byron jones

There’s no excuse for New York Giants to miss out on top cornerback FA

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New York Giants, Byron Jones, Dallas Cowboys

The New York Giants need to allocate cap space towards a multitude of different units, but the reality is, cornerback must be at the top of the list, if not alongside pass rusher and right tackle.

The cornerback market is stocked full of talent this offseason, but the best option available is Dallas Cowboys corner, Byron Jones, who’s just 27 years old. Jones is a sneaky good corner, posting fantastically low numbers in all categories. When a corner’s numbers are as simple and plain as Jones’, you know he’s locking down opposing pass-catchers, since quarterbacks aren’t throwing his way.

His 46 tackles and six passes defended don’t exactly scream “efficient.” Did I mention his zero interceptions? You might be intrigued by jones‘ 53.1% catch-rate against him, and just three touchdowns scored. He only allowed 395 yards to receiver the entire season (15 games).

From CBS Sports:

Byron Jones should be the top corner available in free agency, and CBS Sports contributor Joel Corry, a former agent and salary cap expert, anticipates he’ll be one of the top earners outside of the QB position — so much so that the 27-year-old defensive back is not only likely to price his way out of Dallas but become the NFL’s new highest-paid DB.

“Anything under $16 million per year with fewer than $50 million in overall guarantees would be surprising,” Corry said. “I doubt he’s back in Dallas. I’ve thought his long-term fate with the Cowboys was sealed when (right tackle) La’el Collins signed a contract extension at the end of last preseason.”

The New York Giants have the resourced to plug multiple holes of need:

The Giants have plenty of cap space to go out and sign Jones for $16-18 million per season, but it would put a significant dent in their allocations towards a pass rusher and tackle. Despite that concern, they could effectively invest $17 million in Jones, $20 million into a pass-rusher, and $18-20 million into a right tackle and still have $30 million left over. That would plug three positions of absolute need this offseason, turning the Giants team into a potentially competitive one.

However, knowing GM Dave Gettleman, the moves we hope they make will only come to fruition in an alternate reality.

How can the New York Giants upgrade their secondary?

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New York Jets, Logan Ryan, Tennessee Titans

The New York Giants pass defense was well documented as being one of the worst in the league last season.  The Giants secondary gave up more than 4,200 passing yards on the season (28th overall) and 7.1 yards per pass attempt (29th overall).  New York must upgrade their pass defense, but according to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, those upgrades will not come from spending big in the cornerback market in free agency.

How will the New York Giants improve their pass defense?

Much of the headaches in the pass defense could be attributed to the lack of experience in the secondary.  Only three of the cornerbacks that saw impactful snap counts for the Giants defense last season had any playing time before last season.  Only one, Janoris Jenkins, started more than ten games heading into 2019. 

Many believe that the New York Giants may look at the top of the 2020 NFL Draft to help upgrade the cornerback position, but is adding more inexperience a good move?  Maybe. Ohio State’s Jeffrey Okudah seems to have the talent. However, adding a veteran presence to replace Janoris Jenkins looks to be the better move for New York.

If the rumors are true and the Giants won’t spend big on the cornerback market in free agency, who does that leave?  It most certainly rules out Byron Jones, assuming he doesn’t get an extension from Dallas. Jones will be one of the most highly sought free agents on the market and will likely get paid as such.  

Chris Harris, Jr., Logan Ryan, Bradley Roby, and Jimmy Smith are all free agents that made at or above $10 million per year on average.  However, is $10 million the bar for the Giants? Also, was their performance or age going to impact their number? I wouldn’t rule these names out like I would with Jones, but they may be just outside where New York is willing to go for the position.

So, who could the Giants target in free agency?

Former first-round selection for the Minnesota Vikings, Trae Waynes found himself not having an excellent coverage year in 2019.  His speed is his top trait, and he consistently has been good as a run defender. Unfortunately, his coverage ability has not been as consistent.  He shows flashes, but in the last four seasons has given up 16 touchdowns.

Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Darqueze Dennard is another intriguing name for New York to keep an eye on.  He’s a solid cornerback, particularly in the slot, but has not been the most durable. With only one full season in the last six, health should undoubtedly be a concern for the Giants.  

I am sure the Giants would love to take Byron Jones away from a divisional rival and excel.  However, if the cost is an issue, there may be another option. Enter former Eagle Ronald Darby. Darby had an extremely forgetful 2019 season, posting an abysmal 45.9 grade with PFF.  He has battled injuries throughout his career and was put on injured reserve in December for a hip injury. Before 2019, Darby had been a very reliable starter, when healthy. Could he return to that form?

What is the Giants answer at improving the pass defense?

