New York Giants Can Add Massive Piece To Defensive Line In Free Agency

The New York Giants recently traded away iconic defensive lineman Jason Pierre-Paul for an additional third-round pick and cap-space in 2019. The trade confirms the transition from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4, as the Giants are likely planning on converting Olivier Vernon to a outside linebacker.

The defensive change can be seen as a good thing, as the Giants have been extremely inconsistent on the defensive side of the ball. The front-four was lackluster in 2017 to say the least. New defensive coordinator James Bettcher implements a very interesting 3-4 system, as he requires athletic linebackers and strong nose tackles to plug up running lanes.

Pierre-Paul’s massive contract wasn’t worth the money anymore, and his one lone 10-plus sack season in six years attests to that assumption.

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So, moving forward, who can the Giants plug in on the defensive line to provide strength, durability, and experience? The current defensive tackles are Dalvin Tomlinson, Damon Harrison, and Jay Bromley. I think we can all agree Bromley isn’t a guy you want starting on your team for a majority of snaps.

Here’s who the Giants can find on the free agency market to fill the void:

Reuniting with a lost gem:

The Giants could very well choose to pursue former Colts’ defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins; once a monster run-stopper for Big Blue just a few years ago.

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Hankins played in 15 games last season, enjoying a healthy year in 2017. He counted about $10 million cap-space, but was set to see a dip to about $8.5 million the following season (2018).

After being released, Hankins’ value depreciates, making him a very interesting option for GM Dave Gettleman. Being that the Giants will have an additional $20 million in 2019 from JPP’s contract, and another $20 million from Eli Manning (potentially), Hankins is a ‘VERY’ realistic option.

Bringing back a guy that can stuff the run and bat passes down with a huge frame would be huge, and would make an immediate impact. The Giants could have one of the best run-defenses in the NFL with a defensive line consisting of Harrison, Tomlinson, and Hankins.

Adding a few secondary pieces to the mix would transform a defense that ranked 28th in points allowed per-game, 31st in yards-allowed, 31st in pass-yards, and 27th in rush-yards.

EXTRA:

https://twitter.com/redskinsrunn21/status/976856210325598209

 

 

BREAKING: New York Giants Trade Iconic Defensive Lineman To Buccaneers

The New York Giants have traded away defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul to  the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a blockbuster trade on Thursday morning.

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Pierre-Paul has been with the team since his drafting in 2010. Last season, he recorded only 8.5 sacks in 16 games in what was supposed to be one of the most dynamic defensive lines in the NFL.

His contract was set to count $17.5 million against the cap, and now opens up a bit of room for the Giants to go after another high-profile signing.

JPP still had $15 million in signing bonuses left on his contract which becomes accelerated to the current period. This means the Giants will have to cover $15 million in dead cap, which only opens up $2.5 million in cap-space.

The real money will be next season when and him Eli Manning are likely off the books.

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New York Giants Draft Profiles: OG Will Hernandez

.Overview:

Offensive lineman of Texas-El Paso, Will Hernandez, is one of the more exciting prospects in this year’s NFL Draft. As the New York Giants look to continue to improve their offensive line, Hernandez is someone to consider early in the 2nd round.

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Hernandez’s size, strength, and athletic ability are what make him so intriguing. In this years combine he put up 37 reps on the bench press, which was more than any other offensive linemen. He also posted more than respectable numbers in the 40-yard dash (5.15), 3-cone drill (7.59), and shuttle run (4.70).

Strengths:

Will Hernandez possesses outstanding upper body strength and impressive natural movement for his size. He is a quality run blocker and has quick feet to provide pass protection as well. Plays with aggression and finishes every play. He is a natural competitor and even joined boxing and powerlifting just for fun.

Weaknesses:

His height is less than desired for the position and has short arms and small hands. His aggressive demeanor to get off the ball sometimes gets him into trouble with his hand placement. Sometimes engages with the defender before his feet is underneath him. Still has some work to do in pass protection.

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For comparison, Just Pugh also was on the smaller side but managed to become one of the best guards in the league.

Summary:


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Hernandez was a 4-year starter at UTEP and the most decorated offensive linemen in the school’s history. A good run blocker with the tools to improve in pass protection. What he lacks in height and length, he makes up for in strength and athletic ability. He should be a day one starter with a lot of upside and is likely a late first round or early second round pick.

 

How Much Salary Cap Space Do The New York Giants Have?

After making a sizable splash early in free agency, the New York Giants do not have much wiggle room regarding their salary cap at the moment. As of now, they are looking at about $5.8 million under the cap. They will need about $6.6 million just to sign their five incoming draft picks.

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There are a few moves that can be made to free up some cap space before the draft, as well as make room for some more free agency moves. Restructuring the contracts of John Jerry and Alec Ogletree already freed up a little over $5 million in cap space. The Giants could also save another $1 million if they end up cutting John Jerry.

