Who will the Giants target in free agency?

by Ed Valentine on Feb 25, 2009 2:04 PM EST in New York Giants News

T.J. Houshmandzadeh

So, the NFL free-agent shopping bonanza begins Friday. I have seen a bunch of lists offering potential targets for our New York Giants, so let's discuss the possibilities.

A good place to start might be the following list from The Sporting News. I will give you their list, and reasoning. My thoughts will be italicized.

1. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
There is no way to find a comparable replacement to Plaxico Burress, as 6-5 receivers with speed and a huge wingspan are almost impossible to find. Burress faces a serious legal battle and possible jail time as a result of illegal gun charges.

My thoughts: It is a no-brainer that the Giants would check the market for Houshmandzadeh. But, the price will be high and the Giants don't do bidding wars.

2. Bart Scott, LB, Baltimore Ravens
The Giants patched their linebacker position together last season, and the results were not good. They were unable to replace Kawika Mitchell, who joined the Buffalo Bills via free agency. This team rarely shells out big money on linebackers, though.

My thoughts: Nice player, but again the price will be very high. I don't see it.

3. Jermaine Phillips, S, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Kenny Phillips did not gain a starting job as expected his rookie year, but is waiting in the wings with the anticipated loss of James Butler. If Butler goes, it leaves youngsters Michael Johnson and Phillips. If the Giants want to add an impact player, Phillips is the best. The New England Patriots' James Sanders is a cheaper option.

My thoughts: Nope. If the Giants wanted to shell out real money for a safety, they would keep Butler. Or, they would have kep Gibril Wilson a year ago.

4. Dominic Rhodes, RB, Indianapolis Colts
The anticipated loss in free agency of 1,000-yard rusher Derrick Ward leaves the offense without a proven backup to Brandon Jacobs. Coaches are high on Ahmad Bradshaw and also like Danny Ware. The Giants tried to sign Rhodes once before, and he would be a solid third-down back and a veteran presence.

My thoughts: Why does every supposed 'expert' I read think the Giants need a running back so badly. Personally, I think it's a position where the Giants have very little to worry about right now.

5. Bertrand Berry, DE, Arizona Cardinals
Another defensive end for a team seemingly stacked with them? The Giants never believe they can have too many and if they move end Mathias Kiwanuka to linebacker there will be a need for a third end in a rotation with starters Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora. Veterans Renaldo Wynn and Jerome McDougle are free agents and not expected back, and Berry could fit nicely in as a swing end. Demetric Evans of the Redskins is younger and more of a run-stopper as an alternative.

My thoughts: Since Kiwanuka is staying at end, this is not happening.

NorthJersey.com and Giants Journal are also throwing around some names to consider.

One name it appears you can forget about is Marvin Harrison. Tom Rock of Newsday reports that the Giants have no interest in the aging former Indianapolis star.

Here is a position-by-position breakdown of the top players available.

I know it's great to speculate on who the Giants might go after. Remember, though, the Giants are not the New York Yankees. They don't make splashy signings, they don't get into bidding wars and they don't overpay for big names.

As they usually do, I think the Giants will end up making a handful of under-the-radar type signings to add some depth to their defense at tackle, in the secondary and maybe at linebacker. A backup offensive lineman and, maybe, if the right fit is out there, a receiver to add to the mix. They will also look for solid kick coverage players, so someone like Dallas reserve safety Keith Davis (kudos to Mike Dougherty at Giants Journal on this suggestion) might make sense.

Your thoughts?

[NOTE: Oops! Got a little ahead of myself. This one wasn't supposed to run until Thursday, but I can't take it back now.]

Tweet Comment 20 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I think your analysis is right

I pretty much agree with everything you’ve said, although I’d really like to see them take a shot at Bart Scott. Also, if they’re going to let Butler go, I’d be very concerned about depth at that position. Finally, even though there’s no way we end up with TJH, we ought to bid the other teams up. The eagles, in particular, who will likely make a play for him, have a lot of cap room and a lot of pressure to bring in some new talent, so it would be great to make them overpay if possible. There’s so much money available this year, and so few impact free agents that there’s a likelihod that a lot of generous contracts will result.

by Tucker Fredrickson on Feb 25, 2009 2:20 PM EST reply actions

RB

I agree running back is the one position we shouldn’t worry about. heck you can draft a decent RB in the last rounds of the draft. Just look at the Giants recent history with RBs.

by John W on Feb 25, 2009 3:20 PM EST reply actions

Bart Scott

The cap situation is, as I understand it, healthy – so why not take a shot at a young, impact LB who (by all acounts) is a solid, good locker room presence? I think that the GMen should strike fast on Bart and really gun hard early to bring him in; before his price tag gets bid up and before other teams have a chance to sign him. We all agree that LB depth suffered last year. With Osi back and with a refreshed Kiwi/Osi/Tuck rotation @ DE, LB strength will key this defense.

by Cody K on Feb 25, 2009 3:36 PM EST reply actions

Bart Scott?

