The New York Giants appeared to make one of the bigger splashes of the NFL's negotiating window by agreeing to terms with veteran linebacker Tremaine Edmunds. However, not everyone seems to be on board with the move, including a longtime Chicago Bears expert: Ryan Heckman of Bear Goggles On.
Edmunds was one of the top free agents available this offseason, or so we thought. Be that as it may, our conversation with Heckman following the news suggests New York could regret this transaction in due course. Giants fans suddenly don't know what to believe anymore, but now have grounds to be on high alert until proven otherwise.
After watching Edmunds fail to live up to a lofty payday in Chicago, Heckman filled Big Blue Nation in on what the Giants are getting:
"Although [Edmunds] came to Chicago as a player with a strong reputation in coverage, he didn't live up to that billing. The raw numbers might show he was tough for quarterbacks to target (no more than an 85.0 passer rating allowed in three seasons). But the tape doesn't match. Whether it was in pass coverage or against the run, he was too often seen just a step behind the play; a "day late and a dollar short," if you will.
Despite Edmunds' excellent pedigree, it sounds like the Giants may have paid for his past production.
Bears expert warns Giants fans to temper expectations for LB Tremaine Edmunds
There seems to be relief that Edmunds is out of Chicago. His box score and the good old eye test tell two different stories, which raises valid concerns. Heckman indicates that might be why the Bears chose to go in a different direction.
Nevertheless, there's upside for Edmunds to regain his "Buffalo Bills form" with a better defensive line than the one he had in Chicago, per Heckman. The 2018 first-round pick sometimes had to make up for the Bears' shortcomings in the trenches and would wind up being out of place. Fortunately, the Giants boast one of the league's premier front sevens, which puts him in a great spot to bounce back.
Giants star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence is a one-man wrecking crew. All-Pro Brian Burns and 2025 No. 3 overall pick Abdul Carter are an elite pass-rushing tandem. Their presence should make life much easier for Edmunds and give him ample opportunities to return to Pro Bowl status.
If it's any consolation, Heckman said Edmunds was "beloved" in the Bears' locker room and a "huge culture guy." So, at least the Giants are getting a respected leader to connect new head coach John Harbaugh's defense. But is that worth a three-year, $36 million contract?