NFL Free Agency: Would Martellus Bennett return to the Giants?

There are many New York Giants fans who are still upset that the organization allowed Martellus Bennett to leave after “The Black Unicorn” had an excellent 2013 season in his lone year as a Giant.

Could the Giants get a shot at a reunion with Bennett this offseason?

Right now, Bennett is busy preparing for Super Bowl LI with the New England Patriots. After that, though, Bennett could be back on the free-agent market. During Super Bowl Week, Bennett has taken time to talk about how much he enjoyed his season with the Giants.

“I love the Giants,” he said. “That was one of my favorite organizations. A lot of guys have been on the same team for so long so they always ask me about other organizations, and I always tell them how awesome the Giants were.”

Would he return?

“I don’t know, but I always loved it there,” Bennett said. “Jerry Reese and all those guys were great. The Tisch and Mara families are some of the best owners in the world. I liked it up there.”

Should the Giants be interested in bringing Bennett back? His season with the Giants, in which he caught a then-career high 55 passes, began a string of five straight seasons in which he has had more than 50 receptions. He made the Pro Bowl with the Chicago Bears in 2014 when he caught 90 passes.

Bennett can still play, as evidenced by his work in New England in 2016 as he had to take over primary tight end duties from the injured Rob Gronkowski. Still, Bennett will turn 31 in March. He made $5.1 million in 2016, the final year of the four-year, $20.4 million deal the Bears gave him to pry him away from the Giants.

Spotrac estimates that Bennett could expect a three-year, $18 million contract ($6 million per year).

Would Bennett be worth that kind of money, or should the Giants spend elsewhere and look for a young tight end in the 2017 NFL Draft, which is supposed to be deep at that position? A reunion seems highly unlikely, but as coach Ben McAdoo always says never say never.

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