New York Giants General Manager Dave Gettleman will have his hands full with getting Big Blue on the fast track back to competitiveness this offseason. The good news is there will be some very attractive pieces on the open market.
The New York Giants currently have a record of 2-8, through 11 weeks of the NFL season, a clear indicator that they have many needs to fill in an effort to become a true contender next year. Luckily, the Giants have a solid core of young players, a great deal of draft capital and will enjoy the benefit of salary cap space. As a result, they should be able to retool their roster to make it more competitive going forward.
At the time of this piece, Big Blue figures to have 63M$ in cap space in 2020 (according to Sportrac), and that number is only expected to rise as there are multiple high-priced veterans that are expected to be moved on from. While that number is far from the highest in the league, it certainly allows the team to be in the market for some premier talent.
Here are the top five free agents the New York Giants should target via free agency in the offseason:
5. Connor McGovern – Center, Denver Broncos
The New York Giants offensive line play has struggled with Jon Halapio and Spencer Pulley as its centers. Signing Connor McGovern would be a huge upgrade at the center position, assuring that the offensive line is better suited to protect Daniel Jones up the middle.
The 6’4″, 306LB McGovern, was drafted in the fifth-round by the Denver Broncos, out of the University of Missouri, where he primarily played tackle and guard. Despite his limited experience at the center position, McGovern grades out as a top-ten center in the league according to Pro Football Focus. In addition, he doesn’t turn 27 until April, making him a relatively young option at center.
McGovern has extremely quick feet, is ridiculously strong, has solid hands and a high football IQ. He also is adept at getting up to the second level to block, something that is integral when possessing a weapon like running back Saquon Barkley on the roster.
Halapio is a free agent after this season and Pulley was signed to a three-year $9.6 million dollar extension in the offseason. While that is a lot of money to allocate to a back-up center, the Giants have been willing to have him back up Halapio at that price, as the plan was never to have him be the starter. McGovern’s value on the open market is up in the air at this point, but he doesn’t figure to become one of the highest-paid at his position.
Adding a center with McGovern’s abilities would be an instant upgrade for what has been a porous offensive line this year. Having the interior of the offensive line bolstered by McGovern, Will Hernandez and Kevin Zeitler, makes the Giants interior blocking exponentially better. Center is often an overlooked position in the grand scheme of the NFL, and Big Blue needs a true anchor on it’s offensive line in the worst way.
4. Daryl Williams – Tackle, Carolina Panthers
Daryl Williams has been a suggested target for the New York Giants previously, as he would be a seemingly excellent fit to upgrade the offensive line. Williams, who is 28-years-old has the flexibility to play either tackle position, as well as guard.
At 6’6″ and 330 pounds, Williams is a giant, making it more difficult for pass rushers to get by. Despite his massive frame, Williams has proven to be extremely athletic and productive for the Carolina Panthers.
In 2017, Williams was named to the Pro Bowl. However, in 2018, he missed most of the season due to a torn MCL injury, that caused him to need surgery and be placed on the injured reserve. Given the fact that the Panthers drafted Greg Little in last year’s draft, it is likely that the are willing to allow Williams to walk in favor of the younger Little.
The Giants have struggled at both tackle positions. Mike Remmers is on a one year deal with the team and Nate Solder, currently one of the highest paid offensive lineman in football, has struggled mightily at left tackle since coming over from the New England Patriots.
Bringing in Williams would allow the Giants to potentially move Solder to right tackle (or get rid of him all together) in an effort to help mitigate the quarterback pressures that he has been giving up to defenders, while attempting to protect the blind side of quarterback Daniel Jones.
Signing Williams allows the Giants to use valuable draft capital on other needs outside of tackle, where the draft class is somewhat weak outside of the University of Georgia’s Andrew Thomas. Instead of paying a high price for Thomas due to position scarcity, signing Williams – at what figures to be an affordable rate- allows them to go after the best player available.
