NFL rumors: NY Giants an ideal fit for Kyle Van Noy

Kyle Van Noy has played his final snap for the Miami Dolphins, the team announced Tuesday, and the veteran linebacker is an ideal fit for the NY Giants.

NY Giants general manager Dave Gettleman would need to quickly get to work creating cap space, as the New York currently has just under $1 million in spending flexibility under the current $180 million salary cap floor, but from a scheme and leadership standpoint, Van Noy would be an instant upgrade.

Van Noy, 29, played just one season in Miami following a four-year stint with the New England Patriots. In 2020, Van Noy produced 69 total tackles, six sacks, while adding 18 pressures and four quarterback knockdowns.

Not surprisingly, Van Noy was miffed by the Dolphins’ decision to move on just one year into a four-year contract worth $51 million.

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Miami’s loss, could be the NY Giants’ gain, as signing Van Noy would not factor into the equation for compensatory draft picks the Giants would lose, because he will be available prior to free agency officially beginning.

Adding Van Noy and pairing him alongside Blake Martinez would give the NY Giants two veteran and proven productive linebackers in the heart of coordinator Patrick Graham’s defense, and alleviate pressure from second-year players such as Cam Brown, Tae Crowder, and Carter Coughlin needing to step up in order for the defense to level up in 2021.

Likewise, Kyler Fackrell is set to become an unrestricted free agent and both Lorenzo Carter and Oshane Ximines are coming off injuries — and are major question marks for a pass-rush that relied significantly on generating pressure from its three down-linemen in 2020.

More than just a pass-rusher, Van Noy produced a 60.4 run-stopping grade from Pro Football Focus last season and made 10 tackles for loss.

Over the course of last season, Martinez, cornerback James Bradberry, and defensive back Logan Ryan emerged as three of the NY Giants’ most respected leaders, an area Van Noy would instantly upgrade.

During his four seasons with the Patriots, crossing paths with NY Giants head coach Joe Judge, Van Noy won a pair of Super Bowls, so his veteran presence would certainly be a welcomed addition to a young locker room.

Judge certainly understands Van Noy’s value to a locker room as well as a defense, now it just might come down to Gettleman finding a way to fit the veteran linebacker under the cap, as he is an ideal fit for the culture and scheme the organization is aiming to build.

Matt Lombardo is the site expert for GMenHQ, and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday for FanSided. Follow Matt on Twitter: @MattLombardoNFL.