I’m not to familiar with him. Is he worth big money?

by giant fan since 57 on Feb 25, 2009 5:20 PM EST reply actions

YES!

I love that everyone wants Bart he is the man, sick nasty player with a shockey like on the field attitude but no distractions in the locker room, he is a team player and works harder then anyone in the Ravens LB core(per Ray Lewis) He has been under used in the Ravens scheme with Suggs there the past 2 years but this guy is definitely a Shawn Merriman/Demarcus Ware type or even James Harrison, he’s only 28 and well worth it if we can get him for 5 to 6 million dollars a year. We would finally buy a LB instead of renting I miss having amazing LBs on our team and i THINK we all do in a way ya know?
Sorry but F____ TJ he’s nort worth what he is going to cost. There are plenty of Big/Fast WRs in the draft that will demand a DBL coverage along with signing some one cheap like Jerry Porter, Ronald Curry or Javon Walker. So basically besides Bart I dont want any of these guys, unless we trade for Braylon Edwards or Aquan Boldin or by gods grace Plax dont go to jail or get suspended and changes his attitude then we really need a top flight 1st round WR, that said i’d be happy taking a LB thats top notch int he 1st rd and get Kenny Britt in the 2nd.. Just those 2 guys most likely will take atleast a year under their belt before they become stars..

by gobs56 on Feb 25, 2009 6:23 PM EST reply actions

I agree 100% with your post

No FA WR’s are worth big money but a few LB’s including Scott and if the Giants can land him they could use their 1st round pick on a WR. The only issue I see is the Jets land Scott because he played for Rex Ryan in Baltimore. Normally I would not worry about the Jets getting a FA over the G-Men because they are such a second rate organization and I can’t imagine a FA wanting to go to the Jets instead of the Giants but it could happen in this particular situation.

by Landeta on Feb 25, 2009 7:57 PM EST up reply actions

He's damn good, all right

I’d like to see the Jints get him at a reasonable. I kinda think that if the Ravens don’t keep him, he may be headed for a reunion with Rex Ryan

by blue gonz on Feb 25, 2009 6:27 PM EST reply actions

Why dont they spend more?

Its ridiculous, most popular team in the leagues largest market should equate to upper echelon spending, thats kind of disappointing isnt it?

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Feb 25, 2009 7:56 PM EST reply actions

Because it's not Baseball

Chemistry and continuity are very important in Football. The Giants have signed 2 of their big FA’s already in Jacobs and Webster. Winning teams try and sign their own big FA’s to keep a certain core then sign a lot of lower level FA to try and fill in the gaps and build with the draft. The Pats, Colts, and Steelers never go nuts in FA but the Jets, Cowboys, and Skins always do and those teams always underachieve. The Jets signed a ton of FA’s last year and got Bret Favre and they sucked again while the Steelers let Plaxico go in 05 and they go on to win the SB they let Joey Porter go after 06 and they replace him with James Harrison. The Pats cut Lawyer Miloy and get Rodney Harrison for cheap and look how that turned out. The one year the Pats did spend was 07 and they got Wes Welker cheap and Randy Moss for only a 4th round pick. Adalius Thomas was the only FA they spent a lot of money on. After Tiki retired in 06 the Giants looked into signing Willis McGahee but he cost too much so they moved on with BJ, DW and drafted AB it worked out. I know it’s stinks being a Giant Fan around Free Agencey because they never make a big move and all you hear about is the what the loser Jets and Cowboys will do but if you look at it most of the teams that make big moves usually are not that good while the teams the draft well and find bargin FA signings win. The Giants have modeled themselves like the Pats, Colts, and Steelers and I’m fine with that. I like seeing who they draft because they tend to do well in rounds 2-6. Tuck, Webster, Osi, Jacobs all drafted in those rounds.

by Landeta on Feb 25, 2009 8:18 PM EST up reply actions

Hmm

Well were it not for us signing Burress, we wouldnt have won the super bowl either. And the Jets did improve from 4 wins to 9 wins, thanks in part to their Free Agent spending.

Spending in and of itself doesnt guarantee anything, but the examples you gave dont tell the full story. The Skins dont spend wisely, they go for guys past their primes, and the Cokeboys spend their money on felons, so no thats not a wise strategy.

But what would be wrong with the Giants snaring a big time FA now or in years past? Lance Briggs couldnt have helped? TJ Whos Your Mama couldnt help? Adalius Thomas certainly wouldve been a Godsend when Osi went down..

So I dont buy that you cant maintain, or even improve, chemistry by spending on big free agents. My complaint, I suppose, was that the Giants do the things you mentioned, but also have the financial capability to do more, yet dont, but as I contend, they can spend and spend wisely and still maintain their approach. Reese is proving to be amongst the best GMs, so Im sure he’d spend wisely when doling out a max deal.

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Feb 25, 2009 8:41 PM EST up reply actions

We got Burress pretty cheap, bren, because of his rep.

