ESPN’s Barnwell: “Let JPP Walk!” Bad Move For The New York Giants?

ESPN staff writer Bill Barnwell thinks it’s in the New York Giants’ best interest to let Jason Pierre-Paul hit the open market. The former first-round pick wants to return to the Giants but he believes he is due a big contract.

Barnwell writes, “As much as it might hurt Giants fans to imagine the player who once looked like the team’s next defensive cornerstone leaving, it’s unclear whether JPP will ever be the superstar he looked to be during the 2011 Super Bowl run. His play has been uneven at best ever since; Pierre-Paul has produced just 22 sacks in his ensuing 51 games. And all that comes without even considering the fireworks incident and Pierre-Paul’s ensuing stonewalling of the organization thereafter. This relationship has run its course.”

There’s very little argument that JPP will be the player he once was, but with the state of the Giants defense, is it time to start letting major pieces walk? The Giants ranked 30th in sacks for the whole 2015 season. However, prior to JPP’s return to the field in Week 9, the Giants had just 9 sacks to their name. Robert Ayers went on a sack binge after Week 9, notching 8.5 of his 9.5 sacks with JPP on the other side of the field.

Obviously, price is key for both JPP and the Giants. ESPN’s Dan Graziano estimates that Jerry Reese and the Giants will offer a short-term deal for $6-7 million per year. If Pierre-Paul thinks he is worth more than that, he will test the market. However, the odds will be stacked against him. How many teams will want to take on a player at that price with his injury history?

The Giants are entering free agency with plenty of cap space to make moves on defense. JPP won’t be the cornerstone of the defense, but he can still play a role in 2016 and beyond. With a dearth of talent on D, the Giants would be wise to keep JPP at a reasonable price rather than just to let him walk out the door.