Free Agency

The New York Jets need to get a quarterback (Yes, really)

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For the umpteenth year in a row, the New York Jets are looking for a quarterback…don’t worry, it’s not what you think.

The metropolitan area has had to deal with a lot of changes over the past few weeks. One thing that has remained constant is the New York Jets’ need to add a quarterback.

You’ve probably stopped reading at this point and have ventured to Twitter to send a comment, one probably peppered with unmentionables. If you’re still here, thank you for your patience. Sam Darnold, barring disaster, is still the Jets’ franchise man moving forward. More is needed to truly entrench himself into the green culture for the next decade, but he is, bar none, the Jets’ greatest hope under center in a long, long time.

But to save their quarterback, the Jets must look to improve at the position. This offseason has already seen plenty of change, primarily in the department of keeping Darnold safe. A majority of the spring budget has been dedicated to newcomers George Fant and Connor McGovern and the return of guard Alex Lewis.

Backup quarterback, however, must be toward the penthouse in terms of the team’s remaining needs.

The position of the backup quarterback is the literal life insurance of football. You hope you never need it. But if the time comes, it must keep you alive and it must provide benefits.

New York had a guy like that in the form of a colorful character. He was no Mayhem or Aflac Duck, but Josh McCown made a career of being the quintessential NFL backup. Against all odds, he built a professional football tenure that could well reach two decades. McCown’s most impactful stop was his tenure with the Jets. In the grand scheme of the football archives, his two-year term could be easily forgotten. But McCown not only created a home in the story of a literal journeyman, but he also carved a permanent place for himself in the annals of Jets history.

McCown entered New York as a stopgap. It was clear that neither Bryce Petty or Christian Hackenberg was going to be the man of the future, so McCown commandeered the 2017 starting quarterback position. Against monumental odds, McCown put five victories on the Jets’ ledger in a year that USA Today predicted that a goose egg would be in their win column. He posted the best numbers of his career (2,926 yards, 18 touchdowns) and kept the Jets competitive. McCown posted a 5-8 record as a starter, but six of those defeats came by a single-digit margin.

Even with the unexpected success and an invite back, McCown was never expected to be the Jets’ man beyond that year. That obvious point was solidified with a trade up from the sixth to the third pick of the 2018 NFL Draft. You know by now that the pick was used on Darnold. But McCown still played a major role: mentor.

Nov 25, 2018; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets quarterback Josh McCown (15) drops back to pass against the New England Patriots during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Darnold’s first NFL activities were done under McCown’s watch. The rookie immediately went over McCown’s wing, learning the ins and outs of professional football from the seasoned thrower. McCown was kept aboard as Darnold’s primary backup, allowing their relationship to continue into the regular season So strong did their chemistry become that they nearly broke the internet with synchronized hair flipping.

An injury to Darnold pressed McCown back into the starting role. When Darnold returned in December for the season’s final quarter, he capped off his debut year on a good note to the tune of 931 yards, six touchdowns, and a passer rating of 99.1.

Asked what the key to that success was, Darnold knew exactly who to thank.

“I really do just think it was just watching Josh,” Darnold said in December 2018. “Just the way he went about studying the plays that are in the game plan, it’s literally everything, walkthrough, practice, how he treated everything. I think it was just awesome to be able to learn and watch him.”

The Jets need someone like that behind Darnold once more.

It’s not optimal for the Jets to have a quarterback room where Darnold is the elder statesman. He has enough to worry about in the unenviable role of Jets franchise quarterback, where the simplest flaw can cause a derailment. A quarterback who has been there before, to know what Darnold is going through, would help him fulfill the potential the Jets saw with the third overall pick.

Additionally, returning to the insurance comparison, the Jets must ensure that the loss of Darnold is not a death sentence. The Jets have played six games without Darnold over the past two years due to injuries or illness, losing each by typically one-sided margins. Promising seasons across the NFL have sunk due to the inability to prepare for disaster. The Pittsburgh Steelers were the unfortunate victims last season, as a combination of Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges wasn’t enough to push a resilient effort into the playoffs after Ben Roethlisberger went down early on.