We took a chance and it worked out until last year. JR paid bottom $ for all that talent. Plax’s new contract was incentive-loaded and not eyebrow-raising high.

by blue gonz on Feb 25, 2009 9:24 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah I suppose thats true

His rep hasnt improved much either

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Feb 25, 2009 9:49 PM EST up reply actions

one correction

Accorsi signed Plax, not Reese.

by cjmulrain on Feb 25, 2009 11:15 PM EST up reply actions

Getting guys cheap is the key

I’m not saying spending on FA hurts your team but the best teams have built themselves through the draft and scouting. The Jets historically draft poorly then they spend money on some good but usually overpriced older FA’s and “improve” to 9-7 do you really think they’ll be much better next year their big FA QB is gone, Fanaca is a year older and Calvin Pace is good but not worth that money, and without Favre and Pennington their O will lack continuity. They don’t have a Franchise QB. Free Agencey is tricky becuase you can’t jump in and expect to buy a championship like the Jets or Cowboys expect to. I used the Jets, Cowboys and Redskins as examples because they spend big every year and every year they seem to range from 6-10 to 9-7 and the Cowboys current talent has more to do with the guys Parcells drafted than Jerry Jones’s FA moves. The Niners signed Nate Clemons to a huge contract, the Browns signed Donte Stalworth to a big deal, the Vikings way overpaid for Bernard Barian while I can’t think of a Big FA the Steelers or Colts have signed or even the Chargers for that matter while the Broncos and Raiders are always signing guys. Most FA’s that are not resigned or either old or have issues and are a risk. O lineman like O’Hara and McKenzie are the best investments because other than left tackles they are cheap. Like Blue Gonz said the Giants got Plax cheap. They needed a big WR but they were not goin to over spend. TJ would help the Giants at 3 years for 9Million but he wants 5 years 25 Million, not worth it, he’s 31 years old and a slighty younger version of Amani Toomer. The year the Pats spent, Welker and Moss were cheap and Adaleus Thomas was actually worth all of that money because he was in his prime. If the Giants had siged Thomas in 07 they might of not of been able to resign Tuck at the end of 07 like the Pats could not of signed Asante Samuel. If the Giants traded a #1 and #3 for Boldin I think thats worth it but I think the Cards think they could get more so it might not happen. All I’m saying is you can’t go crazy with FA the teams that consitanley win usaully don’t, like I said the Colts, Pats, and Steelers even the Giants and Chargers are that way. Even Look at the Cardinals this year, the two biggest FA they’ve signed over the years are Edgrin James, paid a lot and has done little, and Kurt Warner, spend next to nothing and he’s a pro bowler. Spend if it’s worth the risk or the guy is in his prime and he fits a particular need but your better off signing unkown cheap Wes Welker types to plug holes and hopefully they develop into something like he did in 07. Also teams base FA decisions on what big FA they have commin up at the end of the season. I’m not sure who the Giants have at the end of 09, I think Kiwi and Cofield are it so maybe they make a splash this year. And the NFL has a salary cap the Giants have no advantage in regards to spending the way the Yankees do in baseball the salary cap is the same for every team and the TV money is shared equally.

by Landeta on Feb 26, 2009 4:33 PM EST up reply actions

All true, Landetta

The Giants aren’t cheapskates. They never have that much money under the cap because they pay generously those they want to keep. It’s not as though they don’t get right up to just below the cap. Look at Eli. They’re going to have to pay him what the market demands which means something in the Big Ben neighborhood—a huge cap hit.

by blue gonz on Feb 25, 2009 9:17 PM EST up reply actions

jets

did splurge on Faneca too, that wasn’t a huge mistake

by queler on Feb 26, 2009 5:57 PM EST up reply actions

Your right

Usually O-Linemen are a good value. Ohara in 04 and McKenzie in 05 were good FA pick ups for the Giants. I think at the skill positions, DL and CB you have a chance to get burned because those positions usally pay the higest so you will always overpay for the top guys at those positions even if they are worth it. O-Lineman other than Left tackle don’t make a ton so even if you pay market value it’s not much of a cap hit and it could help your team out a lot.

by Landeta on Feb 26, 2009 9:56 PM EST up reply actions

That being said, I dont think TJ would be a good signing

Like someone said, he doesnt have the physical attributes we need in a WR at the moment

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Feb 25, 2009 8:43 PM EST reply actions

You're right on target there.

by blue gonz on Feb 25, 2009 9:25 PM EST reply actions

They'll sign

a Shaun McDonald type from Detroit to be a possesion guy who might be better on a good team because they won’t have to pay him much. Then draft a WR in the first round. I think they will look into Boldin though. He might be worth a 1st and a 3rd. It’s hard to draft WR’s that develop into top tier guys like Boldin and they have the extra #2 so if you think about it, they give up a #1 in which they might of drafted a WR and instead get a relatively young Boldin then could focus on an LB in Round two. They loose a 3 but have another 2nd rounder so it won’t kill them. Most of the top LB’s will be gone by the time the Giants pick in the first round any way. I think giving up a 1 and 3 is worth it for Boldin, well see.

by Landeta on Feb 26, 2009 10:06 PM EST reply actions