New York Giants

New York Giants Expected To Lock Down Future Starting Center

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The New York Giants have a long off-season ahead of them, particularly when it comes to solving the problems that currently plague the offensive line.

For the Giants and general manager Dave Gettleman, fixing the line, and taking the salary cap into consideration will be a difficult task. Rumors have Gettleman linked to All-Pro guard Andrew Norwell in free-agency. He’s set to make the most in guard history according to reports around the community ($12-14 million).

What does this mean for the rest of the line?

If Norwell brings his talents to New York, the Giants will have to settle for lesser quality players on the rest of the line, unless they utilize their first-round pick accordingly.

A quality player that is expected to remain on the team is Brett Jones; a bullish athlete that played well in the absence of center Weston Richburg. Jones is a great value player who can be utilized as a starter with a minimal cap-hit.

He will likely cost somewhere in the $2-3 million per-season range. Even if he doesn’t manage to hold down the spot long-term, he can me a superb depth-player on the line.

This is Jones’ current contract which expired this past season. He was only counting $6.15 million against the cap, which is minimal considering his abilities. Hopefully, he will remain on the team with a friendly-deal.

The only other options outside of keeping Jones would be drafting a center in the later rounds or taking a flier on a veteran like Nick Mangold.

This Linebacker Could Complement Alec Ogletree Perfectly

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The New York Giants have begun upgrading the defense, starting with former Los Angeles Rams linebacker Alec Ogletree. General manager Dave Gettleman is setting the tone early in free agency by trading for the former Ram.

The Giants gave their compensatory fourth-round pick and a sixth-rounder for Ogletree, who also came with a 2019 seventh-rounder. It seems as if the Rams were willing to part ways with the linebacker to ensure they could resign defensive tackle Aaron Donald.

What type of player is Ogletree?

The Giants are receiving a physical player in Ogletree, who can be used off the edge and on blitzing plays. His size and strength will be perfect for a James Bettcher defense looking to play a potential 3-4.

But to complement a strong blitzing linebacker, the Giants must also find a solid coverage LB in the draft or through free agency.

Here’s one that would be a perfect fit on the defense:

Philadelphia Eagles’ Nigel Bradham is the perfect player to work alongside Ogletree in the middle of the field. His abilities in coverage are superior. Bradham recorded 61 total tackles and eight passes defended in 2017.

Adding him to the mix of linebackers would significantly strengthen the middle of the field, and provide the defensive line with ample support when it comes to rushing the quarterback.

Bradham may be costly for the Giants, but far less than Ogletree. He might cost them somewhere in the $5-6 million per-season range.

 

Wondering What Alec Ogletree Brings To The Defense? Check This Out

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The New York Giants splashed the cash on Wednesday, bringing on former Rams linebacker Alec Ogletree in a steal of a trade. The five-year player has extreme potential under the right scheme, and his tackling statistics prove that to be true.

Over the course of his five-seasons in the NFL, Ogletree racked up a total of 367 tackles, and only missed games in one season. His proven health record is a huge plus for a team that saw their entire defensive secondary and line-backing core succumb to injury in 2017. Ogeltree brings fresh blood to New York and a dynamic style of play.

While Ogletree isn’t the most sound coverage linebacker, his strength lies in stopping the run. Aiding a defensive line that consists of Jason Pierre-Paul, Olivier Vernon, Damon Harrison and Dalvin Tomlinson is the key to stopping opposing offenses. Creating a strong linebacking corps to support in the run and spy on the quarterback is essential, especially in a James Bettcher defense.

What we have to look forward to in Ogletree:

Now, this isn’t exactly what you want to see from your player, but here’s my take on it. Ogletree may have started a fight with Odell Beckham Jr., but we can’t hold on to that forever. The guy brings ferocity and anger to his game. He loves the game of football, and is aggressive in everything he does (tackling, running, etc.). Having a guy with that mentality makes your team stronger and meaner on the field.

Remember the days of physical football on the Giants’ defense? The days that teams were scared to play us because our defense was about to maul them? That’s what Ogletree brings back to our team.

This should give you a solid idea of what Ogletree brings to the team. His ability to drop back into shallow coverage and spy on the quarterback is one of his premier strengths. He may not be the best at covering a tight end or receiver, but he under-cuts routes with extreme precision and placement. He’s one of those players that’s often in the right place at the right time.

Overall, he’s a great pickup for a Giants team that lacked linebackers significantly. The issue is his contract, which allocated around $10 million per-season. He’s the third-highest paid ILB in the league. We should expect to see several cuts made once free agency begins next Wednesday.

New York Giants grab Solid Linebacker From Los Angeles Rams

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The New York Giants finally addressed the linebacker position this offseason with the trading for Alec Ogletree.

Once an appealing prospect for the Giants in the NFL Draft, Ogletree went to the Los Angeles Rams where he developed nicely.

The Giants will give up one of their fourth-round picks and a sixth-round pick for Ogletree. Adding a versatile hybrid like Ogletree will strengthen the run defending game and provide value to a James Bettcher 3-4 defense.

