5 Bargain-Bin Free Agents Who Could Fill Big Holes for New York Giants
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The New York Giants are going to be bargain hunters in free agency this offseason. General manager Jerry Reese said so in a press conference at the end of the season last year.
"We're not going to go out and spend a huge amount like we did this past offseason," Reese said.
That huge amount, to be exact, was $116 million.
And what did that spending spree buy New York? A whopping six wins.
Things will be different this time around as Reese and the Giants scour the open market for more affordable options. There's plenty of talent to be had at reasonable rates, though. They just need to look in the right places.
The five players highlighted in the slides to follow would be a good start.
WR Cecil Shorts III
1 of 5
Examine the Giants' receiving corps heading into 2015, and you might not notice an immediate hole. Odell Beckham Jr. shows no signs of slowing down, Rueben Randle finally came along late in the season and Victor Cruz is sure to make a comeback.
Right?
Maybe Cruz's comeback isn't so certain. Four months ago, when Cruz injured his knee, former NFL team physician Dr. David Chao told Ebenezer Samuel of the New York Daily News that the receiver will likely never be the same.
Enter Cecil Shorts III.
The Giants should sign Shorts as a security measure just in case Cruz can't cut it anymore. Shorts has injury concerns of his own—none as serious as Cruz's—and his statistics have dipped each of the past two years.
Still, he's only 27 years old and can thrive in an Eli Manning-led offense.
Shorts shouldn't be an expensive signing. The wide receiver market is saturated, and Jacksonville might not be all that interested in retaining him.
The Jags have rising pass-catchers in Marqise Lee and Allen Hurns, and young quarterback Blake Bortles didn't display a promising connection with Shorts (53 catches on 110 targets in 2014).
OL Joe Reitz
2 of 5
Calling all free agents: Who wants to play offensive line for the Giants?
New York was on the right track with the recent selections of Justin Pugh (19th overall in 2013) and Weston Richburg (43rd overall in 2014)—this problem needs long-term solutions via the draft.
In the meantime, the Giants need to acquire viable starters in free agency. Last year, they failed to do this. Geoff Schwartz was sidelined for all but two games, John Jerry started all year but was unimpressive and Charles Brown turned out to be a silly signing.
This is where Joe Reitz could come in handy.
Through four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, Reitz was never a full-time starter. The former undrafted rookie found plenty of opportunities to insert himself into the lineup last year, though. Teammates nicknamed Reitz "plug and play," according to Zak Keefer of the Indy Star.
Reitz is a giant (6'7", 323 lbs) and a fighter. Even though he was a basketball player in college and came into the league as an undrafted rookie, Reitz has overcome the odds to put together a decent NFL career.
It can flourish even further in New York.
DE George Selvie
3 of 5
The Giants selected Jason Pierre-Paul in the first round of the 2010 draft (15th overall). Six rounds later, the St. Louis Rams took JPP's college teammate at South Florida, George Selvie, with the 226th overall pick.
The two ex-Bulls have experienced vastly different NFL careers since then. While Pierre-Paul enjoyed near-instant superstar status, Selvie failed to catch on and bounced around from team to team. There was even a brief stint during the 2013 offseason when the two were teammates in New York.
But after the Giants parted ways with Selvie, he finally found his chance to shine with the Dallas Cowboys. There, he collected 10 sacks in two seasons, playing in all 32 games and starting 29 of them.
Selvie's no wrecking ball at defensive end, but he has at least proven himself as a bona fide contributor. That's more than what the Giants currently have in former third-round selection Damontre Moore, who has failed to record a single start during his two years in the league.
There's a good chance Selvie reaches the open market, too, as Dallas has star offensive playmakers in Dez Bryant and Demarco Murray to worry about in free agency first.
As a matter of fact, David Moore of The Dallas Morning News prioritized tackle Doug Free, wide receiver Dwayne Harris and linebackers Rolando McClain, Bruce Carter and Justin Durant ahead of Selvie.
Selvie, 27, is younger and cheaper than Mathias Kiwanuka, healthier than Pierre-Paul and more experienced than Moore.
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CB Walter Thurmond III
4 of 5
Go ahead and accuse me of cheating here. Yes, Walter Thurmond III was on the team last year, but the Giants hardly had a chance to experience him.
He lasted only two games before landing on injured reserve with a torn pectoral muscle.
Thurmond came over from Seattle's celebrated defensive backfield after the Seahawks won the 2013 Super Bowl. Early in the offseason, he touted himself as the best slot cornerback in the league, per Dan Hanzus of NFL.com.
With Thurmond tucked between Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Prince Amukamara on the outside, New York looked like it would field a downright dominant secondary last season.
Before he ever became a Giant, Thurmond had well-documented injury and suspension concerns. He sat out 30 games in four seasons with the Seahawks. Still, the Giants offered him a one-year deal worth $3.5 million knowing Thurmond had an incredibly high ceiling if he could stay on the field.
Why not bring him back on another one-year deal? This time, sign him a little closer to the veteran minimum.
Thurmond has already expressed interest in returning to New York for another season, per Paul Schwartz of the New York Post. The Giants should make it happen if the price is right—it could be their biggest bargain of free agency.
S Jeron Johnson
5 of 5
While we're on the topic of "The Legion Of Boom," why not double-dip into Seattle's under-the-radar talent in the secondary? There are players to be had, and one of the cheaper options is Jeron Johnson.
When Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor are the starters, there's little room for a third safety to make an impact. Still, Johnson forced his way into 15 games last year and even made one start. He should be familiar with the Giants, too, since he recorded a season-high five tackles in a 38-17 win over New York in Week 10.
The Boise State product entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2011 and hasn't shed his blue-collar work ethic since.
He was a leader on Seattle's four major special teams units—kickoff, punt and the respective return teams—and could be ready to take the next leap with a new team in 2015.
The Giants are looking light at safety, so they could use the help. Spotrac indicates Antrel Rolle, Stevie Brown and Quintin Demps are all slated to hit free agency. The only returning guys are Nat Berhe, Cooper Taylor and Thomas Gordon.
Yikes!
New York should give Johnson a shot, especially since it shouldn't be costly to acquire him.
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