If anyone knows about the importance of a backup quarterback, it’s Jets general manager Joe Douglas. Nick Foles failed to pan out as the Philadelphia Eagles’ long-term starter, but that didn’t stop Douglas and Eagles GM Howie Roseman from bringing him back in the mentor/backup role behind Carson Wentz. When Wentz was lost to injury in December, Foles wound up taking the team to its elusive first Super Bowl title. Further proof of the backup value was on display across the league. Where the Steelers failed, the Saints (Teddy Bridgewater/Taysom Hill), Titans (Ryan Tannehill), and modern Super Bowl champion Chiefs (Matt Moore) were able to succeed despite losing their starter.

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – OCTOBER 07: Robby Anderson #11 and Sam Darnold #14 of the New York Jets celebrate with teammate Josh McCown #15 after scoring a 35 yard touchdown against the Denver Broncos during the second quarter in the game at MetLife Stadium on October 07, 2018 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

With the Jets inching back toward respectability, having a reliable backup is more important than ever. Questions about contention can reign when it comes to the Jets’ MetLife Stadium co-tenants, but the New York Giants fulfilled a perfect requirement in their recent addition of Colt McCoy. The former starter in Cleveland can serve as a mentor to their own future leader, Daniel Jones, and is capable of keeping the team afloat in case of emergency.

Choosing one will be a delicate process. The Jets had the right idea in bringing in Trevor Siemian last season. Siemian was serviceable enough as a starter in Denver and had the right experience, but his Jets career ended almost as soon as it began, wiped out by a scary injury in his first relief appearance for Darnold.

What this process needs is the type of quarterback who can mentor Darnold but not cause a panic if he does succeed. The last thing the Jets need is a long-term quarterback controversy, which leaves the possibility of drafting a backup out. Fortunately, the free agency pool is deep with experience and efficiency.

The ideal choice in this process would perhaps be the aforementioned Moore. Not only does he bring the perfect goods…13 seasons, 32 starts, and a Super Bowl ring…he has also worked in the systems of head coach Adam Gase and offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains. It was, in fact, Moore who started Gase’s only postseason game to date, overseeing a rare Miami Dolphins playoff trip when Tannehill went down in 2016-17. During his substitute work for Patrick Mahomes this season, Moore’s yardage as a starter outpaced Kirk Cousins, Deshaun Watson, Aaron Rodgers, and Darnold himself in those couple of weeks. He also posted a passer rating of 105.5 in that two-week span.

If the Jets miss out on Moore, perhaps the recently released Joe Flacco can make the mentorship of Darnold his final NFL project before retirement. Flacco, 35, was meant to be a stopgap for Drew Lock and was bid farewell this week after fulfilling that purpose. Former AFC finalist Blake Bortles is also an option, or McCown himself could come back if he’s looking to play another year. McCown finally added NFL playoff snaps to his resume last year as a member of the Eagles.

Whatever happens, the Jets need to pounce on this opportunity. The fragile mind of a young quarterback anointed as the franchise savior is a terrible thing to waste. Thus, it must be placed in the most stable hands possible. Such assistance doesn’t have to come entirely from the coaching staff.

Every great hero of New York lore has been aided by a mentor. Daredevil had Stick. The Ninja Turtles had Splinter.

Darnold just needs a backup.

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

 

New York Jets: Efficient Free Agency Creating Draft Flexibility

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New York Jets, Joe Douglas

The New York Jets missed out on some of their top targets, but they’ve filled major needs and created flexibility at the draft and beyond.

The New York Jets’ free agency yield to date is a lot like a child receiving fancy clothes, school supplies, or a toothbrush for Christmas…these aren’t necessarily the ones you want, but they’re what you need.