We should expect to see the Giants address the linebacker position in the draft as well. Players such as Rashaan Evans or Darius Leonard could be on the priority list for Dave Gettleman entering the second-round.

The bottom line, the Giants will have a completely new linebacking corps next season,  which should assist in the defense reaching new heights.

Report: New York Giants To Resign Orleans Darkwa, But Why?

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If the rumors are true and the New York Giants are looking at drafting Saquon Barkley with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, then why should they re-sign Orleans Darkwa?

Well, Darkwa had a solid year in 2017, racking up 751 yards and five rushing touchdowns, averaging 4.4 yards per-carry. Pretty shiny stats for a player that was running behind a makeshift offensive line.

ESPN’s Jordan Raanan:

“Orleans Darkwa’s breakout season should pay off. He may have the greatest chance of their notable free agents to return. The Giants want him back, according to a source. It just depends on the price. It’s even possible a Darkwa deal could get done before the start of free agency on March 14. If it doesn’t work out with the Giants, don’t be surprised to see him land with the Oakland Raiders.”

Why re-sign darkwa?

Bringing Darkwa back to the Giants is a glorified insurance policy, but at what price can they have him? The fourth-year back only counted $1 million against the cap in 2017, but he will be looking to up that price to around $2.5-3 million.

With All-Pro gaurd Andrew Norwell set to make a splash in free agency with a hefty $13 million per-season contract, there won’t be much money available to sign Darkwa, unless they can get him for under $2 million per-season.

The interesting thing about the potential re-signing of Darkwa is that he’s not needed anymore. The Giants have their choice of the crop of stud running backs entering the draft, and they additionally have Wayne Gallman and Paul Perkins on the roster.

So, if they decide to resign Darkwa, maybe the Giants are planning something quite extravagant after-all.

 

What Andrew Norwell Brings To The Offensive Line For The Giants

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Everyone here remembers how great New York Giants‘ Justin Pugh performed on the offensive line before ending the season with a back injury, right?

Well, imagine Pugh on steroids, and that’s what we are getting in All-Pro guard Andrew Norwell. For comparison’s sake, let’s check out their PFF grades. Of course, PFF often does an awful job grading out players, since Pugh only garnered a 52.4 while Norwell earned an 88.8.

But, for shits and giggles, Norwell didn’t allow a single penalty or sack during the entire 2017 season. Impressed? You should be.

The Giants, or specifically general manager Dave Gettleman, is about to splash some serious cash on Norwell (somewhere in the $12-14 million per-season range).

The most enticing aspect of this signing is that we can officially confirm that the Giants are ‘finally’ committed to building through the trenches. If the Giants were to draft a quarterback and have him start behind a make-shift offensive line, it wouldn’t be good. Or, if they drafted Saquon Barkley and he didn’t have a single lane to run through… Disaster waiting to happen.

Cap-Space:

The cap-space will become an issue with the signing of Norwell, as the Giants will only have about $10 million remaining. So, what should they do?

Cut some players!

Releasing players such as Brandon Marshall, Dwayne Harris, Ray-Ray Armstrong, and maybe even Brad Wing, can open up some serious cap-space to be used on another offensive lineman, linebacker or even cornerback. Additionally, it’s possible that guys like Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie take a pay-cut to open up more cap-room. It’s essential that the Giants address positions of serious need like linebacker and offensive line.

We can assume that the positions the Giants fail to address in free agency, they will consider when the draft comes around. But for now, we can just enjoy the shiny new toy we are about to receive on the offensive line.

Here’s The Good News About Odell Beckham Jr’s Contract

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The New York Giants have all of the leverage in the Odell Beckham Jr. long-term deal situation. With Beckham Jr. on the final year of his rookie deal, he will earn about $8.5 million in 2018.

How do the Giants have all the leverage?

General manager Dave Gettleman knows that he has the advantage on OBJ going into the contract negotiations since he still has one more year on his rookie deal, and the Giants can always franchise tag him in 2019.

That keeps Beckham Jr. on the team for two-more years guaranteed, and it is much more financially friendly than signing him to a long-term deal. The star receiver is expected to earn in the $20 million per-season range, while the franchise tag is about $15 million. Now, of course tagging him might not make him very happy in terms of the long-term deal he seeks, but it’s in the best interest of the Giants moving forward.

Before we continue, I want to ensure everyone that I’m on board to pay the man, since he’s arguably the most dynamic and electrifying receiver in football. But, we also have to be financially savvy when it comes to destroying our cap-space with a contract like his. Keeping him for two-more years for $23 million is far better than two-years for $40 million. He might be frustrated with receiving the franchise tag, but if the Giants are in a position to contend for the Super Bowl, he might be willing to take the $15 million move on.

Is anybody incredibly annoyed yet? These guys are complaining about making $15 million instead of $20 million… I’m just trying to put food on the table over here!

