5 realistic free agent signings to make NY Giants contenders
By Matt Clark
3. Corey Littleton – Inside linebacker
Anyone who has watched a NY Giants game in recent years recognizes that they have lacked any kind of playmaking ability from the inside linebacker position. Alec Ogletree has been a liability in coverage since Dave Gettleman brought him over in a trade with the Los Angeles Rams.
The Giants should go back to the Rams to fix their current deficiency at inside linebacker and sign Cory Littleton to a long-term contract. Littleton is a long, rangy linebacker with elite speed and coverage skills, something the Giants have longed for from the position for numerous years.
In 2018, Littleton was a second-team All-Pro and a Pro Bowl selection for the Rams. Last year, he followed up the stellar 2018 campaign with 78 tackles, three and a half sacks, two forced fumbles and two interceptions.
The Rams have Dante Fowler Jr., Michael Brockers, Troy Hill, and Andrew Whitworth all hitting free agency along with Littleton. As a result, they may not be able to get into a bidding war with the Giants who are expected to have much more cap space than the Rams, who are projected to have just over $26 million in cap space, some of which must be used to pay their 2020 draft picks.
If the Giants were able to land Littleton, he could serve as the anchor to their linebacking corps for years to come. A linebacking group of Littleton, Golden, Oshane Ximines, Lorenzo Carter and Ryan Connelly, suddenly looks much more stout than it did last year.
Littleton possesses the coverage skills to leave him on an island by himself in the middle of the field while utilizing the likes of Golden, Ximines, and Carter to get after the quarterback. If the Giants can sign Littleton, they should be able to immediately shore up their ability to guard the middle of the field against tight end slants and running back screens, something that has plagued them for years.
At only 26-years old, Littleton provides the Giants with a young middle linebacker who is just coming into his prime. Signing him would give New York its first impactful linebacker option since Antonio Pierce retired in 2009.
Proposed contract: 6-years $90 million ($15M/year)