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Should the New York Giants trade for tight end Martellus Bennett?

Let's open this week's Big Blue View mailbag.

By Ed Valentine
Martellus Bennett
Martellus Bennett
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

It is time to open the Big Blue View mailbag. I am cheating a little bit this week by beginning with a question that wasn't directly asked for "mailbag" purposes, but offers a good place to start our discussion. So, let's open the mailbag and see what tumbles out.

The Martellus Bennett question

I was not specifically asked about the Chicago Bears' tight end for this mailbag, but there were a lot of questions floating around about Bennett in the @BigBlueView Twitter timeline, so let's take this opportunity to discuss The Black Unicorn.

Word out of Chicago is that the Bears and Bennett, who played very well for the Giants back in 2012, have agreed to seek a trade for the eight-year veteran, who turns 29 on March 10. So, the "should the Giants trade for Bennett?" question keeps popping up.

My answer? No. Absolutely no. Unequivocally no.

Bennett caught 53 passes a year ago. That's down from his career-best Pro Bowl season of 2014 when he caught 90, but there is no reason to believe he won't continue to be a quality player for at least a couple more seasons. Bennett can catch, he's an excellent blocker, and he could probably mentor young guys like Will Tye and Matt LaCosse. I still wouldn't trade for him.

That doesn't mean I wouldn't want him on the Giants. I just would not surrender a draft pick, even a late-round draft pick, to get him. The Giants only have six picks in the 2015 NFL Draft and are not expected to receive any compensatory picks. They are not in a position to be surrendering draft picks they could use to build much-needed depth.

Bennett would count as a $6.31 million cap hit for the Bears in 2016. If Chicago cuts him, it would save more than $5 million in cap space. It seems inevitable that the Bears, once they fail to find a trade partner, will release Bennett. That's when I would pounce if I was Giants' General Manager Jerry Reese.

Now, on to the real mailbag questions.

Ed says: I don't know if his career is over, but why would the Giants want to go down that road? Andre Johnson used to be a great player, seven Pro Bowls, two All-Pro selections and 1,053 career catches tell you that. But, he will be 35 next season and he is coming off a 41-catch season, the worst of his career. He clearly doesn't have much left in the tank. The Giants can do better.

Ed says: Last I checked McAdoo was the offensive coordinator and play-caller the past two years. What you see going forward isn't going to be that much different than what you've seen the past two seasons. That said, it's impossible to know the answer to your specific question since we have never even seen so much as one practice with McAdoo as head coach.

Ed says: Honestly, so much of how to answer this depends on what the Giants decide to do with Jason Pierre-Paul, Robert Ayers, and Prince Amukamara. They need upgrades everywhere, so I'm sure they will look to fill as many holes as they can. That said, I do have a couple of preferences. Defensively, I think it is imperative that the Giants get an experienced free safety. We broke down the list of candidates earlier in the week. I would take any of the guys on that list, but if the Giants think Eric Weddle still has a couple of good years left he might be the top target. Offensively, the Giants have got to get help at wide receiver for Odell Beckham Jr. Whoever they believe is the No. 1 guy -- probably Marvin Jones, Rishard Matthews or Mohamed Sanu -- I'd say be aggressive and make sure you get your guy. It doesn't look like this is a good year for receivers in the draft.

Ed says: We covered this topic at Big Blue View earlier in the week. There are two players I will highlight. On offense, 2015 seventh-round pick Bobby Hart. The Giants like him, he's got a great pedigree, and depending on what happens in free agency and the draft Hart could end up starting at guard next season. On defense, Owamagbe Odighizuwa. The Giants drafted him in the third round hoping he would develop into an all-around defensive end for them. Injuries wrecked a good chunk of his rookie season, and considering that he had a pair of hip surgeries in college, durability is a concern. It's no secret the Giants need help on their defensive line. No matter who they sign or draft they will give Odighizuwa every chance to become an impact player in his second season.

Ed says: There are no guarantees of that. Per NFL rules, "a team losing more or better compensatory free agents than it acquires in the previous year is eligible to receive compensatory draft picks." Thus, we have to wait until the free agency dust settles.

Here is a little more on how compensatory picks are determined:

"Compensatory free agents are determined by a formula based on salary, playing time and postseason honors. The formula was developed by the NFL Management Council. Not every free agent lost or signed by a club is covered by this formula."

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