Patience has been the name of the game thus far as the Jets seek reinforcements for their quest to end a playoff dright approaching a decade. They’re not blessed with the surplus that led to the additions of Le’Veon Bell and C.J. Mosley. But cap space funds, to the tune of circa $46 million, give Joe Douglas room to work with in his first offseason as general manager.

The Jets have the flashy toys everybody wants, particularly on offense. Bell is working alongside Sam Darnold, set to enter his third year as the Jets’ most legitimate savior at quarterback in who knows how long. In essence, however, the Jets bought themselves a pair of Cadillacs while ignoring the mold damage in their basement.

That latter, lingering problem has long personified by the offensive line meant to pave the way for Darnold and Bell. Darnold has shown progress over two seasons, but who knows how much potential is stifled by the fact he’s running for his life every Sunday. In two seasons, he has been sacked 63 times. 2019 backups Luke Falk and Trevor Siemian were brought down on an additional 18 occasions while Darnold sat with an illness for three games (all Jets losses). Meanwhile, Bell was forced into the lowest tallies of his career (789 yards, 3 touchdowns, 3.2 average).

The Mike Maccagnan era was defined by its negligence on the offensive line. Prior to taking Chuma Edoga in last year’s third round, the Jets hadn’t chosen a lineman during the draft’s first two days since 2010 (the forgotten Vlad Ducasse). It was the Jets’ big ticket players that wound up paying the price.

Getting offensive line help isn’t one of the more desirable tasks in football. Blockers, in general, may be the most unappreciated group in the major North American sports. Tackle-eligible plays and fumble recoveries in the end zone notwithstanding, there’s little chance to end up in the box score. It’s rare to see fans don the high numerals of linemen on their game day jerseys (Nick Mangold and D’Brickashaw Ferguson were welcome exceptions). The networks don’t cut to draft day parties to show fans going crazy over the selection of a lineman (a vocal few, in fact, jeered the choice of Ferguson as it ensured Matt Leinart would not wear Jets green).

But the early stages of the Joe Douglas era show that a new stanza of Jets history has begun. One of his first moves, for examples, was convincing Pro Bowl center Ryan Kalil to come out of retirement. That move didn’t work out, but it set the stage for a changing of the guard.

With these needs being addressed, they can indulge in new fantasies dominated by skill players.

The earliest portions of 2020 free agency were dominated by the “same old Jets” narratives and tweets. One by one, the Jets’ favorite targets went off the board. Jack Conklin went to Cleveland. Joe Thuney was franchise tagged by the Patriots. Graham Glasgow joined up with Denver. It appeared the Jets would be forced to deal with their makeshift pieces for 2020. All the while, fellow AFC East competitors Buffalo and Miami got better, at least on paper.

Patience, however, was the name of Douglas’ game. It’s a virtue that has followed him from Pennsylvania. Super Bowl-winning general manager Howie Roseman couldn’t help but admire the patience and persistence Douglas, then the Philadelphia Vice President of Player Personnel, showed when they collaborated on the Eagles’ drafts that eventually led to victory in Super Bowl LII.

“We’ve put egos aside,” Roseman told The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Zach Berman leading up to the 2017 draft. “Since he’s been here, have we done everything I’ve wanted to do? No. Have we done everything he’s wanted to do? No. But have we done everything right for the Philadelphia Eagles? Yes.”

“We want to do whatever it takes to bring a winning product to this city.”

Roseman’s comments could’ve well applied to the 2020 Jets. They missed out on their top targets, but they found serviceable veteran replacements. Their first addition was Seattle tackle George Fant. Tuesday brought about not only the return of solid substitution Alex Lewis but also the arrival of new center Connor McGovern.

New York Jets, Connor Mcgovern
Oct 1, 2018; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos guard Connor McGovern (60) against the Kansas City Chiefs at Broncos Stadium at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Additionally, the Jets filled another need by giving cornerback Brian Poole another year at an affordable $5 million.

Suddenly…the Jets have freedom and flexibility, especially when it comes to the NFL Draft.

