Grading the Giants Free Agent Acquisitions
Any loyal New York Giants fan, including myself, will tell you that the G-Men have had several weak spots for several years. These include the offensive line, linebackers, and overall defensive playmakers.
Heading into free agency, the Giants had a fruitful $80 million to spend. Dave Gettleman, knowing that he was under pressure to spend big, wasted no time filling positional holes both on offense and defense.
As free agency wraps up, let’s recap and analyze the G-Men’s biggest free agency moves.
MOVE #1: Placing the Franchise Tag on DT Leonard Williams
The Upside: When the Giants traded for Williams last October, I was actually pretty excited to see what the 25-year-old could bring to an otherwise below average Giants pass rush. The third and fifth round picks the Giants sent to the Jets in return seemed fair (at the time). Williams was arguably one of the best defenders on the Giants last year, registering 20 QB pressures and 14 hurries. Williams flashed some playmaking potential on one of the worst playmaking defenses in football last year. He is only 26 and has the chance to earn himself a long term deal if he can convert potential into results.
The Downside: One could also argue that Williams did not quite live up to his top-6 pick status. The trade was viewed as detrimental to the Giants, as Williams would eat up cap space even though he may have not necessarily deserved it. He looked like an average defensive lineman, at best, and not the impact player the Giants hoped he would be when they traded for him. The tag cost the Giants $16.1 million, an expensive amount for a one year deal. Williams has yet to prove he is a quality finisher despite making frequent appearances in the backfield.
I was fine with the tag because the Giants could not just let Williams walk away and get nothing in return. Since a long term agreement couldn’t be reached, either, the Giants had to make the best out of the rather difficult situation.
Grade: C+
MOVE #2: Signing former Panthers CB James Bradberry to a 3 year, $45M deal
Splash! The Giants first hefty purchase of the 2020 free agency period came in the form of the former 2016 second round pick out of Samford. Bradberry, who was selected by then-Panthers GM Dave Gettleman, joins a young secondary that includes Deandre Baker, Grant Haley, Sam Beal, Julian Love, and Corey Ballentine.
The Upside: Bradberry has a ton of upside. He is durable, as he’s suited up for all but three games in his four year career. Bradberry also brings veteran leadership to a raw and relatively inexperienced Giants secondary. In 2019, Bradberry only allowed one touchdown on 97 targets while covering the likes of Mike Evans, Michael Thomas, and Julio Jones. The NFC East’s top receivers (Amari Cooper, Alshon Jeffery, Terry McLaurin) should be a lighter load for Bradberry to handle. Since 2016, Bradberry has been targeted 380 times as the closest defender in coverage, the most among all defensive players. His 6’1, 215 pound frame will serve him well covering tall and physical receivers. The Giants were in dire need of a No. 1 cornerback, and that’s (hopefully) what they got in Bradberry. With all due respect to Deandre Baker, I don’t think he would have sufficed as a top cornerback based on his performance last year. Bradberry should provide at least some stability at the cornerback position in 2020.
The Downside: The Giants have been roasted over the past few years for giving average players above average contracts. While Bradberry is a solid corner, he only has eight interceptions over four seasons and has never had a PFF grade above 70. Bradberry has to prove he is worth the $32 million guaranteed, or else this move will be considered another gaffe in the Giants’ history of poor free agent signings.
Despite the high asking price, I think Bradberry should contribute enough to make him worthy of $15 million a year. He’s a quality corner that filled a pressing need for the Giants and should be the number one corner right away. Overall solid move by the Giants.
Grade: B
MOVE #3: Signing former Packers LB Blake Martinez to a 3 year, $30M deal
The Upside: Do you like tackles? If so, I would recommend watching Blake Martinez every Sunday during football season. The Stanford product is a tackling machine, as he led all defensive players in solo tackles in 2019 with 110. The Giants needed a playmaking linebacker, and they got one in Martinez. Even if he doesn’t cause a heap of disruption in the backfield, he can prevent big plays, something the Giants haven’t been very strong at doing. The G-Men ranked in the bottom ten in YPG last year, making Martinez a valuable addition.
The Downside: Martinez, however, comes with a few downsides. Most of the tackles he made last year were at least a few yards in front of the line of scrimmage, as not many of his tackles were at or behind the line of scrimmage. On film, Martinez is often viewed as a weak spot in pass coverage.
Although Martinez isn’t exactly the cream of the crop, he fills a need the Giants have had for a while, and he will most likely be an immediate starter in 2020.
Grade: B-
MOVE #4: Signing former Packers LB Kyler Fackrell to a 1 year, $4.7M deal
In the Giants’ ongoing purge of the Packers defense, they picked up Fackrell, who struggled last year but had a monster 2018 campaign. He recorded 10.5 sacks that year along with 42 total tackles in 16 games played.
The Upside: While the one year deal may seem minimal at first glance, this could actually turn out to be the Giants’ best move in terms of value. Fackrell is still young and has a lot of football left in him. If Fackrell can stay healthy like he has been and can channel even half of his 2018 self, the Giants will have snagged a starting caliber edge rusher for cheap. If he doesn’t start right away, he can definitely be at least a situational edge rusher.
