NFL Free Agency 2015: Bucs release DE Michael Johnson, should Giants be interested?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are parting ways with defensive end Michael Johnson, whom they signed to a lucrative five-year, $4 million free-agent deal last offseason. Should the New York Giants, who have reportedly been kicking the tires on a variety of free-agent defensive ends, be interested?

The #Bucs will release DE Michael Johnson by 4 pm today.

— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) March 11, 2015

Michael Johnson's release saves Bucs from trigger that would've guaranteed $7m more. So fair way to say it: Eating $7m to save another $7m.

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 11, 2015

Bucs had choice between paying Michael Johnson $14M to play for them, or paying him $7M to play for someone else. They chose the latter.

— Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) March 11, 2015

Bucs are eating $7m to save $2m on Johnson this year. No offset on that $7m, which means he collects that plus what he gets from new team.

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 11, 2015

Johnson, 27, is a six-year veteran. He had only four sacks for the Buccaneers last season in 14 games. Johnson's best year was 2012, when he had 11.5.

Johnson had a poor Pro Football Focus grade of -12.6 in 2014, but was a decent -2.2 vs. the run while playing 648 snaps. In 2013, for the Cincinnati Bengals, Johnson was +22.9 (+15.1 v.s run, +6.7 in pass rush). In 2012, he was +8.1 (+6.2 vs. run, -1.9 in pass rush).

Your thoughts, Giants fans?