New York mock drafts in recent years have been dominated by offensive linemen, but these predictions have often been proven wrong with “best player available” selection that didn’t make sense with the team so far from the Super Bowl. Plenty of draft study has since been dedicated to likes of blockers like Jedrick Wills and Tristan Wirfs.

Now, the Jets have more room to work with when it comes to the 11th overall pick. A draft full of strong receiving talent like CeeDee Lamb, Jerry Jeudy, and Henry Ruggs is now open to them, or at least more open when it comes to comfort at the pick and position. Further opportunities are there to perhaps even trade down and acquire more capital in the process.

Furthermore, the Jets’ remaining cap space (circa $25 million after the McGovern contract) can now be dedicated to, once again, needs beyond the line. Robby Anderson’s situation is currently in limbo, but the Jets have more needs that need fulfillment. Darnold could use a veteran mentor backup. Spell back Bilal Powell and Ty Montgomery could hit the open market. Special teams needs might need an overhaul if Lac Edwards departs.

The Jets and their fans might’ve missed out on the gifts they really wanted…the Conklins, the Thuneys, the Dante Fowlers…but, at least on paper, this is a better team than the one that left the New Era Field gridiron with a meaningless win over the Bills.

In the end, that’s the greatest gift of all, at least at this time of the year.

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags 

 

The New York Jets Free Agency Positional Needs, Ranked

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New York Jets, Sam Darnold

As NFL free agency gets underway, the New York Jets have plenty of needs, some more imperative than others. 

While sports have crawled to a standstill, the NFL rages on in the form of its free agency proceedings. The New York Jets and their brethren have started making moves in their never-ending quest for a Super Bowl title. Gang Green has many needs as they look to end a playoff drought that is nearing a decade. Some needs, however, are more imperative than others, as they enter a crucial point on the franchise timeline.

1. Offensive Line

The Jets are in the midst of an exciting period in franchise history where they have two potential backfield saviors. With that great power comes great responsibility, as Sam Darnold and Le’Veon Bell need protection. Thus, blocking becomes by far their biggest need as the transaction period of the NFL calendar begins. As things get underway, a pair of serviceable outside starters (Kelvin Beachum, Brandon Shell) are up for free agency. Guard Brian Winters has been somewhat reliable, but the Jets would save just under $7.3 million in cap space if he is let go. It’s probably time to pull the plug on the Ryan Kalil experiment, but competition may nonetheless be brought in at center for Jonotthan Harrison. The Jets signed Connor McGovern to compete with Harrison in 2020 on Tuesday afternoon. They also signed tackle, George Fant, who will slot in as a primary protectant for Darnold.

2. Wide Receivers

Every great quarterback has reliable receivers attached to him, and the Jets need to take care of this now with Darnold still developing. The Jets can gain a lot of clarity on their future once the Robby Anderson situation is resolved. Anderson will likely be looking for his market value (likely at least $11 million) so the Jets (currently working with just under $45 million in cap space) might make a few budgetary cuts if they’re going to keep, by far, their most prolific receiver since 2016. The free-agent market is slightly bare with the potential exception of Amari Cooper now that the Dallas Cowboys have franchise tagged Dak Prescott.

3. Edge Rushing

In the NFL, empires can rise and fall with the play under center. Thus, opposing defenses need to make sure that quarterback is as uncomfortable as possible. The Jets have had major trouble in that department in recent years. They’ve ranked 20th or worse in sacks in three of the past four seasons, and pressure will be absolutely necessary when dealing with a mobile threat like Josh Allen in Buffalo for the next several seasons (and a potential multi-talented thrower like Tua Tagovailoa possibly coming to Miami and/or New England). Brandon Copeland and Jordan Jenkins are the Jets’ current free agents on the edge, and keeping them becomes somewhat imperative after Chris Jones and Shaq Barrett were respectively tagged by Kansas City and Tampa Bay.