The Downside: I don’t really see any major downsides to this deal other than that Fackrell had a poor 2019 campaign, registering only 13 solo tackles and a lone sack in 16 games played. If his unproductive 2019 carries over into 2020, that’s the only reason I could see this deal turning into a bad one.
This deal could go multiple different ways, but if it goes the right way, this move will be viewed as a slam dunk by the Giants.
Grade: B+
Move #5: Re-signing LB David Mayo to a 3 year, $8.4M extension
The Texas State product had a breakout year for the Giants last year, as he was PFF’s second best linebacker defending the run. Mayo recorded 52 solo tackles and two sacks in 16 games played, both season highs.
The Upside: Not many Giants on either side of the ball exceeded expectations in 2019. Mayo did just that, however, setting career highs in several defensive categories. He showed off supreme run stopping skills last year on a Giants unit which struggled against the run, ranking in the bottom half of the league in rushing ypg and rushing touchdowns allowed. Mayo, along with Ryan Connelly, Lorenzo Carter, Blake Martinez, and maybe Isaiah Simmons (wink wink), should contribute to a young but improved linebacker unit for the Giants in 2020.
The Downside: Hopefully, Mayo’s 2019 campaign won’t prove to be a fluke in 2020. The worst case scenario for Mayo is that he either gets injured and can’t play much, or he significantly regresses in year two with the Giants and is relegated to more of a special teams role.
I think Mayo will be a starter for a majority of the season based on his transcendence last year. Inking him for multiple years was a good move by the Giants.
Grade: B
Other notable moves:
Signing former Cowboys OT Cameron Fleming to a 1 year, $4M deal
The definition of a “swing” tackle, Fleming can play both left and right tackle for the Giants. He seems like an upgrade over the journeyman Mike Remmers, who had a rather forgettable 2019 campaign. Fleming has started 26 games over six seasons for the Cowboys and Patriots but has never carved out a clear starting role in the NFL yet. If Fleming was brought in to add depth to the o-line, this would be a great move. As a starter? Questionable. We’ll have to wait and see what the Giants do with Fleming.
Grade: C+
Signing former Falcons TE Levine Toilolo to a 2 year, $6.2M deal
Toilolo was brought in to add some depth to a TE position that included a talented but often-injured Evan Engram, end-of-2019 breakout Kaden Smith, and C.J Conrad. Toilolo replaces retired Rhett Ellison, and Toilolo should play the same role as Ellison, which was a blocking TE. I’m indifferent about this move. I don’t see anything wrong with it.
Grade: C+
Signing former Redskins QB Colt McCoy to a 1 year, $2.5M deal
With Eli Manning retiring, the Giants needed a veteran backup QB, and they got one for cheap. McCoy should bring some experience to a still relatively inexperienced Daniel Jones, who will hopefully be the Giants QB for the foreseeable future. I don’t think Alex Tanney would have sufficed as a second string QB. Overall solid move.
Grade: B-
Signing former Titans RB Dion Lewis to a 1 year, $ M deal
I’m not quite sure how to feel about this move, either. Lewis is coming off two down seasons in Tennessee where he ran for a combined 726 yards and only one touchdown. Despite his struggles with the Titans, he found success on the Patriots, his best season coming in 2017. That year, Lewis rushed for 896 yards and six rushing touchdowns along with three receiving touchdowns. Hopefully, Lewis can be a third down back and fill in as the third option out of the backfield.
Grade: C
Resigning WR Corey Coleman to a 1 year deal
As a WR, I’m not the biggest fan of Coleman. In my opinion, he’s more of a return guy, which is where he shined last year for the Giants. In 2018, Coleman gained 958 kick return yards on 23 returns for an average of 26 yards per return. field position was an issue for the Giants last year, as they were in the bottom ten in average starting field position according to Football Outsiders. I’m glad Coleman is back.
Grade: B
Signing former XFL player Dravon Askew-Henry to a 2 year deal
A first! The Giants inked their first former XFL player during free agency in Dravon Askew-Henry. The West Virginia product played defensive back for the XFL’s New York Guardians in 2019, and he fared well in the short lived season. In five games played, Askew-Henry tallied eleven combined tackles and six passes defended, including five in a 30-12 win over the Dallas Renegades in the final game of the season. DAH should compete for either a slot corner or safety spot with the Giants.
Grade: C+
With several major needs and plenty of money to spend, Dave Gettleman immediately went out and filled most of those needs. The positions filled included cornerback, inside linebacker, and backup quarterback. Some positions remained pat, including a starting caliber edge rusher and offensive tackle. While I did like the players the Giants signed, some deals seemed a bit pricey. We’ll have to see how these signings play out in the 2020 NFL season (if there is one). The 2020 NFL Draft is the Giants’ last chance to score big on potential starters. For now, I think Gettleman and the Giants did what they could, even if it meant stretching the budget.
Overall Grade: B-