All of these options are risky.  Spend less money on inconsistent talent or durability concerns.  This has been the gamble that has hurt the New York Giants in other recent free agency moves.  The best way to help an inexperienced pass defense is to upgrade the pass rush. It’s been the story for the Giants all along, and that will not change.  

Yannick Ngakoue, Shaquil Barrett, and Kyle Van Noy could all be and should be considerations for the Giants.  The Chase Young dream is unlikely. Isaiah Simmons is versatile and talented, but will that translate to a consistent threat in disrupting the quarterback?  Trading back and somehow taking a K’Lavon Chaisson, AJ Epenesa, or any of the other next tier rookie edge defenders is an option. Whatever the case, if the Giants want to improve the pass defense without spending big in free agency, the best way to do that is to spend big in getting to the quarterback.

New York Giants: Byron Jones Should Be The Top Free Agent Target

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The New York Giants possess one of the worst defenses in the NFL. In 2019, the Giants’ secondary was especially bad. New York’s pass defense ranked fifth-worst in the NFL this season, allowing 264.1 passing yards per game (ESPN). Granted, the team had multiple rookie defensive backs starting for them. But this league-ranking is unacceptable regardless and needs to improve in 2020.

Luckily for the Giants, there are plenty of options to improve their secondary this offseason. Whether it be drafting a young stud defensive back in the first round or spending big in free agency- the possibilities are limitless. In free agency, there are plenty of big-name offensive tackles and edge rushers that Giants fans will drool over. But the player they should be drooling over is in the secondary. Byron Jones, Dallas Cowboys defensive back, should be the Giants’ top free-agent target in 2020.

Free Agent Cornerbacks Pay Off

The Giants have spent big in the secondary before. Over the past five years, the Giants have signed a couple of big-name cornerbacks. Fist, New York secured Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in the 2014 NFL offseason. The Giants signed DRC to a five-year deal that saw him total 11 interceptions and 46 passes defended in three seasons. Rodgers-Cromartie was also selected as a second-team All-Pro in 2016.

DRC was not the only free agent cornerback from which the Giants got high returns. More recently, the Giants parted ways with cornerback Janoris Jenkins. Jenkins was a big signing for the Giants in the 2016 offseason when the team spent heavily on impact players in free agency, such as Jenkins, Olivier Vernon, and Damon Harrison.

In that 2016 offseason, the Giants signed Janoris Jenkins to a five-year deal. The Giants got three and a half years out of Janoris. In those three and a half seasons, Janoris Jenkins racked up 12 interceptions, and 56 passes defended. Janoris Jenkins was also selected as a first-team All-Pro in 2016. The Giants’ past two cornerback free agent signings have paid off big-time with elite play and reliability in their secondary.

Why The Giants Should Sign Byron Jones

If the Giants make a third big purchase in the secondary, signing Byron Jones in the 2020 offseason would be a home run. Undoubtedly, Byron Jones is the best cornerback set to be available in free agency in 2020.

The Giants’ secondary is filled with youthful talent. DeAndre Baker, Sam Beal, Corey Ballentine, Julian Love, and Grant Haley are all second and third-year players. Having a talented veteran presence in the secondary should be a top priority for the Gmen. Byron Jones fits the bill at 27-years-old with 5 years of experience.

The Cowboys are in a bit of trouble regarding their salary cap. They just paid Ezekiel Elliot and Demarcus Lawrence, and they still have not paid Dak Prescott. New head coach Mike McCarthy will have some tough decisions to make regarding the team’s impending free agents, and he might have to let some big names walk out the door. Byron Jones could be one of those big names to depart.

Byron Jones is a versatile cornerback that makes a significant impact in pass coverage. He has experience playing both safety and cornerback at the professional level and has done both exceptionally well. Jones is 6 feet tall and 200 pounds. He’s a large-bodied cornerback with peak physicality to cover larger receivers and tight ends. Finally, the Giants could get a coverage-man to shut down opposing tight ends.

New York Giants: Byron Jones A Top Free Agent Target In The Secondary

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The New York Giants have been rebuilding their secondary. Last offseason, the Giants invested heavily into their secondary during the 2019 NFL Draft. New York spent three of their draft picks on defensive backs in the draft (four if counting Sam Beal).

2019 was a step in the right direction for the Giants’ secondary. However, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done. The Giants’ pass defense ranked fifth-worst in the NFL this season allowing 264.1 passing yards per game.

This offseason, the Giants need to prioritize rebuilding their secondary again. They are estimated by Spotrac to have over $69 million in cap space before they start trimming the fat and cutting veteran contracts. This gives New York the capability to sign big-name free agents in the secondary.

Luckily, there is one superstar cornerback that is set to hit the market in 2020. The Dallas Cowboys’ cornerback Byron Jones will be one of the most highly-coveted cornerbacks in the 2020 free agency period, and he should be one of the Giants’ top targets.

