2015 NFL Free Agency Predictions: Which Giants' Free Agents Stay? Which Will Go?

The "legal tampering window," when NFL teams can negotiate with players on other teams who become free agents on March 10, begins on March 7. That is this Saturday. With that in mind, let's look at all of the New York Giants who can be unrestricted free agents and make some predictions about whether or not they will return to the Giants in 2015.

For our purposes, we will not discuss Jason Pierre-Paul since the Giants already used the franchise tag on him -- virtually guaranteeing he will be back in 2015.

S Antrel Rolle -- We talked about Rolle earlier today. I don't think he returns to the Giants. He would like to, and the Giants would like the veteran safety and defensive captain back. I just think someone is going to overpay. And I believe it won't be the Giants. Prediction: Gone [Poll: Seventy-six percent of voters in our poll want Rolle back]

CB Walter Thurmond III -- Dan Graziano of ESPN reported Tuesday morning that "talks have gone nowhere"between Thurmond and the Giants and that "he is expected to hit the market and sign elsewhere." That would be unfortunate. Thurmond played only two games with the Giants last season, and New York never got the opportunity to really see what a Thurmond, Prince Amukamara, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie group at corner would look like. Graziano's report probably means the Giants want Thurmond to take another one-year deal, and that he is looking for more than that. If someone will give that to him, more power to them. Prediction: Gone [Poll: Ninety-three percent of voters want to keep Thurmond]

S Stevie Brown -- This is an interesting one. Brown was a great find for the Giants in 2012, intercepting eight passes after flaming out in brief stops with the Oakland Raiders and Indianapolis Colts. He missed 2013 with a torn ACL, then struggled in 2014. He began the season as the starter, lost the job, then saw inconsistent playing time the rest of the way. Do the Giants believe the 2012 version of Brown is still there, or was that guy a mirage who isn't the same after his injury? We will find out. My gut feeling is the Giants move on, although they could bring him back if the free-agent safety market is too expensive. Prediction: Gone [Poll: Seventy-nine percent of voters are OK with dumping Brown]

LB Spencer Paysinger -- I really don't know why the Giants preferred Jacquian Williams to Paysinger, a more fundamentally sound player. But they did. There is no future in New York for Paysinger. Prediction: Gone [Poll: Sixty-three percent of our voters say the Giants should let Paysinger go]

S Quintin Demps -- Flopped as a return man. Really isn't good enough to be relied on as an every-down safety. Prediction: Gone [Poll: Eighty-eight percent want the Giants to replace Demps on the roster]

LB Mark Herzlich -- I have to admit a year ago I couldn't see why the Giants were keeping Herzlich around, and I didn't see how he was going to make the roster. Then Jon Beason got hurt. Herzlich not only made the roster and continued to play well on special teams, but when the Giants gave him an opportunity to play outside linebacker late in the seaosn he played the best defense of his career. Now, I see no way the Giants do not bring him back. He could probably be had for another one-year deal right around the $1 million he made in 2014. Prediction: Stays

FB Henry Hynoski -- The Giants don't use the fullback a lot in Ben McAdoo's offense. In fact, they probably don't use one often enough. Hynoski is a better blocker than any of the tight ends on the roster, so why the Giants flail away with the ineffective Larry Donnell or the other tight ends trying to lead block in the running game is beyond me. The Giants need a fullback, and Hynoski is still a good one.  Prediction: Stays [Poll: Ninety-five percent of voters in our poll want the Hynocerous back next season]

OL Adam Snyder -- We really didn't get to see what Snyder could do last season. The Giants picked him up early in the season to provide depth and he played only one game -- replacing Weston Richburg at left guard -- before hurting his knee. Word has been that the 33-year-old Snyder still want to play. No harm in giving him a veteran minimum contract, bringing him to camp and seeing if he still can. He offers positional flexibility. Prediction: Stays

CB Zack Bowman -- His odds of staying increase if the Giants are going to lose Thurmond. He is a good special teams player and provides adequate depth at corner, although his lack of speed can be exposed on the deep ball. Prediction: Stays [Poll: Seventy-eight percent of voters in our poll want Bowman to return]

DT Mike Patterson -- The Giants seem to like the veteran Patterson and there have been some reports that they would like him back as part of their rotation. Truth is, though, the 31-year-old did not player well last season (-12.6 Pro Football Focus grade), and the Giants need to upgrade their run defense on the interior. Prediction: Gone [Poll: Ninety-five percent of voters in our poll want Patterson gone]

OL John Jerry -- An interesting situation. Jerry was not supposed to be a 16-game starter for the Giants in 2014, but that's what he ended up being. He is an atrocious run blocker (-16.4 last season), but has always been a good pass blocker (-1.1 in 2014). He can play a little bit of right tackle. Perhaps could be brought back as depth on a veteran minimum deal. Prediction: Stays [Poll: Sixty-five percent of voters in our poll want Jerry to be gone]

TE Daniel Fells -- Did a better-than-expected job as the Giants' No. 2 tight end last season. Should be brought back to at least compete for a roster spot. Prediction: Stays [Poll: Ninety percent of voters want Fells back in 2015]

RB Chris Ogbannaya -- Picked up late in the 2014 season as roster fill. Not much reason, or chance, Ogbannaya returns in 2015. Prediction: Gone

WR Jerrel Jernigan -- The Giants want protection for Victor Cruz in the slot, but it's not likely to be Jernigan. Aside from one three-game stretch, Jernigan has done nothing noteworthy in four seasons with the Giants. Jernigan is a better slot receiver than outside guy, but the Giants will almost certainly move on. Prediction: Gone [Poll: Seventy-seven percent of voters want Jernigan to be kept]

OL James Brewer -- For years many fans wondered why Brewer didn't get more of a chance to play. All we know for sure is that two offensive coaching staffs judged him not good enough to crack the lineup. No chance he returns to the Giants next season. Prediction: Gone [Poll: Our readers overwhelmingly vote to dump Brewer]

CB Chykie Brown -- Flopped with the Baltimore Ravens, where Steve Spagnuolo was secondary coach, before being released and picked up by the Giants. I can't see Spagnuolo wanting Brown as part of the Giants' defense. Prediction: Gone

LB Jacquian Williams -- GM Jerry Reese is famously stubborn about keeping guys that he drafted, and that's the primary reason Williams might get another chance with the Giants. It says here, though, that he doesn't deserve it. Williams has athletic ability, but neither the instincts or football intelligence to be the player his athleticism says he should be. Fact is, the Giants played better defensively after Williams was injured last season with the far more limited athletically Mark Herzlich and Spencer Paysinger taking his reps. The Giants simply have to do better at the linebacker position. Prediction: Gone [Poll: Our readers want Giants to keep Williams]