New York Giants' Bargain Guide to the 2015 Offseason
Everyone can appreciate a good bargain, especially NFL general managers who must try to strike a balance with spending the right amount on players who can help the team.
That is the next item on New York Giants general manager Jerry Reese’s “to-do” list. Reese, during his year-end press conference with reporters, said that the Giants weren’t going to go on a wild spending spree as they did last year.
“Last year we had to turn the roster over and we are not going to go out and spend a huge amount like we did this past offseason in free agency,” he said. “There are always changes every year and there will be some this time.”
One key for the Giants will be to find a way to keep players healthy, something that has eluded them the last two seasons. In addition, another solid draft class should go a long way toward replenishing some of the depth that didn’t pan out in the past.
As for free agency, the Giants probably need just a few new faces across the roster’s landscape, especially given that it’s “win or bust” for 2015.
Here is a look at five potential veteran free agents from other teams who could help solidify the Giants' 2015 postseason quest.
DT Pat Sims
1 of 5
At defensive tackle, there’s Johnathan Hankins, who is firmly entrenched as a starter, and then there’s everyone else.
That latter category of “everyone else” is a concern.
Among that group are two veterans on the wrong side of 30 (Cullen Jenkins, 34, and Mike Patterson, 31) and two draft picks (Jay Bromley, R3-2014, and Markus Kuhn, R7-2012) who at this point in their respective careers are probably best suited for a rotation than as starters.
While Jenkins has been the starter the last two seasons, injuries might have finally caught up with him—particularly in run defense, where, per Pro Football Focus, he finished with a minus-7.1 grade in 2014.
With a $2.916 million cap figure on tap for 2015, the Giants could clear $2.25 million from their books if they trim Jenkins from the roster.
However, before doing that, they will probably want to add a veteran to the mix, especially if Bromley isn’t ready for a larger role.
A short-term veteran solution worth exploring is the Oakland Raiders' Pat Sims (6’2”, 310 lbs). Sims just finished his seventh season and his second with the Raiders for whom he played in all games, amassing 79 tackles and 2.0 sacks over that span.
A third-round pick in 2008 for the Cincinnati Bengals, Sims is coming off a one-year, $1.45 million contract with the Raiders, according to Over the Cap, and has historically graded out well in run defense, according to his various career pages at Pro Football Focus.
S Jeromy Miles
2 of 5
The safety position is one that the Giants will almost certainly have to address through both free agency and the draft considering that New York only has two safeties—Cooper Taylor and Nat Berhe—under contract for 2015.
The bigger need would appear to be at free safety, especially considering the Giants' struggles against the deep-pass play, which included giving up 62 pass plays of 20 or more yards (tied with the Arizona Cardinals for third most) and 13 big-play passes of 40 or more yards (tied for seventh most with the Chicago Bears).
The Baltimore Ravens' Jeromy Miles, who is coming off a one-year minimum qualifying offer, is a versatile player able to fill both safety positions.
Originally an undrafted free agent who began his career with the Cincinnati Bengals, Miles—a player with whom defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is familiar given that he was with the Ravens last season—is solid against both the run and the pass.
According to Pro Football Focus, Miles posted a 12.5 run-stopping percentage on plays made within eight yards of the line of scrimmage. He also missed just two tackles out of 82 running-play snaps.
In pass defense, Miles wasn’t targeted often—just nine times to be precise, according to PFF.
When he was targeted, he only allowed three receptions for 31 yards with one interception in those limited opportunities, which isn’t bad production.
OT Ryan Harris
3 of 5
Regardless of what the Giants do with their starting offensive line—possibilities include moving Justin Pugh inside to guard, which would create a need for a right tackle, or leaving him at right tackle, which would create a need for a guard—New York still needs some veteran depth at offensive tackle.
James Brewer, a fourth-round draft pick in 2011, has not developed as the team hoped. An unrestricted free agent, he will probably not be re-signed.
Brandon Mosley, a college tackle who projected inside to guard, also has not been able to get more of a role on the offense despite finally being healthy for the first time as a pro.