Byron Jones Stats and Highlights

The Giants’ division-rival Byron Jones is one of the best cornerbacks in the league. At 27-years-old, Byron would be a perfect addition to the Giants’ youthful defense.

Byron Jones is a versatile cornerback that makes a significant impact in pass coverage. He has experience playing both safety and cornerback at the professional level and has done both exceptionally well. Jones is 6 feet tall and 200 pounds. He’s a large-bodied cornerback with peak physicality to cover larger receivers and tight ends

The 27-year old defensive back out of Connecticut spent his first five seasons with the division-rival Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys are in a bit of trouble regarding their salary cap. They just paid Ezekiel Elliot and Demarcus Lawrence, and they still have not paid Dak Prescott. New head coach Mike McCarthy will have some tough decisions to make regarding the team’s impending free agents, and he might have to let some big names walk out the door. Byron Jones could be one of those big names to depart.

According to Pro Football Focus, Jones had a forced incompletion rate of 15.1%, which ranked 22nd among corners through Week 17, and he held opponents to a 22nd-ranked 11.0 yards per reception. Jones has also tallied 20 passes defended over the last two seasons to go with 111 combined tackles in the same span.

 

New York Jets: 3 Defensive Free Agents the Jets Should Target

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New York Jets

The New York Jets are entering this offseason with a lot of promise on the defensive side of the ball. However, there are still some massive holes they need to patch up if they want to be elite. The Jets don’t seem likely to use their first round pick this year on defense so who do they look at in free agency to strengthen up their unit.

Yannick Ngakoue

Yannick Ngakoue is a tremendously talented edge rusher who was the 69th overall pick back in 2016 by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Ngakoue is just 24 years old and is long overdue for a big payday after racking up 37.5 sacks over his first four years in the league. A member of the 2016 all-rookie team and 2017 pro bowl he is well accomplished. If the Jets were to go after Ngakoue expect a massive contract averaging from 19-22 million dollars per year. New York may not be the most ideal place to go especially with a problematic head coach, but if the money is right, he might be persuaded.

Byron Jones

Now some people might be reluctant to sign another 27-year-old cornerback after the Trumaine Johnson fiasco, but beggars can’t be a chooser. The Jets need him badly. Over the past two seasons, Byron Jones has been a shutdown number 1 corner and has only missed one game in his entire career. The danger in signing Jones is the fear that he might revert to his early years where he was wildly inconsistent and routinely got burned. Jones is one hell of an athlete setting a world record for broad jump in the 2015 NFL combine. If the Jets were to sign Jones, they’d likely have to pay him anywhere between 12-15 million dollars per year.

Jadeveon Clowney

Jadeveon Clowney has been sort of a bust ever since he came into the league. Early in his career, he was dealing with injuries but now fully healthy he just can’t seem to live up to expectations. Clowney was regarded as a can’t miss prospect and generational talent by many experts and while he may not be the insanely good edge rusher everyone thought he’d be he certainly isn’t terrible. Jadeveon Clowney is the edge rusher equivalent of Leonard Williams, good on his own but needs help to be great. If Clowney were paired up with Gregg Williams in this blitz heavy aggressive defense surrounded by the front seven talent the Jets have accumulated over the past couple years he might just reach his potential. Clowney’s market is anywhere between 13-17 million dollars, a price worth paying if he’s the Jets long lost sack master.

New York Giants: Top Three Big-Name Free Agent Targets In 2020

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The New York Giants are rebuilding their 4-12 roster this offseason. New York hired its new head coach Joe Judge and is continuing to fill out its coaching staff. Judge and general manager Dave Gettleman will work this offseason endlessly to turn this team around and build a competitive roster.

This process will begin in March with the opening of free agency. The Giants can be big spenders this year if they want to be. They are estimated by Spotrac to have over $69 million in cap space before they start trimming the fat and cutting veteran contracts.

This influx of cap space could allow the Giants to shop near the top of the free agency market. Luckily for them, this is a loaded group of free agents hitting the open market in 2020. If the Giants go after the big-names, who should their top targets be?

Yannick Ngakoue

The Jacksonville Jaguars seem destined to lose one of their best players this offseason. Edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue is due for a new contract, and the two sides do not appear anywhere close to completing a deal. Last offseason, Ngakoue held out of training camp in hopes of a contract extension.

This offseason, Ngakoue will hit the open market as one of the most highly-coveted free agents. Through 4 seasons, Ngakoue has totaled 37.5 sacks. He has not had a single season in his career with less than 8 sacks, hitting that number in all 4 seasons, including a career-high 12 sacks in 2017. Additionally, Ngakoue has totaled 122 combined tackles over 4 years.

