and a couple less significant that I believe the Giants should make, and would provide Reese the draft flexibility he likes and not require him to force a need pick.
1. Bryan Bulaga (RT GB), he's just 26 it would be similar to the McKenzie signing in that he should anchor the right side of the line for 5 - 6 years and frees up Pugh to move inside (as discussed in the other thread)
2. JPP (DE NYG), he's also just 26, and this might be controversial since he hasn't seemed to duplicate his lofty 2011 season, but he is lethal vs the run and we're seeing now how his pass rush is more effective with he emergence of Kennard and the increase in PT for Moore. PFF (for those who care) rank him by far as the #1 4-3 DE vs. the run and #2 overall 4-3 DE in the NFL after Cameron Wake. His loss would be hard to replace and would require a significant free agent signing anyway or premium draft pick.
3. KJ Wright (LB SEA), not flashy, but good at everything, decent size, decent against the pass, and decent rushing the passer, the run is probably his weakest facet and it's not bad. He'd be an immediate upgrade.
Lesser signings:
Devin McCourty, S NE, he's a converted CB, and more of a centerfielder than an in the box safety, but he's generally good in coverage and doesn't get beat deep
Eddie Royal - a good stretch the field guy to allow ODB and Cruz to work underneath and/or not always draw the safety help
no clue what these guys will actually cost, we'll find out soon, but given the cap space the Giants have and contracts still to shed I think this can be doable.
Other considerations would be a TE.
I think a stretch the field speed guy would help, and he's been one
I considered Cobb, as sort of a wish list kind of signing, since he's a FA too, but that would mean Cruz moves outside which might be best for him. Cruz isn't just a slot receiver either.
Up here in NE they don't think it's going to be a lot, but they do also think the Pats will be outbid since they need to re-sign Revis too, so they consider him gone.
Revis isn't a FA but he has a whopping $25M cap number next year so that's a foregone conclusion that deal is going to be redone.
McCourty would be a solid signing, but I wonder what the market for him would be. I would pay him over Rolle at this point.
I agree with JPP. We need a new DC that can maximize the talent on this defense, it's clear these players aren't developing and Fewell isn't doing a good job of putting them in a position to develop. I would like to sign him to a 4-5 year deal, cut Kiwi so this team can get Ayers, Moore, and Wynn on the field, and bring in another FA or mid round Rookie to compete.
We need to see more playtime from Bromley the rest of this season, because depth at DT is rather thin with an aging Patterson and Jenkins. Kuhn is fine as a rotational guy, but we need to see if Bromley is capable of starting.
If they falter in the playoffs, it's possible they don't resign him to a new deal......he kind of has them by the gonads.....he is paid 12M this year, and if on the roster in April, gets 20M......naturally, they are not going to pay that amount.....so, he can use the open market as a bargaining chip.....playing well this season, sure has helped....
For me, if it's not Bulaga it's a different RT. Signing the RT in FA gets everyone off the "have to draft OL in the first" bandwagon and not that it matters since Reese is the one who makes the call not us, I think the FA RT set the team up to win now more than a draft pick.
Look around the league at Fisher, Joeckel, Johnson, the sure things from the 2013 draft all having growing pains and bust potential. a FA you know (usually) what you're getting as long as you don't do something stupid and sign a guy like Baas who is a guard (and an average one) to play C after one mediocre season there.
I think Mayo is a goner, Jamie Collins is ridiculously talented and Donta Hightower has really come into his own. Mayo was a guy who racked up tackles and I never even noticed he played some games. He was one of those quiet 10 tackles guys. I agree, unless he agrees to a lesser deal he's probably gone, plus he's been IR'd the past two years.
I'd sign him in a heartbeat
I'd also sign a 3rd down RB (someone akin to Sproles), and then focus on S (McCourty is a nice one), LB and DL additions. A good 2nd receiver wouldn't hurt either. And re-signing JPP, Bowman and Thurmond would be nice too.
As bad as this team is, we're not far away from being good.
I like Julius Thomas, but he seems soft.
Suh wants $17 million per year, with a large guaranteed base. Not nearly worth that kind of money.
Yes, we need someone in the middle who can just be a motor guy, someone who is all over the field.
We got a tease of it with Beason for a few games last year.
YES, he's as annoying as "the Big O" was on WEEI before they were steamrolled by 98.5. I like Zolak though, he's funny, a ridiculous Pats homer, but funny.
