2016 NFL free agency: Safeties William Moore, Michael Griffin, Nate Allen hit the market

The New York Giants placed safeties Nat Berhe, Bennett Jackson, Mykkele Thompson and Justin Currie on injured reserve before the 2015 season even began. They tried to get by with the past their prime veterans Brandon Meriweather and Craig Dahl, and the results were predictably disastrous. With that in mind, you would have to think any living, breathing safety on the open market would have to, at least, get some consideration from the Giants as they try to rebuild their defense.

Three veteran safeties -- William Moore (Atlanta Falcons), Michael Griffin (Tennessee Titans), Nate Allen (Oakland Raiders) -- have already been released this week in cost-cutting moves. Would any of them be an upgrade for the Giants?

William Moore

A seven-year veteran, Moore has spent his entire career with the Falcons. To be honest, I'm always leery of players when a team they have been part of for so long lets them go.

Moore, who will be 31 next season, has started 72 of 7 games for Atlanta and made his only Pro Bowl in 2012. He played 11 games in 2015 as he was limited by groin and ankle injuries. Moore also played in only seven games in 2014 due to a shoulder injury. At 6-foot, 223 pounds Moore is really a box or strong safety rather than the free safety type of player the Giants should be looking for to pair with Landon Collins.

Verdict: Pass

Nate Allen 

The Oakland Raiders cuts ties with Allen just one year a four-year, $23 million deal. That is a massive red flag. Allen, 28, was a starter with the Philadelphia Eagles for five seasons before signing with the Raiders, a signing that the Contra Costa Times called "a conspicuous whiff" by the Raiders.

Allen played in only five games with three starts and was limited by a lingering knee injury. The Contra Costa Times said Allen "played ineffectively both in coverage and as a tackler" when he was on the field.

Verdict: Pass

Michael Griffin

Like Moore, this is another case of a team letting go of one of its long-time stalwarts. Griffin was a first-round pick by the Titans in 2007 and had been a starter for them ever since. He had 133 starts in 141 regular-season games for Tennessee and made the Pro Bowl in 2008 and 2010.

Griffin has played free safety for most of his career and has 25 interceptions, but he is now 31 and long-removed from his Pro Bowl seasons.

Music City Miracles said this about Griffin:

Griff's time with the teams was a roller coaster ride. He was really, really good when he had a good supporting cast around him. He struggled when he didn't.

From the Giants' perspective, that would also be a red flag. We know the current supporting cast is below par.

Verdict: Perhaps a short-term option, but only as a last resort.