A potential unrestricted free agent who could add depth at tackle is Ryan Harris of the Kansas City Chiefs, who, per Pro Football Focus, started 15 games at right tackle.
Per Over the Cap, the 29-year-old Harris is coming off a one-year minimum qualifying offer last season, where PFF graded him with a minus-1.6 mark overall.
If the Giants' goal is to get younger on that offensive line, they will probably need to come away with a starter in either the first or the second round.
If they are unable to do so, a player like Harris could fill the gap nicely, especially if he agrees to a deal that is structured like the one center J.D. Walton signed last offseason.
Walton’s deal, per Over the Cap, was a two-year contract worth $6 million with $2.5 million fully guaranteed—within that guaranteed money ($1.25 million) and the $1.25 million signing bonus.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
RB C.J. Spiller
4 of 5
Last year the Giants had hopes for a three-pronged rushing attack that would include Rashad Jennings, Andre Williams and David Wilson.
Unfortunately, Wilson’s career ended prematurely, so that vision didn’t come to fruition in 2014.
However, the Giants apparently haven’t given up on that plan, at least according to Charlie Campbell of WalterFootball.com, who reported that the Giants might be looking to add a change-of-pace back either via the drat or free agency.
If free agency is the way to go, one such player who might be worth a look (assuming he voids his contract) is the Buffalo Bills' C.J. Spiller, who is also a return specialist. Spiller will be 28 years old by the time the 2015 season begins.
Could he be signed at a bargain price?
It’s certainly possible given that free agency is shaping up to be loaded with solid running back candidates such as DeMarco Murray (Dallas Cowboys), Justin Forsett (Baltimore Ravens), Antone Smith (Atlanta Falcons) and Ahmad Bradshaw (Indianapolis Colts).
Spiller has rushed for 3,321 yards on 668 career attempts (5.0 average) with 12 touchdowns in his five-year career. He also has 1,195 receiving yards on 158 receptions and six touchdowns.
Spiller, who can return both kickoffs and touchdowns, has two career kickoff returns for touchdowns. He returned 60 kickoffs for 1,463 yards, including 39 returns for 20 or more yards in his career.
He is coming off a bit of an off year due to a broken collarbone that limited him to nine games in 2014, but if fully healthy, the 5’11”, 196-pound Spiller could provide the Giants backfield with that turbocharge boost it was hoping to get from Wilson.
OLB/DE O'Brien Schofield
5 of 5
Giants defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka, one of the three Giants (quarterback Eli Manning and long snapper Zak DeOssie being the other two) with the longest tenure on the team, is unlikely to return in 2015.
While Jason Pierre-Paul should be back one way or another, the Giants’ depth at the defensive end spot is far from being solidified. Yes, they have two promising prospects in Damontre Moore and Kerry Wynn, but to date, neither has showed he can handle the run as consistently as he can rush the passer.
Robert Ayers is certainly another option who could probably move into Kiwanuka’s starting defensive end spot, but in the past, Ayers has moved inside on pass-rushing downs, where he has been most effective.
The question then becomes who is that third defensive end capable of handling both the run and the pass? The answer, if he is willing to give the Giants another chance, could be Seattle Seahawks defensive end/outside linebacker O’Brien Schofield.
Schofield, remember, was all set to sign a contract with the Giants last year, which Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times reported was for two years and $8 million. However, he failed the Giants' team physical thanks to concerns about his left knee, which nullified the contract offer.
He returned to Seattle, where he signed a one-year contract, and his play actually improved this season, according to Pro Football Focus’ year-end grades. In 2013, Schofield finished with a 1.6 overall mark; in 2014, he finished with a 3.0 overall grade.
Still, there is a lot to like about Schofield, who, per Paul Schwartz of the New York Post, is married to a woman who grew up a Giants fan.
Schofield is not only a solid edge-rusher who has 13.5 career sacks and 11 tackles since entering the NFL in 2010, but he can also play outside linebacker, the position (strong side) the Giants initially envisioned him playing for them last year.
Would Schofield consider the Giants given what happened? That remains to be seen as does whether the Giants might be willing to reach out to him again.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
