmate?