2013 NFL Free Agency: Potential Giants' target -- Brent Grimes, CB, Atlanta Falcons

Let's continue our look at potential 2013 NFL free agents who could help the New York Giants in 2013. Today let's talk about Atlanta Falcons cornerback Brent Grimes, who missed all but one game last season with a torn Achilles Tendon.

BRENT GRIMES
Position: Cornerback
Age: 29 (will turn 30 on July 19)
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 183 pounds

[Related: Falcons Face Secondary Decisions]

Prior to the Achilles injury, Grimes was one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. In 2010 Grimes had 87 tackles, 23 passes defensed, five interceptions and earned an invite to the Pro Bowl. Quarterbacks had only a 61.3 passer rating throwing at him. In 2011 he played only 12 games, compiling 49 tackles, one interception and a passer rating against of 62.9.

[Big Blue View Free Agency Hub]

Dave Choate, editor of SB Nation's Falcons' web site, The Falcoholic, had this to say about Grimes:

When healthy, Grimes is still an asset. His coverage instincts are great, and he makes up for his lack of size with sound tackling and the athleticism necessary to disrupt plays.

The health is the question. Grimes didn't really play in 2012, and he missed the playoffs the year before. With that long of a layoff and age creeping up on him, it's entirely possible that Grimes isn't the player he was in 2010 and 2011, arguably the two finest seasons of his career. I think there's a market for him—bigger risks than Grimes have gotten contracts in recent years—but I don't think the Falcons are going to be aggressive about re-signing him with the emergence of Robert McClain. I think he could be had for a one-year, incentive-laden deal.

ESPN Insider Adam Schefter agrees with Choate that Grimes, who might have been in line for a huge contract had he been healthy a season ago, might end up having to settle for a one-year 'prove it' type contract -- the kind of deal the Giants signed Martellus Bennett to a season ago. Schefter wrote:

"He's coming off a significant injury that will prevent Atlanta and others from rewarding him with the type of contract he could have gotten if he was healthy. Grimes might look to sign a one-year deal worth a decent amount of money, which allows him the chance to get back to playing and proving he is worth the big money he could have gotten."

Is he worth the risk for the Giants? Prince Amukamara was their only consistent corner a season ago, and Corey Webster could be a salary cap casualty with his $7 million salary for 2013.

[Sammie Lee Hill | Glenn Dorsey]

Could Grimes be a better one-year investment than Webster? Would he take the kind of one-year deal Choate and Schefter referenced, and that the Giants would be likely to offer if they were interested?

Watching the market for Grimes will be one of the interesting free-agent story lines next month.

Your thoughts, Giants' fans? Is he a player you would like to see the Giants pursue next month?