4. Specialists

Two special teamers represented the Jets in the 2019 Pro Bowl, but both kicker Jason Myers and returner Andre Roberts each departed last offseason. The Jets went through four different kickers after Myers left, and neither Ty Montgomery or Braxton Berrios was able to fill the void Roberts left behind. They were able to lock up long snapper Tom Hennessy through 2024, but punter Lac Edwards is also up for free agency this spring. Brant Boyer could be looking at a very different unit come training camp.

5. Secondary

The Jets’ future is perhaps defined by the antics of Jamal Adams, but he’s going to need some help. New York sorely lacks in secondary depth, something that came to the forefront when injuries took out several key names. Many Jets fans are going to going to celebrate the departure of Trumaine Johnson, but it’s going to eliminate another potential starter. Brian Poole is one of the Jets’ biggest impending departures, and they must bring him back. Bless Austin turned out to be a day three gem in his first, abbreviated year.

6. Interior Defense

Last season saw the Jets drastically upgrade their interior help, adding inside linebacker CJ Mosley in free agency and drafting tackle Quinnen Williams third overall. There could be cap casualties in the interior group, like Avery Williamson ($6.5 million in savings), Steven McLendon ($2.5 million), and Henry Anderson ($1.3 million). Still, there are serviceable, affordable options on both fronts. Former Eagles front office man Joe Douglas could look into a reunion with, say Nigel Bradham, and other interior options include Nick Vigil or a perhaps a reunion with Kevin Pierre-Louis could be in the cards. Affordable free agent tackles include another Eagle, Timmy Jernigan.

7. Quarterback

For the umpteenth year in a row, the Jets are looking for help at quarterback, but not in the way you’re accustomed to. Darnold is undoubtedly the Jets’ future on offense, but the fact remains that he has missed six games over the past two seasons…all Jets losses. Losing Darnold should not mean that the operation folds entirely. Thus a veteran backup would be a wise investment, especially because Darnold repeatedly spoke wonders about the impact Josh McCown had on him during his rookie season. The Jets had the right idea in picking up Trevor Siemian last season, but the former Denver starter is slated to hit free agency after an injury ended his New York tenure after one half.

8. Running Back

Douglas’ biggest accomplishment during the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis was firmly declaring that the Jets had no interest in trading Bell, whose name was brought up at the trade deadline and almost immediately after the 2019 season. This clarity allowed the Jets to fully assess their offseason plan to build around he and Darnold. Spell options may be necessary, however, as both Montgomery (who never truly found a slot in the rushing rotation) and Bilal Powell are hitting free agency.

9. Tight End

Chris Herndon is set to return in 2020, and the Jets certainly hope he duplicates the production and potential he displayed in his rookie season. In the meantime, the Jets were able to find depth in the form of veterans Daniel Brown and Ryan Griffin (a late summer addition who later inked a four-year deal). There’s certainly a place for fourth-round sophomore Trevon Wesco as well, potentially even as a fullback.

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

 

New York Jets welcome back Alex Lewis (Report)

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The late summer addition via a trade with Baltimore reportedly re-ups with the New York Jets for $18.6 million over three years.

Per Connor Hughes of The Athletic, the New York Jets will welcome back guard Alex Lewis on a three-year, $18.6 million deal. It is the Jets’ first readdition of one of their own free agents.

Lewis, set to turn 28 in April, recently wrapped up his fourth season of NFL service and first with the Jets. The Nebraska alum entered the league as a fourth-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in the 2016 NFL Draft. He would join the Jets in the latter stages of last summer, as the Jets sent over a conditional seventh-round pick (226th overall) to acquire him from the Ravens.

It didn’t take long for Lewis to reach the starting lineup, as he was called upon to replace the injured Kelechi Osemele. He wound up making a career-high 12 starts, partaking in all but one game overall. Lewis was placed on injured reserve in December after he suffered an ankle injury in the Jets penultimate game of the season.

Blocking runs in Lewis’ blood. The Tempe, Arizona native is the son of former NFL offensive lineman Bill Lewis, who played seven seasons with the Raiders, Cardinals, and Patriots.

