NFL Free Agency: Giants also expected to sign ex-Jet QB Geno Smith

The biggest news of the day for the New York Giants is that defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul has reportedly agreed to a massive four-year-contract. The Giants, though, are also collecting backup quarterbacks. Josh Johnson has re-signed, per his agent. Now, multiple reports have indicated that the Giants will also add former New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith to the mix.

The Giants had Smith in for a visit over the weekend, and the Johnson signing initially seemed to indicate that door had closed. But, not so fast.

Smith, 26, was a second-round pick by the Jets in 2013. He has started 30 games for the Jets, but started just one and played in only three the past two seasons. He has a checkered history with the Jets, including having his jaw broken when sucker-punched by a teammate.

One thing I do wonder about is the dynamic between Smith and wide receiver Brandon Marshall, who was a teammate with the Jets. Marshall did not seem happy last season when the Jets benched quarterback Ryan Fitizpatrick in favor of Smith.

Smith has a 57.9 percent completion rate with 28 touchdown passes and 36 interceptions. Smith, who suffered a torn ACL last season, reportedly still has to pass a physical with the Giants before signing his contract. Terms of the deal are not yet known.

What does this mean for the draft?

After GM Jerry Reese admitted that the Giants needed to begin thinking about a long-term replacement for Eli Manning, there has been much speculation that the Giants would select a quarterback during the 2017 NFL Draft.

That is still possible, of course, but would seem to make selecting a quarterback less likely. Especially if both Johnson and Smith have guaranteed money in their contracts.

This is said to be a weak quarterback class. Perhaps it is an indication that the Giants would rather take a flier on rehabilitating Smith’s career than use a draft pick on any of the quarterbacks likely to be available in the middle to late portions of the draft.