By Michael Stewart/@TheTruthNYG
The NFL free agency will be starting up in a couple of days as new Giants GM Joe Schoen continues to add cap space with the recent cut of punter Riley Dixon and Tight end Kaden Smith. Schoen has also offered pay cut options to both Blake Martinez and Sterling Shepard in restructured deals which could add approximately $10M onto the cap as both players have accepted deals. Schoen is still roughly halfway to his projected $40M cap cuts with other players still on the block to be either traded or released. So how active will Joe Schoen be once free agency begins and which free agent is he likely to target that not only fits team philosophy, but also the budget. Here’s a look at 16 players in free agency or who have been recently cut that could be wearing Giants Blue and white in 2022:
- James Daniels (OG) Chicago Bears-6’4/305: James is only 24 years old and would demand roughly $7M-$8M per year. Would cement down one of the guard spots.
- Brian Allen (Center) Los Angeles Rams-6’3/315: Allen is projected to make roughly $4M-$5M per and would fit the Giants budget and especially need.
- Andrew Wylie (OG/OT) Kansas City-6’6/315: Wylie will be the most affordable linemen among the three I’ve listed projected to make roughly $2.5-$3.5per year.
- Calais Campbell (DL) Baltimore Ravens-6’8/325: 1-year deal will fit Giants budget if Giants fail to re-sign Austin Johnson.
- Arden Key (DE) San Francisco 49ers-6’5/245: Projected at $6-$7M per year, Key could be a bit too expensive for the Giants, but worth a call.
- Robert Tonyan (TE) Green Bay-6’5/255: Solid 2020 season (10 TDS), injuries limited play in 2021. Should fit Giants budget with a 1 year prove it deal between $3.5-4.5M per.
- OJ Howard (TE) Tamp Bay Buccaneers-6’5/255: 1-year prove it, fits Giants budget.
- Mitch Trubisky (QB) Buffalo Bills-6’2/220: Only for the right price between $5M-$7M per. Knows Daboll’s system.
- Ahkello Witherspoon (CB) Pittsburgh Steelers-6’3/198: 1-year deal around 4M-$5M would fit the Giants budget and have a solid starter in 2022 if they trade James Bradberry and don’t draft a CB early.
- DeShon Elliott (S) Baltimore Ravens-6’1/210: Fits Giants budget and knows Wink Martindale’s system.
- Sammy Watkins (WR) Baltimore Ravens-6’1/211: 1-year deal, prove it contract, fits Giants budget.
- Raheem Mostert (RB) San Francisco 49ers-5’10/205: Fits Giants budget, could compete for #2 RB spot.
- Jon Feliciano (OG) Buffalo Bills-6’4/325: Serviceable linemen who can start and be an upgrade at either guard spot. Fits Giants budget.
- Sidney Jones IV (CB) Seattle Seahawks)-6’1/185: fits Giants budget with a projective $4.25M per year. Could replace James Bradberry if traded and/or no CB drafted early.
- Jayron Kearse (S) Dallas Cowboys-6’1/210: Solid box safety who is projected to make roughly $5M per year, which would fit Giants budget as Jabril Peppers will be a free agent and Logan Ryan could be a cap casualty.
- Jacoby Brissett (QB) Miami Dolphins-6’3/220: Solid Backup option that would fit the Giants budget, projected $6M for a one-year deal.
James Bradberry could be traded before free agency officially begins, which will give the Giants an additional $12M in cap space to play with. Also, the rumor mill is still floating around that running back Saquon Barkley is still available in a trade at the right price, but thus far other team’s value on Barkley is not close to what GM Joe Schoen has demanded. The free agent signings by the Giants could indicate which direction Joe Schoen might go in the draft. Currently the Giants have 9 picks in hand, but they could add more if either or both Bradberry and/or Barkley are traded.