At only 24 years-old, Yannick Ngakoue would be a vital building block for the future of the Giants’ future. However, Yannick’s talents would not come cheap. The pass-rusher has an estimated market value of $17.1 million, according to Spotrac. This would create a significant dent in the Giants’ salary cap. But at a position of such great need for the Giants, it would be worth it to pay for the upgrade with Yannick Ngakoue.

Byron Jones

Another defensive building block will be available at the top of the market this offseason. However, this next option is not a pass-rusher. Byron Jones is a versatile cornerback that makes a significant impact in pass coverage. 

Byron’s versatility prevails through his ability to play both safety and cornerback efficiently. Jones is 6 feet tall and 200 pounds, a large-bodied cornerback with peak physicality to cover larger receivers and tight ends:

The 27-year old defensive back out of Connecticut spent his first five seasons with the division-rival Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys are in a bit of trouble regarding their salary cap. They just paid Ezekiel Elliot and Demarcus Lawrence, and they still have not paid Dak Prescott. New head coach Mike McCarthy will have some tough decisions to make regarding the team’s impending free agents, and he might have to let some big names walk out the door. Byron Jones could be one of those big names to depart.

According to Pro Football Focus, Jones had a forced incompletion rate of 15.1%, which ranked 22nd among corners through Week 17, and he held opponents to a 22nd-ranked 11.0 yards per reception. Jones has also tallied 20 passes defended over the last two seasons to go with 111 combined tackles in the same span.

The Giants’ youthful secondary has a lot of inexperienced cornerbacks that have yet to prove themselves as capable starters at the professional level. Throwing Byron Jones into the mix would give the Gmen a reliable cornerback to gel the defense together.

Jack Conklin

The Tennessee Titans’ former All-Pro offensive tackle Jack Conklin will be a free agent this offseason. The right tackle is 25 years old, with four years of NFL experience under his belt. Conklin will be by far the best offensive tackle available this offseason.

Offensive tackle is a significant position of need for the New York Giants. Their 2019 right tackle Mike Remmers was only committed to a one-year deal and will likely walk away in free agency this offseason. On the opposite side, left tackle Nate Solder has seen a drastic decrease in quality-of-play and is being paid top-tier money. The Giants could look to move on from Nate sooner than later.

It is not a stretch to say that Conklin would be a notable upgrade over either of the Giants’ current offensive tackles. Conklin is not an excellent pass-protector, but he is a versatile and reliable run-blocker. According to PFF, Conklin finished with the No. 6 grade on zone runs, and the No. 14 mark on gap runs.

Jack Conklin was selected as a First-Team All-Pro during his rookie season in 2016. Since then, Conklin has not been quite as good, but he has still been one of the best right tackles in the NFL. Signing Jack Conklin would instantly turn one of the Giants’ positions of need into a position of strength.

New York Giants could seek secondary help Cowboys free agent corner

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New York Giants, Byron Jones, Dallas Cowboys

The New York Giants might be using the Dallas Cowboys as a farm system this offseason, as they’re linked to former head coach, Jason Garrett, and cornerback Byron Jones could also be on their possible list.

Jones, who will be a free agent this winter, had a solid season with Dallas, logging 44 total tackles and six passes defended. He didn’t record any interceptions, but opposing quarterbacks didn’t target him frequently in coverage. However, he did allow an 87.7 passer rating to opposing quarterbacks, which is a bit higher than I would like. He only allowed a 53.1% completion percentage against him, though, which is a decent number.

With the Giants in need of a starting veteran corner, Jones offers a cheaper option. He holds enough quality to be a serviceable starter opposite DeAndre Baker, but he’s not a No. 1 corner by any means.

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Why the New York Giants should have faith in Byron Jones:

While Jones’ statistical totals from 2019 aren’t noteworthy, his past production certainly is. His worst season was last year, by a significant amount, meaning he ‘was’ a quality starter and offers plenty of value for a team in need of a starting corner.

At 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, Jones has ideal length, a factor that defensive coordinators seek in cornerbacks. His versatility and ability to slide into a free safety role, if needed, makes him even more valuable.

If GM Dave Gettleman isn’t keen on dumping a ton of money into a cornerback, Jones could be a more conservative option that would still offer substantial value. Paired up with Baker, who had a rough rookie campaign, the Giants could have a much better secondary in 2020. However, they still need to address the free safety position and lock up a slot cornerback. Corey Ballentine struggled last season and cannot be trusted in coverage moving forward, despite any developmental progress.

The Giants have plenty of cap space, and draft picks to address positions of need, so trotting rookies out to hold down the fort cannot be an acceptable scenario any longer.