#27 – Jacksonville Jaguars LB Paul Posluszny
The G-Men have lacked stability and leadership at the linebacker position. Posluszny will be entering his 12th season in 2018 but is still an impact playmaker at middle linebacker.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports Posluszny is expected to require surgery for a core muscle injury this offseason. The former second-round pick out of Penn State recorded 61 tackles and six tackles for a loss during the regular season. Despite turning 33-years-old during the 2017 season, Posluszny is still effective against the run and in pass coverage.
Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nigel Bradham could have also taken this spot, but Posluszny is arguably the more well-rounded free agent.
#26 – Atlanta Falcons K Matt Bryant
Big Blue elected not to re-sign Robbie Gould after the 2016 season and instead gave the job to an unproven Aldrick Rosas. The Giants would go on to finish the year with the league’s second worst field goal percentage with Rosas making just 72 percent of his field goal attempts.
While the G-Men are unlikely to spend big money on a kicker this offseason, they should still look for an upgrade at the position. Could Big Blue entice Bryant in a return to New York?
The Falcons 42-year-old kicker is coming off another tremendous season in which he nailed 87.2 percent of his field goal attempts. He also went 8-for-9 on field goals of 50-yards or more.
Bryant is the only kicker to make this list, but Graham Gano, Ryan Succop, Sebastian Janikowski, Cairo Santos, Chandler Catanzaro, and Caleb Sturgis are some of the notable kickers scheduled for free agency this offseason.
#25 – Washington Redskins OLB Trent Murphy
Murphy missed the entire 2017 season after suffering a torn ACL during the preseason. The 6-foot-6, 259-pound outside linebacker may not be the ideal fit as a 4-3 defensive end, but he would add another valuable pass rusher to New York’s front-seven.
Murphy, 27, was coming off a career-year in 2016, recording 47 tackles, nine sacks, six tackles for a loss, and three forced fumbles. It’s unknown how Murphy’s season-ending injury will impact his value on the free agent market. But if he’s willing to take a prove-it one-year deal, multiple teams will likely be interested.