NFL Free Agents The Giants Should Target
By Neal Lynch
LINEBACKER
Danny Trevathan (OLB, Denver Broncos)
2015 Cap Hit: $1,568,018
- 25 years old
- 109 tackles (73 solo), 8 passed defended, 2 interceptions in 2015
Danny locked down the 17th position on NFL.com’s list of unrestricted free agents. The 6th round draft pick out of Kentucky didn’t start in 16 games of his rookie year in 2012, had his best season in 2013 (3 picks, 3 forced fumbles, 2 sacks, 152 combined tackles), didn’t play at all last season then came back in 2015 with some decent numbers. Will it be an off year in 2016?
Von Miller (OLB, Denver Broncos)
2015 Cap Hit: $9,754,000
- 26 years old
- 35 tackles (30 solo), 11 sacks in ’15
Miller had the highest rating on Pro Football Focus among defensive free agents and is ranked as the #1 unrestricted free agent by NFL.com. The 3-time Pro Bowler & 1-time First-Team AP All-Pro started all 16 games in a season for the third time in his five-year career and averages 12 sacks a season.
Derrick Johnson (ILB, Kansas City Chiefs)
2015 Cap Hit: $5,250,000
- 33 years old
- 116 tackles (95 solo), 4 sacks, 10 passes defended, 2 interception in ’15
DJ managed to secure the final spot on NFL.com’s list of top 20 unrestricted free agents. The 3-time Pro Bowler & 1-time First-Team AP All-Pro bounced back from a virtually non-existent 2014 campgian to match his second highest sack total and third highest tackle count of his 11-year career.
Bruce Irvin (DE/OLB, Seattle Seahawks)
2015 Cap Hit: $2,895,542
- 25 years old
- 38 tackles (22 solo), 5.5 sacks in ’15
Pro Football Focus had Irvin as the 10th best defensive free agent and NFL.com had him as the 10th best unrestricted free agent.
Tamba Hali (DE/LB, Kansas City Chiefs)
2015 Cap Hit: $4,964,706
- 32 years old
- 48 tackles (39 solo), 6.5 sacks in 2015
Tamba landed at the 7 spot on Pro Football Focus list of top 10 defensive free agents. The Liberian averages more than 8 sacks per season.
Jerrell Freeman (ILB, Indianapolis Colts)
2015 Cap Hit: $2,356,000
- 29 years old
- 102 tackles (66 solo), 3 sacks in 2015
Freeman played and started in every game his first two seasons, but has missed five over the past two. As a result, his numbers trailed off a bit, going from 90+ solo takedowns to ~70 in 2014 and 2015.
Kelvin Sheppard (ILB, Miami Dolphins)
2015 Cap Hit: $2,000,000
- 28 years old
- 102 tackles (72 solo) in 2015
Sheppard had the best year of his career in 2015, starting 14 of the 16 games he played in.
Vincent Rey (ILB, Cincinnati Bengals)
2015 Cap Hit: $3,100,000
- 28 years old
- 98 tackles (64 solo), 1 sack, 6 bat downs, 1 INT in 2015
Could provide some nice depth, but not at that price tag. Had 13 starts in 2014, but only 8 last season.
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