Bargain Bin Free Agents New York Giants Should Target to Fill Biggest Needs

The New York Giants have a handful of needs they're looking to address, most of those on the offensive side of the ball. 

But unlike last year when they had close to $60 million in cap space, the Giants have $11,788,005 of cap space, per the NFLPA's public cap report, although it's unclear if the Brandon Marshall transaction is included in that figure.

Either way, $11 million isn't exactly a lot of money for a team to shop for filet mignon. But fear not, Giants fans. There are some potentially bargain-priced players who can be just as effective in certain roles for the Giants.

Here are five such players who might be available during the second wave of free agency and for a "reasonable" contract.

G/T Austin Pasztor, Cleveland Browns

David Richard/Associated Press

With the Giants unlikely to bring back Marshall Newhouse as depth at offensive tackle, they could be looking at a member of the Cleveland Browns to boost the depth at tackle.

No, not Joe Thomas, who isn't due to hit free agency. The tackle in question is offensive lineman Austin Pasztor, 6"7', 308 pounds, who is versatile enough to play guard and would give the Giants some options on that right side.

The 26-year-old Pasztor is not expected to be re-signed, according to Terry Pluto of Cleveland.com.

Spotrac estimates that Pasztor, who played in all but 10 snaps for the Browns in 2016, per Pro Football Focus, could be in line for a four-year, $21,039,603 contract (based on market value), which would put him at a rather affordable $5 million-per-year average. 

RB Eddie Lacy, Green Bay

Matt Ludtke/Associated Press

The Giants are in the process of making over their running back rotation. They parted with Rashad Jennings last month and have declined to tender restricted free agent Orleans Darkwa a right of first refusal tender.

That leaves the Giants with Paul Perkins, Shane Vereen—who is recovering from a season-ending triceps injury—journeyman George Winn and a couple of young and untested guys such as Jacob Huesman and Daryl Virgies.

Enter Eddie Lacy, 5'11", 234 pounds. Lacy burst on to the NFL scene in 2013 and 2014, logging back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons.

In the last two seasons, he's played in just 20 games due to injuries and has had issues with his weight. The Packers are apparently looking to move on from Lacy, who no doubt would also welcome a fresh start.

The Giants could use a big power back capable of pounding the ball between the tackles. Given Lacy's decline and his coming off ankle surgery, the 26-year-old would presumably have much to prove to the NFL as far as showing he is still very much the power runner he was in his first two seasons in the league.

What better place to prove his case than with the Giants, who run an offensive system similar to Green Bay's?

A marriage between the Giants and Lacy—whom Spotrac estimates might be had for a two-year, $5.716 million contract ($2.8 million per year)—makes too much sense for both sides.  

TE Anthony Fasano

Mark Zaleski/Associated Press

To no one's surprise, the Giants are moving on from veteran tight end Larry Donnell, as first reported by NFL Media's Mike Garafolo last month.

Doing so leaves the Giants with a lot of youth at the position, the most experienced of which is Will Tye, who will be entering his third season. He's followed by Jerell Adams, who participated in 13 games with two starts, and Matt LaCosse, who has spent the first two years of his pro career on injured reserve.

If the Giants are looking for a veteran to come in on an affordable short-term deal to provide leadership over this group as well as a possible draft pick, Tennessee's Anthony Fasano—a Verona, New Jersey, native—might just be the guy.

Per Paul Schwartz of the New York Post, the Giants have interest in the 32-year-old Fasano, who graded out as PFF's top run-blocking tight end in 2016.

Fasano is coming off a two-year, $5.23 million contract with the Titans.  

If the Giants are indeed planning to add a rookie draft pick at the position within the first three picks, Fasano, who has been in the league since 2006, would be an ideal and likely affordable short-term mentor not just for the prospective draft pick, but for the young crop of tight ends the Giants already have.

DL Lawrence Guy, Baltimore Ravens

Gail Burton/Associated Press

If the Giants lose defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins to free agency—and if ESPN's projected five-year, $43 million, $18 million guaranteed contract is indeed a realistic possibility, the chances of Hankins fleeing the Giants are pretty good—they will need to come up with a replacement.

Behind Hankins and Damon Harrison, the other starter, are Jay Bromley and Robert Thomas, two rotational guys who will compete if Hankins does leave.

The Giants are also lucky in that the defensive line class is as deep as it's ever been. That might allow them to pluck a promising rookie from the draft pool who, if he becomes a Day 1 starter, wouldn't be exposed as much with a tandem of Harrison and defensive ends Jason Pierre-Paul and Olivier Vernon around him.

They could also look to add a young veteran such as Lawrence Guy of the Ravens, a player who could give the Giants that missing pass rush productivity they are believed to be looking for from the 3-technique defensive tackle.

Per Matt Harmon on NFL.com, "Guy brought consistent pressure with a 4.24 average yards to the quarterback on pass rush attempts," making him the eighth-best interior pass rusher out of 10. 

Besides having shown that he can be productive, Guy could come at an affordable rate because he has been a rotational player most of his career.

Guy just finished a two-year contract worth $2.3 million that included a $500,000 signing bonus and $500,000 guaranteed, putting his average annual salary at $1.15 million.  

Even if his average annual salary were to double, he would still be much more affordable for a salary-cap-space strapped team like the Giants.

CB Sterling Moore, New Orleans

Butch Dill/Associated Press

The Giants should be set with their first three cornerbacks—Janoris Jenkins, Eli Apple and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Beyond that, as Giants fans took note of last season, the bottom part of the cornerback depth chart could use an infusion of new talent.

Leon Hall, Coty Sensabaugh and Trevin Wade, all of whom made up the bottom of the cornerback depth chart, are all set to be free agents. It's unlikely the Giant swill re-sign all of them.

If they don't but still want to add a young veteran to the depth, Sterling Moore of the Saints might be an affordable option.

Per PFF, Moore, 27 years old, hasn't been beaten for a pass longer than 40 yards (148 pass targets) over the last two seasons—a stat that has him ranked as the 49th best unrestricted free agent.

Josh Katzenstein of NOLA.com reported that Moore, who started his NFL career with the Patriots before making stops in Dallas and Tampa Bay before landing with the Saints last year, intends to test the market despite also having an interest in re-signing with the Saints.

Moore is coming off a one-year minimum salary benefit contract in which he earned a base salary of $760,000 and a bonus of $80,000. 

Unless otherwise noted, all advanced analytics are from Pro Football Focus and all salary cap and contract information from Spotrac.

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