NFL Free Agents The Giants Should Target
By Neal Lynch
SECONDARY
Sean Smith (CB, Kansas City Chiefs)
2015 Cap Hit: $7,000,000
- 28 years old
- 45 tackles (40 solo), 2 interceptions, 5 passes defended in 13 games last season
Smith made the Pro Football Focus All-Pro team in 2014. His best year came with Miami in 2012 when he forced 3 fumbles, had a pair of picks, and 59 combined tackles.
Trumaine Johnson (CB, St. Louis Rams)
2015 Cap Hit: $1,709,794
- 26 years old
- 71 tackles (58 solo), 24 passes defended, 7 interceptions in 2015
The third rounder had his best season last year after a downer in 2014 and was considered a forgotten star. The one deterrent from acquiring the Pro Bowl snub might be his inability to complete a full season. Trumaine has only started 33 games of the 55 he’s played over four years.
Janoris Jenkins (CB, St. Louis Rams)
2015 Cap Hit: $1,587,829
- 27 years old
- 64 tackles (56 solo), 18 passes defended, 3 interceptions in 2015
The playmaker placed 18th on NFL.com’s top 20 unrestricted free agents list. Jenkins and Johnson were responsible for the Rams secondary making strides last season and either one could be instrumental in fixing the Giants. Might get pricy as the Rams have indicated they want to lock him up long-term. Fun fact: Jenkins was one of the picks St. Louis got in the mega RGIII deal.
Eric Berry (FS, Kansas City Chiefs)
2015 Cap Hit: $8,357,700
- 27 years old
- 61 tackles (55 solo), 12 passes defended, 2 interceptions in ’15
Pro Football Focus ranked “The Fifth Dimension” as the 4th top defensive free agent, while NFL.com rated him 7th among top unrestricted free agents. The 3-time Pro Bowler & 2-time Associated Press First-Team All-Pro bounced back beautifully after being diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma in 2014 and cleared nine months later.
Eric Weddle (FS, San Diego Chargers)
2015 Cap Hit: $10,100,000
- 31 years old
- 78 tackles (55 solo), 6 passes defended, 1 fumble recovery last season
The 9 year vet was ranked as the 8th best defensive free agent by PFF and NFL.com put him at #12 on their list of top unrestricted free agents. Beardo and the Chargers had a falling out over his contract, his absence to watch his daughter, and being placed on injured reserve against his will. The 3-time Pro Bowler has been first or second team All-Pro from 2010 – 2014, but had a supbar outing in 2015. Weddle typically averages an “Approximate Value” of 10-12 over the past five or six seasons.
Reggie Nelson (FS, Cincinnati Bengals)
2015 Cap Hit: $4,775,000
- 32 years old
- 72 tackles (50 solo), 14 passes defended, 8 interceptions in 2015
Nelson led the league in picks last season and has 30 over his 9 year career. It’s bananas that the Bengals traded only CB David Jones and a conditional draft pick to get him in 2010. The former Jaguars first rounder is making his first trip to the Pro Bowl and was an AP Second Team All-Pro.
Rashad Johnson (FS, Arizona Cardinals)
2015 Cap Hit: $2,133,334
- 30 years old
- 61 tackles (50 solo), 12 passes defended, 5 interceptions in 2015
The former third rounder out of Alabama took a slight step back this season compared to his 2014 campaign when he had more than 100 combined tackles and took two picks to the house. That year was his only 16-start season.
Tashaun Gipson (FS, Cleveland Browns)
2015 Cap Hit: $2,356,000
- 25 years old
- 60 tackles (42 solo), 2 interceptions in 2015
Gipson was a Pro Bowler in 2014 with six picks for 158 yards and a touchdown. He had another impressive season the year before when he had 5 interceptions for 143 yards and a touchdown, but has yet to start all 16 games.
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