Hakeem Nicks, Justin Tuck and other New York Giants free-agent-to-be get more attention. Defensive tackle Linval Joseph can also be a free agent this offseason, and the 25-year-old defensive tackle seems likely to cash in big on the free-agent market.
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Think about the six-year, $42-million contract ($17.25 million guaranteed) the Giants signed Chris Canty to a few years back. Think about the six-year, $36-million deal ($12 million guaranteed) Barry Cofield got from the Washington Redskins when he left the Giants.
Joseph is probably a better player than either of them. Can the Giants pony up that kind of cash to keep him? Do they want to? Much like when Cofield was entering free agency and Joseph was ready to step in for him, 2013 second-round pick Johnathan Hankins would seem ready to replace Joseph. With Hankins in the fold, will the Giants entertain a bidding war for Joseph?
"I would love to stay here. We'll see what happens," Joseph said on Friday. "This is where I started. I love this organization and I love it here. It's home."
Joseph has 55 tackles, three sacks and a +8.7 grade (+6.7 vs. the run) from Pro Football Focus.
"I don't know what's going to happen," Joseph said. "That's another part of it, that's going to be hard. Right now we just have one last war with my brothers and we'll go from there."