NY Giants Twitter Mailbag: Last Call for 2014 Edition

Here it is, the end of a long and oftentimes frustrating New York Giants season.

It’s going to be another busy offseason for Big Blue, who for the third season in a row failed to make the playoffs.

In taking to Twitter to find out the burning questions on everyone’s minds, I’ve put together this final Twitter mailbag of 2014, which I hope answers some of the burning questions.

If you have a question, post a comment below or be sure to follow me on Twitter, @Patricia_Traina, for my next #askpat Twitter mailbag call.

Happy New Year! Things will get better—they have to.

Thanks for the question, Drew. I’m still in the early stages of looking at the prospects and will be posting a very, very, very early mock draft next week, at which point I’ll have some specific names.

However, if the draft were tomorrow and I had to guess on the areas of need—and I say this because I firmly believe you have to see what the team does in free agency first before you can hone in on the draft—right now I’d say the most pressing ones are offensive line (tackle) and safety.

Kathy Willens/Associated Press

I’d put pass-rusher up there, but I think if they can re-sign Jason Pierre-Paul (this is why I try to refrain from talking draft before free agency as one signing or lack thereof can tilt things in a different direction), they should be fine at defensive end.

At safety, we don’t know what is going to happen with Antrel Rolle. Quintin Demps and Stevie Brown are also set to be unrestricted free agents, and Cooper Taylor, sadly, has had two injury-filled seasons that are cause for concern.

If I had to guess right now, I think Rolle and Brown are re-signed, to go along with Nat Berhe and Taylor. I’d also bring in another veteran safety as a backup plan.

What about defensive end? I think if they re-sign Jason Pierre-Paul, they will be set at that position. If Pierre-Paul walks, then defensive end becomes a higher priority.

I don’t think it makes sense for the Giants to part with Rueben Randle after this season. Despite his inconsistency and benching due to undisclosed team rules, it makes zero sense to create a hole on the roster at that position, especially with there being questions about when Victor Cruz is going to be ready.

Tom Gannam/Associated Press

Right now, I get the sense the Giants are hoping they can field Odell Beckham and Cruz as their starters and Randle as the third receiver. If they can somehow get more consistency out of Randle, this receiving trio could be one of the best they have had in quite some time.

For that to happen, though, Randle needs to understand that every detail in his preparation needs to be thoroughly addressed.

He has indicated that he has been aware of this in the past—as recently as this week in a media session with reporters (per Zach Braziller of the New York Post).

The next step for Randle is to establish that kind of consistency every week. If he can do that, then there is no reason why, given his talent, he can’t build on his stats from this year. 

The biggest need on the offensive line is tackle. James Brewer and Brandon Mosley, both college tackles who were draft picks, have not worked out for whatever the reason, and I question whether Brewer will even be back next year as I believe he’s an unrestricted free agent.

I also question whether John Jerry, who can play tackle but who is also an unrestricted free agent, is back next year as well—my guess is they will move on from him.

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

So where does that leave the Giants regarding the tackle position? Will Beatty will be back, and I think they might be looking to move Justin Pugh inside to guard while Geoff Schwartz will play the other guard spot. Weston Richburg should move to the center spot, with J.D. Walton a backup at guard and center.

That would leave the starting right tackle spot open, a position I think might be filled in free agency. If the Giants can strike gold again in the draft, then perhaps they can come away with another young player who can be developed.

Lastly, I wouldn’t object (not that I have a say) if they re-signed veteran Adam Snyder, who has experience playing every position along the offensive line except center.

Nick, Eli Manning is due to enter the final year of his contract in 2015, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets his contract extension this winter. If that happens, then most likely by default, his 2015 cap number of $19.75 million ($17 million base salary, per Over the Cap) should decrease.

Speaking of the Giants’ cap situation, right now, it doesn’t look that bad—per Over the Cap, New York will have about $15.183 million in cap space based on a projected $140 million salary-cap figure.

LM Otero/Associated Press

The Giants will probably clear some more room to gain additional breathing space, as defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul needs to be a priority.

One likely target whose 2015 cap number will probably be redone is cornerback Prince Amukamara, whose option year was exercised by the club.  

Amukamara is due a base salary of $6.898 million, which is the second highest on the team behind Manning’s. I would be surprised if the Giants don’t sign Amukamara to a multiyear extension.

If you are interested, here is the analysis I did on additional contracts that could be in the cross-hairs for either a restructuring or removal

"

@Patricia_Traina Would you say Fewell and Quinn get the axe? Do both McClain and Beason return next yr?

— BS79 (@BigSnack79) December 26, 2014"

I would be very surprised, for reasons I outlined in this analysis, if Perry Fewell is retained. Just think about this for a moment.

Mark Zaleski/Associated Press

Yes, the defense has been playing better of late. However, why is it that it couldn’t play with any kind of consistency when it had more of its starters, a group that included newcomers Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Jameel McClain and Walter Thurmond, as well as the returns of linebacker Jon Beason and safety Stevie Brown?

USA TODAY Sports

Is that a reflection on the talent or the coaching?

Fewell has had a top-10 defensive unit in two seasons since joining the team in 2010, most recently in 2013. While he did contribute to a Super Bowl championship, the numbers haven’t been anything to write home about. 

As for Tom Quinn, I think his situation could go either way. His units haven’t exactly set the league on fire, though they have been playing better of late.

I do think linebackers Beason and McClain are back next year. Remember, Mark Herzlich, Spencer Paysinger and Jacquian Williams are all unrestricted free agents, and I don’t see all three returning.

USA TODAY Sports

I think of the three, Herzlich comes back for depth. Williams' situation is iffy—it could depend on where he is in his recovery from a season-ending concussion. 

So assuming my projections are correct—and understand that this is all contingent on who the defensive coordinator is and what kind of system he runs—the starting linebackers should be McClain, Beason and Devon Kennard next year.

Figure they might add another youngster or two to get ready for 2016, and they should be good to go at the linebacker position for 2015. 

The question, of course, is can Beason stay healthy? It’s a gamble given his history, but if he does stay healthy, he’s shown that he can be a very good middle linebacker.

Patricia Traina covers the New York Giants for Inside Football, the Journal Inquirer and The Sports Xchange. All quotes and information obtained firsthand unless otherwise sourced. All salary cap information obtained from Over the Cap, unless otherwise sourced. Follow me on Twitter @Patricia_Traina.