3. Shaq Thompson – Outside linebacker, Carolina Panthers
The New York Giants have have lacked a big time playmaker at the linebacker position for over a decade now, since Antonio Pierce retired. They are long overdue to upgrade at the linebacker position, where they have struggled mightily for years. While I’m sure Giant fans are getting sick of Carolina Panthers retreads by this point, this is no Jonathan Stewart situation; Thompson is just 25-years-old and starting to come into his own.
Shaq Thompson could be the first step in making the New York linebacker corps relevant again. The 6’0″ and 230LB Thompson is excellent in coverage, something that the Giants have been lacking for quite some time now. In addition, he can transition to a hybrid safety/linebacker role, something that defensive coordinator James Bettcher loves to employ (if he’s still employed – pun intended – that is).
Thompson has extremely fluid hips, allowing him to provide outstanding coverage against wide receivers, tight ends and running backs. He is exceptional in play action coverage. In addition, the former college running back is not afraid to come up and make a big hit on the ball carrier. His athleticism makes him a prime free agent candidate for Bettcher’s defensive scheme.
New York would be wise to make Thompson a top target of theirs, considering his playmaking abilities. Adding him to a young core of linebackers that includes Lorenzo Carter, Oshane Ximines, and Ryan Connelly would make the Giants linebacker corps scary. He should a decent comtract, but he’s clearly worth it.
2. Shaquil Barrett – Outside linebacker, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
If one Shaq is good, two Shaqs can only be better. The 27-year-old Shaquil Barrett has to be towards the top of the Giants wish list this offseason. Barrett, who was an undrafted free agent signing out of Colorado State University by the Denver Broncos in 2015, was allowed to walk by Denver in the offseason, signing a one-year $4 million deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
All Barrett has done since signing with Tampa Bay is accumulate 31 tackles, an incredible 11-and a-half sacks, four forced fumbles, an interception and four pass deflections. In short, he has been absolutely dominant.
The idea of the Giants signing an outside linebacker of Barrett’s caliber, who excels at getting to the quarterback is absolutely tantalizing. Allowing the veteran Barrett to mentor the younger Carter and Ximines, who are talented, but still a bit raw, could only help with their progression.
The threat of a James Bettcher defense rushing Barrett from the outside, should in theory open up opportunity for the talented line of Dexter Lawrence, BJ Hill, Dalvin Tomlinson and Leonard Williams, whom the Giants are expected to resign.
The attributes that Barrett brings to the team, would instantaneously allow Bettcher to expand his blitz package options, something that was a staple of the dominant defenses he coached with the Arizona Cardinals. As a result, Shaq Barrett is a must target player in free agency for the Giants. He figures to command one of the highest contracts of any available edge-rusher this offseason, but Big Blue cannot continue to put band-aids on it’s pass-rush situation.
1. Jadeveon Clowney – Defensive end, Seattle Seahawks
Since his time at the University of South Carolina, Jadeveon Clowney has been known for his playmaking abilities. He has always possessed the ability to single-handedly take control of a game. As a result, he must be a top target of the New York Giants.
Clowney, who was traded by the Houston Texans to the Seattle Seahawks prior to the start of the season, is an excellent pass rusher, who is able to be disruptive. Currently, he has 25 tackles, three sacks, three forced fumbles and one interception on the year. His current sack total is low in comparison to his career numbers, as he has had at least 9 sacks the past two seasons. Clowney has channeled his skills as a high school running back star twice this year for Seattle, as he’s taken two balls back to the house in 2019.
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Putting Clowney on a line that includes Lawrence, Hill, Tomlinson, Williams and potentially either of the elite pass rushers Chase Young or A.J. Epenesa in this year’s draft, would allow the Giants to have the elite pass rush ability that they have been lacking since the days of Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck and Jason Pierre-Paul.
While Clowney will not be cheap, the Giants have to make him a focus in the offseason, as his ability to disrupt an offense ranks amongst the best in the game. Adding a player of his caliber would immediately improve the defense, which has been an area of concern for New York this year.