The most notable players that will no longer be with the team in 2018 are veteran linemen Justin Pugh and Weston Richburg. Cornerback Dominique-Rodgers Cromartie was eventually cut after he was asked to take a pay cut.


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Punter Brad Wing was released after a disappointing 2017 campaign, and linebacker Devon Kennard has moved on as well.

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More possible cuts:

Wide receivers Brandon Marshall and Dwayne Harris are possible cut candidates due to their contracts. Both are coming off season-ending injuries. Not to mention what a disappointment to the Giants Marshall was when he was healthy. Parting ways with both receivers would free up another $7 million in cap space.

 

 

New York Giants Draft Profiles: C/G Billy Price

Overview:

Offensive lineman Billy Price is one of the most intriguing prospects entering the NFL this year. The New York Giants are still keen on addressing their offensive line this offseason, and Price could fit the bill in the second-third round.

Price played center and guard in college, but when playing guard, his Ohio State team won the National Championship (2014). He started 15 games (three at left guard and 12 at right). This bodes well for the Giants who are search of a solid right guard to complement their new signings: Nate Solder and Patrick Omameh.


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For the Buckeyes, Price started in 55 consecutive games to end his college career, which attests to his durability as a player. Despite the fact that the lineman tore his pec at the NFL combine which required surgery, his talent is obvious and should return to full health by the time training camp rolls around.

Strengths:

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Price has immense strength at the point of attack, and his explosiveness off the line is unparalleled. He always reaches the point of attack first and plays with extraordinary quickness. He has very quick arms/hands and can stab at interior defensive lineman to throw them off balance. His core strength and balance is a huge plus making him one of the most dynamic lineman int he draft.

Weaknesses:

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He often is caught biting too much and doesn’t have the patience to sit back and let his opponent come to him. He lunges and finds him self off balance and easily beat by fast lineman. His footwork is a little shady and must be worked on at the professional level. He needs to find balance with his play and become more of an intelligent player, rather than a physical one.

Biggest Plus:

Price should be able to hand NFL power right away. His strength and power are a great attribute, and if he can piece together the rest of his game he should develop nicely at the next level.

One Player The New York Giants Need To Resign This Offseason

New York Giants, Ross Cockrell

For having limited cap space, the New York Giants have been very busy in free agency, adding talent and depth to the roster on both sides of the ball. Adding experienced players to the roster seems to be the focus this offseason, even if that means simply adding depth at all positions.

Ross Cockrell is a player that fits this mold perfectly. He was drafted in the fourth round in 2014 by the Buffalo Bills. The Giants acquired him from the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Cockrell came to the team to add depth as the fourth cornerback. Playing behind Janoris Jenkins, Eli Apple, and former Giant Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie but proved to be a valuable asset down the stretch of the season.

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What does Ross Cockrell bring to the New York Giants?

Cockrell played in all 16 games and started 9 in 2017. He had 50 combined tackles, 11 passes defended, and 3 interceptions. He lacks the elite speed to keep up with fast receivers but has the experience and IQ to be a solid contributor in zone schemes.

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Resigning Ross Cockrell should provide a relatively cheap option that will provide more than just depth to the cornerback room. After what could be considered a breakout in 2017, getting a deal done should be a priority as free agency becomes more barren.

Cockrell caught people’s eye with a strong week 16 showing against the Arizona Cardinals, intercepting two passes.

 

Former New York Giants Offensive Lineman Signs With Seattle Seahawks

The New York Giants are still in need of offensive line support, but they clearly weren’t looking as far as former guard D.J. Fluker.

Fluker signed a one-year “prove it” deal with the Giants in 2017, and proved that he wasn’t a first-round bust after all. His time with the San Diego Chargers said otherwise, but Fluker made the most of his time in New York, proving to be a solid run blocker down the stretch.

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His infusion in the line immediately saw the offense improve and the Seahawks clearly noticed that on film as they’ve given him a shiny new contract.

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EXTRA:

Fluker finished the season with a PFF grade of 42.3, making him the 56th ranked guard in the league.

What Should The New York Giants Do If The Browns Take Saquon Barkley

The hype surrounding Penn State running back Saquon Barkley is real, and he proved his worth at the NFL Combine with astronomical numbers. I mean, running a (4.3) 40-yard dash at 225 pounds is almost funny…

Where he could be picked:

We cannot rule out the potential drafting of Barkley by the Cleveland Browns at No. 1, and we need to prepare for that reality. So, what should the New York Giants do if they fall into that situation?

Well, we can assume one thing, their No. 2 overall draft pick will skyrocket further in value. It will put them in the position to take and of the top quarterbacks, and it will also up the asking price for other teams wanting to grab their future franchise signal caller.

