Giants have a depth problem right now. To turn this thing around quickly, we need to use this free agency and find some 26-28 year old players that can step in and start at a high level. With so many needs it’s important we also find good value in free agency too. Ideally, we sign these players before the NFL draft.
Earlier I posted about 2 players who fit the bill. S Ron Parker from KC and DE George Johnson from Rutgers….ugh..I mean the Lions. 2 young guys coming off their best seasons (BY FAR).
The 3rd guy I’d love to see on the Giants also is coming off his best year and he certainly fills a huge need. He’s not an all-pro type but he is a young player who should give us a high-quality starter for the next 5 years.
The player…James Carpenter.
Carpenter was a first round pick 2011 by Pete Carrol in SEA. They Seahawks made 2 mistakes with him. They probably overdrafted the college LT and the 2nd mistake was letting him walk this year.
He played LT at Alabama but his quickness vs NFL speed at LT was a huge concern. He was going to come into the NFL and play RT or G. It took him a couple of seasons to get it going in the NFL. Last year, SEA made the decision to let him play out his option this season. It was a mistake because he had a strong year in 2014 and they missed the opportunity to keep him for another year on the rookie deal.
He’s a massive player at 330+lbs (with 34” arms). A very strong & explosive run blocker and he also gets off the ball fast. His strength and power are pluses. He;s a red zone weapon because he fires off the ball and moves people.
Last season, as most of us know, the NYG were overpowered on the interior OL this past season. Signing Carpenter solves it.
Price shouldn’t be a killer. I think Carpenter will be one of the better values at OL in this FA Class.
I’d like to see them bring him in early in free agency. If we sign him early, we go into the draft with Beatty, Pugh at T, Schwartz, Carpenter at G, Richburg at C. That’s a nice lineup.
My free agent priority list for NYG:
1. S Ron Parker - S with excellent range.
2. DE George Johnson - Can be a full time starter at DE and upgrade the edge pass rush.
3. G James Carpenter - Add a beast to the interior OL.
If they sign them early it allows us to focus on offensive speed and playmakers in the draft (also a huge need). This draft seems to have a lot of it at WR and RB in the early rounds. We follow up the FA signings with maybe:
1. WR Parker
2. RB Coleman
After that, please find another starting S because without Rolle, there isn't one on the current roster!
Newton and Franklin seem to be better options. Don't want Buluga , great player but enough with the injury prone guys.
from the public comments I've heard and reading the tea leaves, I agree they want to upgrade the RT position. from previous discussions, several have said upgrade RG or RT, whichever is easiest/more productive and then adjust Pugh accordingly. If you can upgrade OG easier than RT, Pugh will look better even staying at RT. if you can upgrade RT, and moving Pugh makes for an upgrade at OG, then it's win-win. If Pugh doesn't make for an OG upgrade, and isn't good enough at RT....bust, but that's getting too far ahead.
Beckham is special. I don't want to waste it. I like the plan of loading up on offense and giving Beckham 2 more explosive players to line up next to him. Win with offense.
The team has a lot of holes. One draft pick or free agent will not solve it. What will solve it is finding a few undervalued FA. This is what they MUST do to turn this thing around fast.
BBI likes to rip Reese and the NYG scouting because of draft picks. But what about the guys scouting the NFL for the Giants? I want the scouts who track young NFL FA to step up and find some players this year. If they don't it will be another long season.
We need 2 starting S, we need S depth too. We need DL help. We need an instant starter on the OL at either G or RT. We need more speed at RB and WR. We need at least one more LB.
Carpenter is not flawless. Not close. But he sure the hell isn't John Jerry. This guy is explosive and a force in the run game. He would help and give us some options on the OL. I also think he'll be a good value which is a must for the Giants right now because we have so many holes.
But we have Beckham so there is hope!
1. Less money (probably a lot less)
2. Better run blocker as a G.
They can get a RB and WR from this draft, and I wonder how they value the edge rushers (a lot of 3-4 OLBs imv), and if OT will entice them over WR/edge rusher at #9.
Pricey is right. Plus he's not all that good in pass pro.