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ANALYSIS: Cullen Jenkins' impact on the Giants

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Al Bello

The Giants Sunday added Cullen Jenkins to fortify their defensive tackle position.

Now that the New York Giants and Cullen Jenkins have agreed upon a three-year, $8 million contract that is expected to be officially signed on Monday let's take a look at some of the ramifications of the deal.

Jenkins' salary for 2013 will be $1 million, with a signing bonus of $666,667, making his 2013 cap hit $1,666,667. According to Spotrac that puts the Giants barely above $114 in salary currently allowed, almost a full $9 million below the $123 million salary cap.

Tenders for restricted free agents could be announced today. The giants have four -- Victor Cruz, Stevie Brown, Andre Brown and Ryan Torain. You have to believe they will tender at least three of them, chewing up more of that salary cap room.

Back to Jenkins, however. What about his impact on the field?

Jenkins will likely start alongside Linval Joseph. Right now veteran Shaun Rogers and youngsters Markus Kuhn and Marvin Austin would provide relief.

What does Jenkins, 32, bring to the Giants' defense. The first thing he brings is an inside pass rush that Giants have not had from a true defensive tackle since Fred Robbins was at his best. Jenkins had 30 quarterback pressures last season, and according to Pro Football Focus only three defensive tackles have had more pressures over the past two seasons than Jenkins.

What about run defense, where Jenkins received a -9.8 score last season from PFF? In 2011 his run defense score was an average -0.7. In all previous years going back to 2008, when PFF began grading players, Jenkins' score vs. the run was barely one side or the other of the mean score of 0.0. So, last season aside and considering the disaster the Eagles were in 2012 Jenkins should likely be looked at as an average run-stuffer.

What impact might the Jenkins' signing have on the Giants' plans in the 2013 NFL Draft? That is hard to say, since we really don't know what general manager Jerry Reese is thinking, anyway. It stands to reason, however, that the signing of Jenkins could take defensive tackle off the board as a first-round consideration. Probably not in subsequent rounds with the question marks behind Joseph and Jenkins, but a first-round defensive tackle might seem like a luxury pick. Maybe that changes if Missouri tackle Sheldon Richardson is on the board at 19. We just have to wait and see.

Now that you have had a little time to digest the signing, what are you thinking, Giants' fans?

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

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