The New York Giants lost a key player in free agency once the deadline passed on Tuesday, as starter Martellus Bennett turned his breakout season in 2012 into a contract with the Chicago Bears, leaving the team to look for another option, possibly Oakland Raiders free agent Brandon Myers.
According to ESPN.com, Bennett agreed with the Bears on a four-year deal as their first official acquisition in free agency and will take over as the starting tight end. Bennett previously signed a one-year, $2.5 million deal with the Giants before last season after starting his career with the Dallas Cowboys.
The 26-year-old played regularly for the first time in his career and set new highs with 55 receptions for 626 yards and five touchdowns. He was also used as an effective run-blocker and will now pave the way for Matt Forte and will catch passes from Jay Cutler. According to the report, the Giants made a push to sign him before the free agency period began on Tuesday.
Bennett was drafted in 2008 out of Oklahoma by the Dallas Cowboys, where he spent the first part of his career as the backup behind Jason Witten. Bennett didn't get much playing time over that span, never making more than 48 receptions and gaining more than 283 yards.
New Bears head coach Marc Trestman has said that his staff plans to make the tight end an important position and that he would be involved in the offense as a pass catcher and a blocker, something Bennett has proven he can do effectively. According to ESPN.com, the Bears were one of the worst teams last season from the tight end position, finishing last in the NFC in receptions and targets.
"We need a tight end that can threaten the defense. We need a tight end that can create stress in the middle of the field or wherever we place him because we're going to line him up next to the tackle," Bears tight ends coach Andy Bischoff said back when the team introduced the new staff. "We're going to line him up outside the numbers. We're going to line up in the backfield, and we're going to expect the defense to figure it out.
Although Bennett will be a significant loss for the Giants, the team likely will not suffer next season when it comes to the position, as there are a number of players they can bring in, such as free agents Brandon Myers, Fred Davis and Dustin Keller, as well as prospects in the draft like Tyler Eifert from Notre Dame and Zach Ertz from Stanford.
Another reason the Giants shouldn't miss Bennett too much is the fact that Eli Manning has lost Kevin Boss and Jake Ballard over the past two seasons the year after each was the primary tight end. The Giants use their tight end as a blocker on many offensive plays, but Manning has always done a good job at getting them involved in the passing game, which he did with Bennett, who posted career-highs in receptions, yards and touchdowns last season. The team currently has Bear Pascoe as the starting tight end along with Adrien Robinson, one of last year's draft picks.
Pascoe has been solid for the Giants as a blocker in both passing and running situations and has been very healthy, though not very productive, over the past three seasons, missing just two games after playing in four in 2009. Although Pascoe has only 26 receptions in his career, he could be thrust into a starting role if the team does not sign a free agent.
The Giants could go after Myers since the Raiders appear ready to let him go, as he had a breakout season in 2012, leading the team with 806 yards and 79 receptions with four touchdowns. The Raiders went just 4-12 last season, but Myers was a solid contributor, as quarterback Carson Palmer completed over 75 of his passes that went the tight end s way.
Oakland has a number of receivers with Jacoby Ford, Denarius Moore and Darrius Heyward-Bey, leaving Myers as the odd man out if the Raiders don t want to pay up. The Giants also could look to some lesser talented options, such as Fred Davis and Dustin Keller, who could provide some solid production for the team.