If the Giants are in that position, they should absolutely shop the pick to the highest bidder. Worst case, they walk away with their choice of quarterback and live to see another day. Best case, they gather a plethora of picks and address multiple positions of need on the offense.

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Of course this is very situational, but it’s best to be prepared just in case a major option is off the board when the Giants are on the clock.

EXTRA:

Breakaway speed:

Lateral movement:

https://twitter.com/PSUBarstool/status/973898512793391104

Catching abilities:

Elite speed:

https://twitter.com/KissKraver/status/974815140783820800

Here’s What Davis Webb Has Learned In One Season Under Eli Manning

New York Giants, Eli Manning

The New York Giants have a quarterback dilemma, and all Davis Webb-haters tend to refer back to the days of Ryan Nassib. Let’s get this out of the way… that’s ridiculous. You can’t compare any player in the NFL, since later-round picks often emerge as starters at all different positions.

Nassib didn’t have the work ethic Webb currently has, and his chances at starting a game in the NFL were next to none. How do I know that? Eli Manning was in his prime, so Nassib wasn’t going to be playing any games as a Giant; he was a backup QB for life. Webb has the chance to be Manning’s successor, which explains his ‘want’ to prove himself to the organization.

Here’s what Webb had to say about his year under Manning:

“How to handle adversity would be No. 1,” Webb told NJ Advance Media during an exclusive interview. “We lost 13 games. We have to swallow that. But he never flinched. Every day he had the biggest smile on his face and was ready to work and compete with his teammates. He loves playing the game of football. That’s something I really admire.”



The Giants battled through a 3-13 season and even went as far as to bench Manning and end his infamous streak. Manning nearly cried due to the emotion of not starting a game after 14-season of doing so. Damn you Ben McAdoo!

Moving forward, the Giants are staying with Manning as their starting quarterback in 2018. At 37-years old, his time is quickly coming to an end, but he has our support until his final day!

“We believe Eli has years left as a starting quarterback in this league,” coach Pat Shurmur said. “We’re excited that he’s there. I’m looking forward to developing Davis Webb to see where he can go.”

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When comparing himself (Webb) to Manning, he was very open with how different both of their personalities really are, and why their receivers gel with both of them equally.

“We have two different personalities,” Webb said, “but that’s why I think all the receivers gel with us: Because it’s easy to talk to him and I.”

“He’s the best teammate I’ve ever had,” Webb said. “He pushed through some adversity this year: Receivers went down, (offensive) linemen got hurt. We had some adversity and he didn’t flinch. He had to sit out one game, and he was the best teammate in the world. I know it was hard on him. I really respected that.”

Webb is spending the offseason working diligently to impress the new regime for the Giants, and he may just earn his opportunity to showcase his skills.

“He [Manning] said, ‘The biggest thing I’ve got going for me is my work ethic. I’m going to outwork people. That’s how you get better. Every day you find something. You never stay the same.”

Well, we can surely say Webb is giving his opportunity everything he’s got, and if he wins the starting job, it will be based on his work ethic alone.

EXTRA:

 

 

Giants Make Several Signings And Retain Key Depth Player

The New York Giants have made several key signings to provide depth and retained a veteran defensive lineman.

The signings:

1.) DE Kerry Wynn

Defensive end Kerry Wynn will return to the Giants, the team announced on Monday.

Wynn is a 27-year-old veteran who’s played in 49 games with 10 starts for the Giants. He was an undrafted free agent in 2015. His career totals include three sacks and 92 total tackles. In 2017, he recorded 252 snaps, 22.9 percent of all the defensive snaps. The deal is reportedly a one-year contract, according to Jordan Raanan.

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2.) CB B.W. Webb

The Giants signed former New Orleans Saints cornerback B.W. Webb to a one-year deal.

The corner was drafted in the fourth-round by the Cowboys in 2014. He has been a journeyman in the league, with time spent in Dallas, Tennessee, Pittsburgh, and New Orleans. At 28 years-old, Webb played in 14 games last season for the Saints. He also started in seven games.

A solid depth signing for the Giants who are on a tight budget.

3.) WR Cody Latimer

If the Giants were looking for a receiver with extreme blocking abilities, they found one in former Bronco Cody Latimer.

At 6-2 and 215 pounds, Latimer played his first four seasons in the NFL with Denver. He’s enjoyed 45 regular-season games with three starts . He managed 35 receptions for 445 yards and three touchdowns. He also averaged 24.4 yards on 18 kickoff returns.

A solid depth receiver for the Giants who will surely help in the running game.

4.) DL Josh Mauro

According to Ian Rapaport, the Giants have agreed to terms with former Arizona defensive lineman Josh Mauro. The DL started in seven games last season and is another key depth signing fora team that lacked true talent behind the starters in 2017.

Mauro is another player who’s familiar with James Bettcher’s defense, and will likely assist in getting the rest of the players up to speed on his methods.