With Lewis in tow, the Jets continue to make changes to their offensive line. They previously added Seattle tackle George Fant earlier this week. Further changes could be on the way. Current starting guard Brian Winters, one of the longest-tenured Jets on the roster, would save the Jets $7.2 million in cap space if released. A fellow starter, center Jonotthan Harrison, would yield $2.25 million more.

Other Jets free agents on the offensive line include tackles Kelvin Beachum and Brandon Shell and center Ryan Kalil. All spent significant time in the starting lineup last season.

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

New York Giants land linebacker Blake Martinez in free agency – here’s what you need to know

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New York Giants, Blake Martinez

The New York Giants have made another free agent signing. This time, Dave Gettleman and company struck a deal with inside linebacker Blake Martinez, per Mike Garafolo. Martinez and the Giants have agreed to a three-year deal worth $30 million.

Blake Martinez Stats And Highlights

Blake Martinez is a four-year NFL veteran who has spent his entire career with the Green Bay Packers. The 26-year-old linebacker out of Stanford is a tackle machine. He is also a reliable, healthy player that has started all 16 games for the Packers in each of the last three seasons.

Martinez has recorded 144 or more combined tackles in each of the last three seasons. He posted a career-high 155 combined tackles in 2019. In 2018, Martinez only missed 12 tackles (7.7%) and in 2019 he missed 18 tackles (10.4%).

The Packers inside linebacker is also a pretty decent pass-rusher, despite seeing his role as a pass-rusher decline in 2019. In 2018, Martinez blitzed 61 times, recording 11 pressures, 5 hurries, and 5 sacks. The Packers only brought Blake on 24 blitzes in 2019, but he was still efficient. He recorded 5 pressures, 2 hurries, and 3 sacks on his 24 blitz attempts this past season.

Blake Martinez is an excellent run defender and solid pass-rusher, but he has proven to be a bit of a liability in pass coverage. In 2018, Blake Matinez surrendered a 73.8% completion percentage on the 61 targets in his coverage (45 completions). The opposition gained 410 yards on those 45 completions and scored 5 touchdowns. Martinez allowed a 118.9 passer rating when targeted in 2018.

2019 was an even worse performance by Martinez in pass coverage. His completion percentage allowed rose to 83.8%, allowing opponents to complete 62 passes on 74 targets for 570 yards and 2 touchdowns. This is definitely a major red flag for the New York Giants after signing Blake Martinez during the 2020 free agency period.

A Look At The New York Giants’ 2020 Secondary After Signing James Bradberry

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The New York Giants made a big splash signing today. Dave Gettleman and company signed cornerback James Bradberry to a three-year, $15 million deal, making him one of the highest-paid cornerbacks in the NFL. Bradberry is 26 years old and was drafted in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft by Dave Gettleman and the Carolina Panthers.

James Bradberry is the Giants’ new number one cornerback. He will be the guy that follows opposing teams’ primary receiver. Bradberry will join a youthful Giants secondary that has received a heavy investment of assets in recent years. The former Carolina Panthers corner will be a big upgrade for the Giants’ secondary.

The Killer B’s

The New York Giants’ cornerbacks in 2020 (barring any more additions) will be as follows: James Bradberry, DeAndre Baker, Same Beal, Corey Ballentine, and Grant Haley. The oldest of the bunch is Bradberry at 26-years-old. Baker and Ballentine will both be entering their sophomore seasons while Beal enters his third pro season.

The Giants have a young group of cornerbacks that will start the 2020 NFL season. Youth, of course, means inexperience, also. That could be New York’s defensive downfall. But hopefully adding a veteran cornerback in James Bradberry helps the rest of the group develop.

The Two Jay’s

Jabrill Peppers and Julian Love will enter the 2020 NFL season as the Giants’ starting safeties (unless the team signs or drafts somebody uber-talented between now and September). The team’s safety duo provides more youthful talent to the defense. Julian Love is 21 and entering his second NFL season. Jabrill Peppers is 24, entering his fourth NFL season and second season with the New York Giants.

