NY Giants: The 3 best and worst free agent signings by Dave Gettleman

No. 2 best: Blake Martinez, 2020

The NY Giants brought in Blake Martinez to fill a void they’ve had at linebacker since the departure of Antonio Pierce. After questions about his coverage ability, many wondered if he was the right guy to throw $30 million at.

It turns out that Martinez was everything the team was looking for and more. The former Green Bay Packer was a machine for the Giants all season long – endearing himself to New York with 151 tackles, three sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception.

Along with his impressive stats, Martinez’s leadership ability caught the attention of everyone. With Patrick Graham bringing a whole new defense with him to New York, Martinez was the perfect choice to captain it.

Graham was exuberant when speaking about Martinez last season, even saying he was “playing the best football I’ve ever seen him play.” For a player who was a key cog in a fantastic Packers team, it was high praise.

After years of trying, the Giants were finally able to fill the void they’ve had at linebacker – and Martinez doesn’t want to be anywhere else. He’s mentioned multiple times on social media that he wants to be a Giant for life.

Martinez made a strong impression on the Giants, and the team made a strong impression on him. If his first season in blue was any indication, it’ll be a happy marriage for the two parties.