New York Giants' Transactions: Five players added to roster

[Note by Ed Valentine, 01/07/14 4:16 PM EST: Updated with additional signings]

The New York Giants today signed four free agents, tight end Daniel Fells, linebacker Spencer Adkins, wide receiver Preston Parker and offensive lineman Troy Kropog. On Monday the Giants added placekicker Brandon McManus to their roster.

McManus is the only one without prior NFL regular-season experience.

Fells, 30, has five years of NFL experience with the St. Louis Rams, Denver Broncos and New England Patriots. He played 13 games for the Patriots in 2012, starting four. The 6-foot-3, 266-pound Fells has 92 career receptions, with a high of 41 in 2010. Fells was out of the league in 2013. He has 30 starts in 71 NFL games.

Adkins, 5-11, 222 pounds, was a 2009 sixth-round pick by the Atlanta Falcons. He started only one game in three seasons, and has not played in the NFL since 2011.

McManus, who kicked for Temple, signed last offseason with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent. McManus was cut by Indianapolis before the season started. He made his only preseason field-goal attempt, a 50-yarder, and a pair of extra points.

At Temple, McManus set the school records for points scored (338), field goals made (60) and attempted (83) and punting average (45.4). He was the recipient of the 2012 College Football Performance Awards Specialist Trophy as the nation's best kicker.

Kropog, 6-5 and 311 pounds, was a fourth-round draft choice, the 135th pick overall, by the Tennessee Titans in 2009. In four seasons with the Titans he played exclusively on special teams in seven games (he did not appear in a game in 2011). Kropog, 27, spent the 2013 season on the Washington Redskins practice squad.

Parker, 5-11 and 197 pounds, played in 27 games for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2010-12. He has 44 career receptions for 596 yards (13.5-yard average) with a long of 51 yards and three touchdowns. Parker also returned 30 kickoffs for a 20.6-yard average with a long of 45 yards and 23 punts for a 9.1-yard average with a long of 34 yards. Parker caught 40 passes in 2011.

The Giants also recently signed several other players to reserve/futures contracts. Those players are:

CB Ross Weaver, CB Chaz Powell, CB Junior Mertile, CB Travis Howard, WR Marcus Harris, OT Steven Baker, RB Kendall Gaskins, DE Kendrick Adams.

Analysis

Many of these signings will be forgettable, but one or two of these guys could emerge with chances to make the 2014 NFL roster. If I had to guess right now, Fells might have the best chance.