What's a salary cap
Bulaga is constantly hurt. Constantly.
I like Royal as well, as the Giants can use an upgrade to the slot position, regardless if Cruz lines up there a lot.
I think if the Giants are at all skeptical about Cruz being Cruz again, they will make a serious run at Cobb.
Keeping JPP, which I don't think will cost as much as some think, and signing Suh should be priorities 1 and 1a for free agency. Ayers-Hankins-Suh-JPP would be as good of a line in the league and there would still be money for a few other priority signings.
As for OL, I like Iupati but wouldn't break the bank for him. He's an excellent run blocker but not so much in the passing game. I'd prefer Orlando Franklin who wouldn't cost as much and not only plays LG but has experience at RT if a change was made or we needed emergency snaps. I'd like a swing tackle or super sub signed as well. Michael Roos has had a solid career but will be 33 next year and isn't in the Titans future. He would be far better than Charles Brown and still has tread on the tires. Another option is Joe Barksdale from St. Louis. He's only 26 and though he's been at RT for the Rams he has some experience at LT and LG. Sign any two and grab one OL in the draft and we're set.
Lastly I'd look to sign an RB for cheap. Can't trust Jennings health or Williams vision. Mark Ingram, CJ Spiller and Justin Forsett all have question marks but should come cheap with reward outweighing risk.
Royal is a great PR as well, so I would definitely be a good overall depth addition for the right price.
This is the reason I have not gotten behind the calls to move Pugh this year or next year. They can try him inside in camp, but I wouldn't pencil him in or make an overhaul based on this move given that he played OT exclusively in college. Plus, I think you are correct in that he only played LT.
Keeping JPP, which I don't think will cost as much as some think, and signing Suh should be priorities 1 and 1a for free agency. Ayers-Hankins-Suh-JPP would be as good of a line in the league and there would still be money for a few other priority signings.
As for OL, I like Iupati but wouldn't break the bank for him. He's an excellent run blocker but not so much in the passing game. I'd prefer Orlando Franklin who wouldn't cost as much and not only plays LG but has experience at RT if a change was made or we needed emergency snaps. I'd like a swing tackle or super sub signed as well. Michael Roos has had a solid career but will be 33 next year and isn't in the Titans future. He would be far better than Charles Brown and still has tread on the tires. Another option is Joe Barksdale from St. Louis. He's only 26 and though he's been at RT for the Rams he has some experience at LT and LG. Sign any two and grab one OL in the draft and we're set.
Lastly I'd look to sign an RB for cheap. Can't trust Jennings health or Williams vision. Mark Ingram, CJ Spiller and Justin Forsett all have question marks but should come cheap with reward outweighing risk.
I agree. My top three targets are Suh, Frankin, and KJ Wright
Brandon Mosley played LT in a big time college program and I don't think he's ever played anything BUT guard as a pro.
Joel Bitonio, a rookie that has quietly put together an exceptional season, is one of just five guards this year to have over 400 pass block snaps and has yet to allow a single sack. I'd argue that he's having a better season than Martin.
Mike Iupati and Orlando Franklin will be top free agent guards this offseason that played tackle in college.
I thought during the '13 draft that Pugh would make a decent tackle but potentially a pro bowl guard. I still think he can.
I think Beatty should be penciled in at LT and Richburg at OC and we should look to fill the other 3 positions with the very best we can get. Even at that, neither of those guys should be written in stone either. It may turn out that a healthy Schwartz is our RG or RT. It may turn out he is the first guy off the bench. It may turn out we get 2 outstanding OGs and Pugh stays at RT benefitting from improved play next to him. I wouldn't discount that he was playing next to one of the worst OL in the league this year, in my opinion.
My top 3 FA targets would be:
1) JPP: I want to keep him at a reasonable dollar amount.
2) Orlando Franklin / James Carpenter / Ryan Harris: This is hugely dependent on how the staff sees Pugh. But Franklin can play RT or slide inside if Pugh stays there. But he'll want to be paid like a RT either way. We could also target Harris if Pugh moves inside. If the Giants are all-in on Pugh at tackle, I'd look at Carpenter for LG.
3) KJ Wright: It's time to address the LB spot on this team, and I don't think Wright is breaking the bank.
I'd also grab second-tier FAs, like Roos (who was mentioned earlier) and Roy Helu.