When the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV Sunday, several players might be playing their final game for their current team, and the NY Giants would be wise to have sights set on some of the game’s soon-to-be free agents.
The NY Giants enter a pivotal offseason, ahead of what will be a make-or-break year for quarterback Daniel Jones to prove capable of taking a monumental leap towards becoming a transcendent franchise quarterback, and with holes to plug on both sides of the football.
As the offseason begins, the Giants must upgrade at wide receiver, along the offensive line, add athleticism at linebacker and continue mining quality cornerback talent.
Several players who could be ideal fits for the Giants this offseason will take the field Sunday in Tampa Bay with the Lombardi Trophy at stake.
Here’s a look at five impending free agents that the Giants must target from the two Super Bowl teams:
No. 5: Sammy Watkins – WR, Kansas City Chiefs
Sammy Watkins at times gets lost in the shuffle of the Chiefs’ high octane offense around Mahomes; with wide receiver Tyreek Hill, tight end Travis Kelce, and the emergence of Mecole Hardman. However, Watkins is still one of the Chiefs’ top receivers and a highly productive player.
This season, Watkins caught 37 passes for 421 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while averaging 11.4 yards per reception.
The Giants will look to aggressively bolster the talent level of a middling wide receiving corps this offseason, and while Watkins can’t be the centerpiece of the positional rebuild, he would add another reliable option for Jones.
No. 4: Stefen Wisniewski – OG, Kansas City Chiefs
There’s a chance that the Giants will need to move on from guard Kevin Zeitler as a cap casualty this offseason, and there might not be a better interior lineman to hit the market than Wisniewski.
Wisniewski, 31, did not allow a sack this season and surrendered just eight pressures in 209 total snaps for the Kansas City Chiefs. Pro Football Focus gave Wisniewski a 61.2 overall grade, and a 60.5 run-blocking mark. Because of his versatility to play all three interior guard positions, he would be an ideal fit for the Giants.
Sunday, Wisniewski will be playing in his third Super Bowl in three years and going for his second Super Bowl ring. That kind of veteran experience, combined with his reputation for being a respected locker room leader, would bring a valuable presence along the Giants’ young but rebuilding offensive line.
No. 3: Ross Cockrell – CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The NY Giants made a legitimate run at signing Cockrell last spring, and would be wise to give it another go next month.
Cockrell signed with the Buccaneers shortly after talks broke down with the Giants, and had a productive season in Tampa Bay’s secondary.
Appearing in 238 total defensive snaps, Cockrell held opposing quarterbacks to an 89.3 passer rating when targeting him, and receivers averaged just 6.9 yards per reception against him in the nine games he played.
Cockrell produced nine solo tackles
With the versatility to play outside or in the slot, Cockrell would add quality depth at the nickel cornerback spot, along with Logan Ryan, and perhaps push for the starting job opposite Pro Bowler James Bradberry.
No. 2: Lavonte David – LB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers enter the offseason with approximately $24.4 million in cap space, but several high-priced free agents to try to retain, meaning some combination of Levonte David, Chris Godwin, and Shaq Barrett will be available. After all, there’s only one franchise tag.
David remains one of the NFL’s more prolific inside linebackers, producing 117 tackles with 1.5 sacks and one interception in 2020. Pro Football Focus lists David as the NFL’s No. 5 ranked inside linebacker.
One year after striking gold with Blake Martinez, NY Giants general manager Dave Gettleman should put on a full-court press to pair Martinez with David in the heart of the Giants’ defense. Martinez finished last season with 108 solo tackles, one interception and two forced fumbles.
An inside linebacker duo of Martinez-David would be among the most formidable in the NFL.
No. 1: Chris Godwin – WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Nothing is more important for the NY Giants this offseason than surrounding quarterback Daniel Jones with explosive game-altering talent at the offensive skill positions, and Chris Godwin will be the most dominant receiver available if he hits the open market.
There is a chance that the Buccaneers use the franchise tag on Godwin, but if he reaches free agency, Gettleman and the Giants must do everything possible to sign him.
One of the game’s most prolific wide receivers, with strong and reliable hands, Godwin battled through injuries in 2020 and still caught 65 passes for 840 yards and seven touchdowns, while averaging 12.9 yards per reception. Godwin would have been the Giants’ leading receiver by 89 yards in 2020, and he caught four more touchdowns than Darius Slayton’s team-high three.
Godwin is a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver, and he would give Daniel Jones the kind of weapon that can take the top off a defense and accelerate a young quarterback’s development.
Matt Lombardo is the site expert for GMenHQ, and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday for FanSided. Follow Matt on Twitter: @MattLombardoNFL.