NFL Free Agents The Giants Should Target
By Neal Lynch
TIGHT END
Ladarius Green (San Diego Chargers)
2015 Cap Hit: $772,725
- 25 years old
- 37 catches, 429 yards, 4 touchdowns in 2015
The 4th rounder from Louisiana-Lafayette hasn’t completed a full season in his four-year career, but registered his best production in ’15. That output trailed off when Antonio Gates came back from injury.
Antonio Gates (San Diego Chargers)
2015 Cap Hit: $1,500,000
- 35 years old
- 56 catches, 630 yards, 5 touchdowns in 2015
Uniting Papa Gates with Baby Gates? I get misty-eyed just thinking about it. The 8-time Pro Bowler & 3-time First-Team AP All-Pro missed five games and only started four, but still averaged more than 50 yards per contest.
Benjamin Watson (New Orleans Saints)
2015 Cap Hit: $1,900,000
- 35 years old
- 74 catches, 825 yards, 6 TDs in 2015
Watson had the best season of this 12 year career. The last time he was targeted more than 100 times was in 2010 with the Browns. This past season was the second time he started all 16 games, the previous being that 2010 campaign with Cleveland.
Coby Fleener (Indianapolis Colts)
2015 Cap Hit: $1,699,615
- 27 years old
- 54 catches, 491 yards, 3 TDs in 2015
Fleener’s 54 catches were a career best for a single season, but his average yards per catch dropped below double digits for the first time in four years. Many thought the Giants would draft Coby back in 2012, but passed on him in favor of running back David Wilson, whose career was cut short by a spine injury. Tye and Fleener? Would certainly tie up linebackers and safeties in the middle, freeing up Beckham and Cruz to go deep.
Zach Miller (Chicago Bears)
2015 Cap Hit: $660,000
- 31 years old
- 34 catches, 439 yards, 5 TDs in 2015
After missing 2013 and 2014, Miller produced the best season of his six year career. He’s been stuck behind Marcedes Lewis and Martellus Bennett, but when the Black Unicorn was hampered by injuries, Miller stepped up.
CONCLUSION:
While a lot of fans would love to splurge on a big name pass rusher, I’m more inclined to sign a handful of slightly above average need positions WHO DON’T HAVE A HISTORY OF INJURIES. Get a young, solid lineman on each side of the ball. Get a young, solid receiver. Get a young, solid safety. Favor the guys that have played and started multiple full seasons. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Minimize your risks by spreading it across five acquisitions. Then, you can add depth in the draft. Should be a humongous and critical offseason for the G-Men.