Julian Love showed promise filling in as a starter for the injured Peppers in the final five games of the 2019 season. He recorded 37 combined tackles, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, and only 4 missed tackles in 2019. The former collegiate slot cornerback converted to safety as a rookie and allowed only 190 yards and 1 touchdown in coverage.

Jabrill Peppers suffered an injury in 2019 that caused him to miss the final five games of the season. Up to that point, however, Jabrill was performing as possibly the best player on the Giants’ defense. In 11 games, JP totaled 76 combined tackles, 3 forced fumbles, 1 interception, and allowed only 1 touchdown in coverage.

The Giants’ young, talented secondary gives fans a reason to be excited heading into the 2020 NFL season. The youthful unit has all the potential in the world. Expect an impressive turnaround from the Giants’ pass-defense in 2020.

New York Giants Wise To Lock Up David Mayo

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New York Giants, David Mayo

The New York Giants have signed linebacker David Mayo to a three-year contract extension (according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic). This Friday the thirteenth ended up being David’s lucky day. The Giants made the right decision and extended David Mayo on a team-friendly contract.

Affordable Contract

Mayo’s three-year contract extension is worth $8.4 million, according to Ian Rappoport. The former Carolina Panther is receiving a hefty pay increase while the Giants are retaining a consistent contributor in run defense. Mayo’s reliable performance in 2019 makes this deal a bargain for New York’s team.

Consistent Run-Defender

David Mayo started 13 games in 2019 despite being considered a reserve heading into the season. In those 13 games, though, Mayo exceeded all expectations. David’s consistent performance in run-defense throughout the season earned him his new contract.

Pro Football Focus was a big fan of David Mayo in 2019. Mayo earned PFF’s second-highest run-defense grade by an inside linebacker this season. Mayo did struggle in pass-coverage, but his play against the run was consistent and makes him with valuable heading into 2020.

In 2019, David Mayo totaled 82 combined tackles in 13 games. Additionally, Mayo had 5 tackles for loss and 2 sacks. But Mayo’s poor coverage stats will likely keep him from being the Giants’ primary inside linebacker next season. Mayo’s coverage was targeted 29 times and he allowed 19 completions, a 65.5% completion percentage. This is an area where David will need to improve in 2020 if he wants to see his role continue to expand on the Giants’ defense.

New York Giants And Jets Taking Safety Precautions To Avoid COVID-19

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NFL, Football

The NFL’s new league year is in jeopardy. The worldwide pandemic, COVID-19, also known as the coronavirus, is now having a serious impact on the sports industry. The NBA announced yesterday that they will be suspending their season. The NHL and MLS have followed their lead.

March Madness, the start of the MLB season, and now even the NFL offseason, too, are in jeopardy. Free agency was set to begin next week and according to Tom Pelissero and Ian Rappoport, the NFL has no plans to move the start of the new league year. Free agency is still scheduled to begin on March 18th, however, teams around the league will be changing their offseason strategies in order to protect themselves from the risk of COVID-19.

The Jets and Giants No Longer Traveling

According to Ian Rappoport, “the New York Giants are among the teams pulling coaches off the road for workouts and Pro Days.” The Gmen’s pre-draft process has been cut short. Rappoport also reported that the New York Jets will be doing the same. All of their scouts and coaches have also been pulled off the road.

The NFL is not requiring that teams do this. Teams will make decisions at their own discretion. But it is expected that most teams in the league will follow the same protocol. These necessary actions could make it difficult for NFL teams to meet with free agents and conduct physicals.

COVID-19 is lethal and fast-spreading. NFL teams are smart to take the proper precautions and avoid risk. It is a dangerous and unfortunate situation that is affecting our nation and our world. To all my readers, please stay safe and take all proper precautions.

Why The New York Giants Should Stay Away From James Bradberry

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New York Giants, James Bradberry

Free agency is kicking off next week and the New York Giants are going to have money to spend. The Giants currently have the fifth-most cap space in the NFL with over $78 million dollars available (via Over The Cap).

