The New York Giants lost a big piece of their defensive line when 32-year-old veteran DE/DT Roy Robertson-Harris suffered an unfortunate Achilles tear at OTAs. While Robertson-Harris wasn’t a known stat stuffer, he was an above-average edge setter, offered pass-rush ability both inside and out, and was a veteran leader within the unit. Robertson-Harris started and played in all 17 games, registering 35 tackles, including six for loss.
The G-Men have worked out multiple free-agent defensive linemen, most recently Eddie Goldman. Big Blue opted to sign 32-year-old nose tackle Josh Tupou instead. Tupou, though, has only appeared in six games over the past two seasons and has spent most of that time on a practice squad.
New York will lean on its mix of recent additions, but they could also look to add someone with more production to the unit. Here are three players the Giants could potentially add.
Three free agents who could help fill the Roy Robertson-Harris void
1. DaQuan Jones
DaQuan Jones is a very solid veteran defensive lineman who could step in and be an immediate impact player for the unit. He can play inside and out depending on what the Giants want to show up front, and he can get after the passer. Jones, even at 34, still produces.
Last year, the 6-foot-4, 320-pound tackle racked up 22 tackles, three sacks, a pair of passes defended, a forced fumble, and even an interception in 12 games with the Bills. Jones has already worked out for the Giants and may be looking to latch onto a late-season contender, but if the Giants can add Jones as a tackle opposite Shelby Harris with nose tackle D.J. Reader up front, that defensive line, along with Abdul Carter and Brian Burns, will be a nightmare for opposing offenses.
2. Foley Fatukasi
The Giants have a theme on the defensive line this offseason: GET REALLY BIG PEOPLE.
In free agency, they signed multiple players over 6-foot-3 and 320 pounds, and they drafted Bobby Jamison-Travis, so why not keep the trend going with Foley Fatukasi? Keep building up that wall.
Fatukasi is coming off a four-game season that ended early after he sustained a season-ending shoulder injury. The Giants could check in on the 31-year-old and give him a shot coming off the injury. In the previous four seasons, he played in and started 15, 14, 16, and 11 games.
Fatukasi, if healthy, will produce. He seemed off to a productive start last season, logging one and a half sacks and eight tackles in four games. If the G-men add the 6-foot-4 tackle to the room and he stays healthy, it could pay off big time for them.
3. Dontay Corleone
Yes, I know this one is outside the box and comes with its own set of risks, but why not give it a chance?
Undrafted rookie Deontay Corleone had a ton of eyes on him in college, and while he has some medical issues he needs to work through, he could be a great stash pickup for the Giants. Adding him this late in the game while he works on getting healthy could be a smart move. Corleone underwent tightrope surgery on his ankle to help stabilize it, and he also has blood clots in his leg.
The medical concerns have scared teams off, but great players like Christian Barmore and Trey Smith are two examples of players who have overcome blood clots and gone on to have successful NFL careers. Corleone could sit while he gets healthy, learn the playbook, get mental reps, and potentially see some time later in the season.
Corleone may be on the shorter side of what the Giants are building, standing at just 6-foot-1, but veteran Shelby Harris is only 6-foot-2. What Corleone lacks in height, he makes up for in weight at 335 pounds while being a disruptor and game-wrecker at nose tackle. Letting Corleone sit behind Reader and learn could really pay dividends.
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