The NY Giants' Biggest Free-Agency Surprises so Far

Trying to predict exactly how a team’s free-agency period is going to go is about as difficult as trying to predict their exact draft class or their regular season record.

However, what isn’t necessarily hard to predict is what a team’s needs are. In the case of the New York Giants, they had several needs they were hoping to fill this offseason, starting in free agency.

Some of the moves made by the Giants, as outlined in my free-agency preview/prediction, were expected.

Those included the return of fullback Henry Hynoski and linebacker Mark Herzlich, each of whom confirmed they agreed to terms on two-year contracts, and the decision to let safety Antrel Rolle test the market—three moves that haven’t come as a surprise.

Then there were other moves and non-moves that were, shall we say, surprising.

Here is a list of five surprising developments to come out of free agency thus far.

CB Walter Thurmond Departs

Bill Kostroun/Associated Press

Last offseason, the Giants, according to ESPN’s Dan Granziano, wanted to sign cornerback Walter Thurmond III to a three-year deal. However, the team buckled under, giving the slot cornerback a one-year contract worth $3 million, per Spotrac.

By now, you know the story.

Thurmond was injured in the second game of the season after tearing his pectoral, which means the Giants ended up paying him a whopping $44,776 per snap (this based on the 67 defensive snaps Pro Football Focus lists him as having played last year).

With Thurmond healthy, it wouldn’t have been a stretch to assume the Giants wanted him back on a multiyear deal.

However, based on the one-year deal Thurmond signed with the Eagles that Over the Cap lists as being worth $3.25 million, it looks as though Thurmond is still looking to “prove it” to the NFL that he can be much more than just a slot cornerback.

Meanwhile, the Giants, who need to win this year, apparently weren’t interested in accommodating a player's whim.

The Linebacker Situation

Seth Wenig/Associated Press

It’s not so much that the Giants added to their linebacker corps in free agency—they were expected to do so considering they had three unrestricted free agents in Mark Herzlich, Jacquian Williams and Spencer Paysinger—the surprising thing seems to be how they approached rebuilding the unit. 

As projected, the team re-signed Herzlich to a two-year deal, announced by the man himself.

Also, the team declined to offer Williams a contract—his latest tweet indicated that he has received interest from the Rams—while Paysinger waits to hear where his next stop might be.

In “replacing” Williams and, it appears, Paysinger, the Giants added Jonathan Casillas from the Patriots and J.T. Thomas from the Jaguars to join a group that includes holdovers Jon Beason, Devon Kennard (pictured) and Jameel McClain.

So why is the activity at this position so surprising?  It’s unclear who out of the current group might emerge as the starting weak-side linebacker to replace Williams.

Herzlich figures to provide depth, as was the case last year. Beason and Kennard are projected to be two of the three starters, with Beason in the middle (assuming he is healthy) and Kennard on the strong side.

McClain, whom ESPN’s Dan Graziano noted is due a $400,000 roster bonus on March 12, looks like he will be back for the final year of his contract, perhaps as a backup on the strong side and in the middle.

It remains to be seen if the team does anything with his $2.5 million base salary that is part of a $3.4 million cap figure.

Thomas and Casillas each received three-year deals and, presumably, one of those two will probably be the opening day weak-side starter—barring injury—while the other will provide depth and special teams play. 

Do the additions of Thomas and Casillas mean the Giants won’t draft a linebacker? That depends on if they view Kennard as Beason’s eventual replacement and also how defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is designing his defense.

No Defensive Linemen

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

During the three-day negotiating period ahead of the start of free agency, the Giants were linked to defensive end Brandon Graham, per Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News, and defensive tackle Dan Williams, per Dan Graziano of ESPN.

Both have since signed new contracts, Graham re-upping with the Eagles and Williams signing with the Raiders.

Since then, things have been quiet at that defensive line position as far as potential targets.

The Giants would clearly like to add at least one if not two players to help beef up their 30th ranked run defense, but it appears they will wait until the second wave of free agency or perhaps the draft to do so.

No Safety

Kathy Willens/Associated Press

Like the linebacker opposition, the Giants have three unrestricted free agents— Antrel Rolle, Quintin Demps and Stevie Brown.

Unlike the linebacker position, the Giants have yet to add anyone to the dwindling safety position.

Rolle has been testing the market. He visited with the Bears, according to his agent, Drew Rosenhaus. 

Thus far, the Giants have been unsuccessful in their attempt to land some veteran depth to a unit that only includes Nat Berhe and Cooper Taylor, two players who have yet to start an NFL game.

The Giants were reportedly in the hunt for Devin McCourty according to Jordan Raanan of NJ Advance Media, but McCourty re-upped with New England.

Nick Powell of NJ Advance Media reported the Giants had interest in Da’Norris Searcy, who has since signed with the Titans.

ESPN Denver reported the Giants have interest in Broncos UFA Rahim Moore, but there hasn’t been any word of a possible visit between Moore and the Giants just yet.

The Giants also are reportedly in the mix for Ron Parker of the Chiefs, but other than a visit to the Bears as reported by Dan Wiederer and Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, New York’s facility doesn’t appear to be on Parker’s free agent tour, at least not yet.

Rolle has been testing the market. He visited with the Bears, according to his agent Drew Rosenhaus, and may be eyeing the Colts where, if a deal could be worked out, he would join former Miami Hurricane alumni such as running back Frank Gore and receiver Andre Johnson.

The Giants haven’t given up hope yet; Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun reported that Ravens safety Darian Stewart, who is visiting Denver, has also drawn interest from the Giants.  

Will the Giants finally get their man?

Stay tuned to find out.

No Starting Offensive Lineman

Seth Wenig/Associated Press

The Giants starting offensive line rebuild project has four of the five starters—Will Beatty, Justin Pugh, Geoff Schwartz and Weston Richburg—on the roster.

The identity of the fifth starter remains a mystery, as does whether that fifth starter will be a guard. The team could leave Pugh at right tackle or move him to left guard.  

There were a few interesting free agent prospects available, including Orlando Franklin, Bryan Bulaga and Derek Newton. However, these unrestricted free agents—regarded as Tier I types—have all since signed new contracts.

While the Giants did add an offensive lineman—they signed former Packers and Bengals offensive tackle Marshall Newhouse—that move appears to be more of a depth signing at the tackle position, where the team is paper-thin.

Does this mean the Giants are contemplating taking an offensive lineman in the first round of the upcoming draft such as Brandon Scherff of Iowa?

The next couple of weeks of free agency will help clear things up, as it’s possible the Giants will try to get a second-tier or back-end free agent to plug into that fifth spot.

Unless otherwise noted, all salary information is from Over the Cap, and all advanced stats are from Pro Football Focus.

Patricia Traina covers the Giants for Inside Football, the Journal Inquirer and Sports Xchange. All quotes and information obtained firsthand unless otherwise sourced.