New York is expected to be shopping near the top of the market. Big-name free agents such as Jadeveon Clowney and Byron Jones have been linked to the Giants in various rumors. But another, lesser-known free agent has also been linked to the Giants recently. According to Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post, the Giants consider Panthers’ free-agent cornerback James Bradberry to be a “coveted option.”

Overpaying Average Talent

James Bradberry is expected to cost a pretty penny. According to a report by Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Bradberry is seeking a contract worth approximately $15 million per year. This might be a bit expensive for a 27-year-old cornerback that has never been to a Pro Bowl.

He is seeking that high annual salary and he might not get it, but if the Giants are going to be throwing big money at a cornerback in free agency, Byron Jones is a better option. Jones would cost more, around $16-18 million per year according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com. However, Byron Jones is an elite talent and is worth being paid elite money. James Bradberry is not worth paying such a large sum.

Elite Payment For Average Performance

In 2019, James Bradberry struggled to make tackles. He totaled a combined 65 tackles this season, however, he also missed 9 tackles. That is a missed tackle percentage of 12.2%, which is a little high.

James Bradberry was not reliable in coverage either. The Panthers’ cornerback was targeted in coverage 97 times in 2019. He allowed 58 completions, a 59.8% completion percentage. The opposition gained 644 yards against Bradberry, but they only scored 1 touchdown.

Bradberry would provide the Giants with average to above-average talent in the secondary. For this reason, he would be an upgrade. However, he is not an upgrade worth nearly $15 million.

New York Giants Reportedly Interested In Free Agent Linebacker Blake Martinez

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The New York Giants are going to be active in free agency this offseason. The team is going to have over $80 million in cap space to spend on free agents if they choose to and so far they have reported interest in nearly every big-name player set to hit the market this month.

According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, the Giants have a “passing interest” in the Green Bay Packers’ free-agent linebacker Blake Martinez.

Blake Martinez Stats and Highlights

Blake Martinez is a four-year NFL veteran who has spent his entire career with the Green Bay Packers. The 26-year-old linebacker out of Stanford is a tackle machine. He is also a reliable, healthy player that has started all 16 games for the Packers in each of the last three seasons.

Martinez has recorded 144 or more combined tackles in each of the last three seasons. He posted a career-high 155 combined tackles in 2019. In 2018, Martinez only missed 12 tackles (7.7%) and in 2019 he missed 18 tackles (10.4%).

The Packers inside linebacker is also a pretty decent pass-rusher, despite seeing his role as a pass-rusher decline in 2019. In 2018, Martinez blitzed 61 times, recording 11 pressures, 5 hurries, and 5 sacks. The Packers only brought Blake on 24 blitzes in 2019, but he was still efficient. He recorded 5 pressures, 2 hurries, and 3 sacks on his 24 blitz attempts this past season.

Blake Martinez is an excellent run defender and solid pass-rusher, but he has proven to be a bit of a liability in pass coverage. In 2018, Blake Matinez surrendered a 73.8% completion percentage on the 61 targets in his coverage (45 completions). The opposition gained 410 yards on those 45 completions and scored 5 touchdowns. Martinez allowed a 118.9 passer rating when targeted in 2018.

2019 was an even worse performance by Martinez in pass coverage. His completion percentage allowed rose to 83.8%, allowing opponents to complete 62 passes on 74 targets for 570 yards and 2 touchdowns. This is definitely a major red flag for teams interested in signing Blake Martinez during the 2020 free agency period.

Blake Martinez’s Market Value

If the Giants want to sign Blake Martinez in free agency, they are going to have to break the bank. According to Spotrac, Martinez has an estimated market value of $16.3 million on average annually. His contract could be a 5-year deal worth over $81 million.

This would be a lot of money for the New York Giants to commit to an inside linebacker that does not make impact plays in pass-defense. There are other linebackers that will be available this offseason for a similar price that can be much more efficient in pass coverage.