New York Giants should avoid signing Mychal Kendricks

The New York Giants began their first leg of OTAs this week and started the process of evaluating the current 90-man roster.

To the delight of many New York Giants fans, former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Mychal Kendricks is now on the free-agent market.

But prepare for a hot take that goes against the grain; the G-Men would be wise to look the other way.

No knock on Kendricks ability as a player, but there are factors outside of Pro Football Focus grades and stats as to why he should be a hard pass.

Let’s start with the financials

Per OvertheCap.com, the 27-year-old was set to account for a $7.6 million salary cap hit to Philadelphia in 2018. Coming off a season where Kendricks filled in nicely for an injured Jordan Hicks, you can almost guarantee he’s a buy-high prospect.

New York Giants

For the New York Giants, on the other hand, their cap room is a cause for claustrophobia.

The team currently has a little over $8.3 million to work with for 2018, but have yet to sign some of their top rookies, including No. 2 overall-pick, Saquon Barkley.

According to the 2011 CBA agreement and first-round rookie allotted salary, Barkley will account for a $5.671 million charge in 2018, alone.

Altogether, the Giants current draft class will cost about $9.723 million (assuming, and highly likely, that all six picks are signed).

Kendricks will likely not want to settle for anything less than a three or four-year deal and a base salary greater than the $5.85 million he was set to earn this season.

Sure, the Giants can work for a lower annual hit, but that would mean offering a higher signing bonus prorated over the life of his deal. As a result, that would essentially guarantee his contract for a longer term.

Keep that in mind when considering the average rate of decline for a player approaching 30-years old.

Remember, the Giants still have two big names in Landon Collins and Odell Beckham set to hit free agency after this season.

They will need all the cap and leverage available to try to secure those two.

Stats favor Kendricks…

There is no doubt that Kendricks is a versatile athlete.

It may have been six years ago, but he tore up 2012’s Combine with a 4.47, 40-time, 4.19, 20-yard-shuttle and 39.5-inch verticle.

He has also been productive in complex 3-4 and 4-3 defenses, working with defensive coordinator Todd Bowles in 2012, head coach Chip Kelly and d-coordinator Bill Davis from 2013-15, and head coach Doug Pederson and d-coordinator Jim Schwartz from 2016-17.

Coaching changes have been a common theme in his career, and Kendricks continues to adapt.

…But the Giants scheme won’t

We get it, the New York Giants haven’t had a good linebacking unit in quite some time.

But this season, the team is deeper than a lot of people think.

The Giants currently have Alec Ogletree, B.J. Goodson and rookie Lorenzo Carter occupying the second level.

Don’t forget New York’s most underrated free-agent signing this offseason in 26-year-old Kareem Martin either.

A true wildcard, Martin has spent his first four seasons playing for James Bettcher with the Arizona Cardinals. He was both as a defensive end and a linebacker.

Like Olivier Vernon, Martin is a moveable piece who can play on the defensive line and in the linebacking corp. Excellent, because Bettcher is going to constantly disguise and implement sub-packages.

You know who doesn’t care too much for sub-packages?

Kendricks, who in the summer of 2017, was begging the Eagles for a trade because of lack of playing time and snaps. That would have been an issue for Philly in 2018 with Jordan Hicks healthy.

Per ESPN’s Tim McManus:

"The Eagles were in sub-packages around 70 percent of the time last season [2016]. With Jordan Hicks and Nigel Bradham as the top linebackers, Kendricks was on the field for just 27 percent of the defensive snaps. He finished with 32 tackles and no sacks."

The Giants will be rotating bodies and subbing throughout the year on defense to avoid fatigue issues that killed them last year.

GM Dave Gettleman purposely spent free agency and the draft focusing on defensive depth because of that reason.

The idea of not being an every-down player could cause similar problems between Kendricks and the Giants coaching staff.

All factors considered, the G-Men should handle Kendricks the same way they are handling the Dez Bryant rumors and situation.

Stay far away.