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NFL rumors: Should NY Giants sign K.J. Wright?

By Matt Lombardo

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 05: K.J. Wright #50 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates the 17-9 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 05, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 05: K.J. Wright #50 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates the 17-9 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 05, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /
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The NY Giants could use an additional veteran presence at linebacker, alongside Blake Martinez, and K.J. Wright may be an ideal fit.

The NY Giants struck gold during free agency last March, signing Blake Martinez, who went on to have a Pro Bowl caliber first season in 2020, but have yet to mine a viable linebacker to start alongside him in the middle of Patrick Graham’s defense.

During the 2020 NFL Draft, the NY Giants chose Cam Brown, Tae Crowder, T.J. Brunson, and Carter Coughlin in Rounds 6-7, but despite all four showing flashes as rookies, it seems an open-competition could be in order for the second starting inside linebacker job.

One of those young players might develop, but the NY Giants seem all-in on trying to compete in 2021, thanks to marquee free agent additions Kenny Golladay, Adoree’ Jackson, and Kyle Rudolph as quarterback Daniel Jones enters his third NFL season.

There just might be an ideal candidate to start at linebacker still sitting available in free agency; K.J. Wright.

Wright, listed by Pro Football Focus as the No. 14 rated linebacker in the league, is still looking for a home:

"Somehow still available as a free agent, K.J. Wright is clearly still one of the better linebackers in the league, even at 31 years old. A position switch in Seattle last season only further showed the breadth of what he can still accomplish within a defensive scheme, and he finished the year as the eighth-highest-graded linebacker in the NFL (75.3)."

Any pursuit of Wright might be a litmus test for Jost how close — or far away the NY Giants view themselves from being legitimate postseason contenders.

Last season, Wright produced 86 tackles, one season removed from a career-high 132, and added one interception and a pair of sacks.

At age 31, and given the fact that the calendar just turned to June, Wright would likely come closer to the veteran minimum than he would have liked this offseason, which only bolsters the NY Giants’ reasons for signing him.

Wright would take away playing time from Brown, Crowder, Brunson, and Coughlin early.

While the NY Giants seem to be operating as a franchise eager to get young players snaps in hopes of developing sustained success, the four rookie linebackers combined for just 86 total tackles, one sack, four forced fumbles. But none started more than six games.

Much like Logan Ryan’s arrival brought stability to a young secondary last summer and into the season, if the younger players can’t beat out Wright, he would certainly elevate this defense.

Matt Lombardo is FanSided’s National NFL Insider and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday. Email Matt: Matt.Lombardo@FanSided.com, Follow Matt on Twitter: @MattLombardoNFL

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