Extra:

Riding out the remainder of his contract is not only beneficial for the Giants financially, but also to ensure his injury won’t hinder him. Coming off an ankle injury as severe as the one Beckham Jr. suffered can often times affect a receiver. So, keeping him off a long-term contract will help the Giants see his overall worth (injury proneness, antics, etc.).

 

Former Quarterback Says Davis Webb Is The Giants’ Franchise Quarterback

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For the New York Giants, the next few months are detrimental to the future of their team. The 2018 NFL Draft is slowly creeping up on us and rumors of Saquon Barkley and Josh Rosen seem to be on a never-ending cycle. The one wild-card standing in the way of the Giants drafting Rosen is Davis Webb.

Should we trust Webb over Rosen?

There are a few folks out there that think Davis Webb is the answer to the Giants’ predicament at quarterback. One of his advocates is former NFL quarterback and analyst Trent Difler.

“I think they have their future quarterback,” Dilfer told NJ Advance Media. “Given enough time and given that they have a two-time Super Bowl champion to bridge a couple years to integrate that guy in.

Difler hit it right on the head… Webb will have been learning behind Eli Manning for two-complete seasons before getting his shot at the job. With his work ethic, intelligence and obvious intangibles, there’s no reason he can’t be the next franchise quarterback for the Giants.

“Giving Davis a year or two more to develop and learn the ropes and kind of establish himself in the locker room and play well in preseason, it helps your team. Now you don’t have to go overpay at the position, or draft and roll the dice.”

The key word here is “overpay.” If the Giants decide to go the way of Webb, he will arguably cost much less than any quarterback they draft at No. 2 overall. But, despite Difler’s advocacy for Webb, he did state that Josh Rosen would be the best fit for the Giants and Dave Gettleman.

We should expect to see a lot of smokescreens deployed by the Giants’ organization, as they are on a new campaign to stop the leaking of draft information that has occurred in years past.

Giants Looking To Bring On Prolific Eagles Cornerback To Boost Secondary

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With the New York Giants moving veteran Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to safety, a vacancy has opened up at the cornerback position. General manager Dave Gettleman could choose to allocate a draft pick towards strengthening the secondary, but needs at linebacker may force his hand.

Luckily, there’s a  solid free agent entering the market, and he’s coming off his best season yet. Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Patrick Robinson may be a steal in FA if the Giants can ink him to a deal. Although he’s a 30-year old corner, he posted incredible numbers last campaign, locking down some of the league’s best receivers. He could just be a late bloomer, or enlightened by the emotion surrounding the Eagles’ team in 2017.

In 2017, he started in all 16 games, intercepting four balls and defending 18 passes. He also recovered a fumble. His breakout season will raise his stock going into FA, but as a corner going on 31 years-old, there is a cap to how much money he will garner.

How much can the Giants offer?

The Giants are looking to sign Pro-Bowl guard Andrew Norwell, which will allocate around $13 million per-season from their current cap-space of $23.6 million. This will leave around $10 million to sign other players. We can also assume multiple players will be cut which will open up more cap.

Robinson could get $4-6 million per-season on a two-three year deal. This could be doable if players like Brandon Marshall, Dwayne Harris, and Ray-Ray Armstrong are cut.

Here’s How Much Andrew Norwell Will Cost The New York Giants

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There’s a growing belief that new general manager for the New York Giants, Dave Gettleman, is looking heavily into Carolina Panthers guard Andrew Norwell. The once undrafted free agent was selected by Gettleman to battle for a starting role on the offensive line in 2014. Four years later, he’s set to become the highest paid guard in the history of the NFL.

When can the Giants sign him?

March 14th will be the day free agency opens, and you can be sure the Giants will be fending off a market of competitors for Norwell’s services. In the situation, it might just come down to who’s willing to pay the most for the All-Pro guard.

In 2017, the Cleveland Browns signed Kevin Zeitler to a 5-year, $60 million deal. He’s making $12 million per-season. Norwell should get even more in today’s market, which will likely see him in the $13 million per-season range.

A likely contract would be five-years, $65 million with $35-40 million guaranteed. That’s about half of the Giants’ current cap space ($23.6 million.) The remaining cap would have to spent sparingly, unless they back-load the contract beyond Eli Manning’s deal.

Overall, the investment would be an upgrade at guard over Justin Pugh, and it would add unquestionably adequate talent to the offensive line. The issue is: There wouldn’t be much cap-space to help at tackle, which means Gettleman would have to address it through the draft.

Norwell is clearly the best guard in free agency, and he will earn his worth. Speaking of his worth, he’s one of the league’s best run and pass blocker, not allowing a single sack or penalty in 2017. He earned an 88.8 Pro Football Focus grade which was third among guards in the league.

The fact that defensive tackles these days are getting to the quarterback faster than ever makes the guard position a necessity. Paying big-bucks to stop guys like Aaron Donald and Gerald McCoy is on the minds of every NFL team right now, and the market for offensive lineman is forever shrinking. This will bode well for players like Norwell, Pugh, and even D.J. Fluker.