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It is time for this week's Big Blue View Mailbag. All of the questions this week have come from Twitter, so the questions are embedded with my answers immediately following.
@bigblueview What r the chances we keep Joseph, he is great young experienced talent to build around!!#bbvmailbag
— William Reed (@billreed7070) March 1, 2014
A: Honestly, I'm not sure the chances are very good. The increase in the salary cap gives the Giants an opportunity to make Joseph a competitive offer, but he is 25, in his prime, and is likely to end up very, very rich this offseason. Someone is going to pay him a lot of money.
Would the #nyg go after Branden Albert & then draft an OT move Beatty to G & Pugh to G or C? @bigbluevie #bbvmailbag
— Duca Smash (@DucaSmash) March 1, 2014
A: Highly unlikely. First of all, Beatty is a tackle, not a guard. He has never played inside. The more likely tack for the Giants is to add at least one free agent guard or center and continue to add to the offensive line in the draft. My guess is the Giants will simply leave Beatty alone and count on him returning to the form he showed in 2011 and 2012, when he played very well. As of right now, I would expect Pugh to stay at right tackle. Why mess with success?
@bigblueview #bbvmailbag if Ebron is available at 12. Take him???
— Johnny Hedden (@Jphedden12) March 1, 2014
A: North Carolina tight end Eric Ebron certainly has to be on the short list of players considered at 12, which is something I wrote about after the NFL Combine. I can't sit here and say he is definitely the pick. You have to see what happens in free agency and which other players are available when it is time to make the selection.
@bigblueview I read the Giants have asked Baas to take a pay cut. Why? Why not just release him? #bbvmailbag
— Juan Cruz (@JCinMD) March 1, 2014
A: Yes, the reports have indicated the Giants have spoken with Baas about the possibility of a pay cut. That does not mean it will happen, or that Baas will definitely be back. Why would the Giants not simply release him? Well, if they do that who do they currently have who could start at center? I love Jim Cordle, but he is not a 16-game starter. Kevin Boothe is a free agent. The Giants could make Baas a post-June cut and save more than $5 million against the cap. Most likely, opening a conversation with Baas is a way of protecting themselves in the event they are unable to sign a free-agent center or draft one they really like.
#bbvmailbag While Randle has shown flashes of greatness, with the inevitable departure of Nicks, do we have sufficient weapons?
— Trey The Tree (@Doctor_Trey) March 1, 2014
A: Probably not. That is why there has been talk about some of the free-agent wide receivers and about looking at Ebron Texas A&M wide receiver Mike Evans in the first round. I have to believe that somewhere in the draft the Giants will add players at those positions.