The New York Giants have undergone a number of personnel changes this offseason on both offense and defense and after losing free agent safety Kenny Phillips to the rival Eagles on Thursday, the team brought in two free agents of their own, signing Ryan Mundy and Keith Rivers.
According to ESPN.com, sources said that the Giants have brought back Rivers on a one-year deal, while Mundy was signed away from the Pittsburgh Steelers after four seasons. The Giants have needs in the secondary and at linebacker after releasing Michael Boley and with safety Stevie Brown, who is a restricted free agent. The team signed Mundy as insurance in case they lost Brown, who had a breakout season last year and made eight interceptions.
Phillips signed a one-year deal with the Eagles and he was expected to leave, putting the Giants in a position to bring in Mundy. Last season he started three games and had a career-high 39 tackles and has spent four years with the Steelers, recording one interception and 130 tackles. The Giants like to use three-safety sets and they will be able to do that with Mundy if they keep Brown, who was given a second-round tender as a restricted free agent.
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The Giants have had a number of minor fluctuations on the roster so far this offseason, allowing Phillips and Martellus Bennett to leave while bringing in Mundy, Rivers as well as former cornerback Aaron Ross, who was with the team when they won the Super Bowl in 2008. Ross signed a one-year deal with the team and will help provide depth with the loss of Phillips and joins Corey Webster, Prince Amukamara and Jayron Hosley as the primary cornerbacks.
Rivers played in 11 games last season with the Giants after coming over from the Bengals and he could take over the middle linebacker position for Boley, who was released along with Chris Canty and Ahmad Bradshaw last month. Rivers will join a linebacker unit that includes Jacquian Williams, Mark Herzlich and Spencer Paysinger and the team may also bring in Rey Maualuga from the Bengals, according to ESPN sources.
Phillips was a former first round draft pick by the Giants in 2008 and while the team wanted to retain him, they felt there were other options on the market that could serve the team's needs. Mundy could be an excellent replacement, as he has experience in the playoffs having started five games. The Giants need depth at both areas of the secondary, as they do not know what they will have when Terrell Thomas makes a comeback from his third knee injury.
The Giants went 9-7 last season and missed the playoffs after winning the Super Bowl. The team had issues in the secondary all year and will be looking to upgrade heading into next season. The Giants were inconsistent apart from a four game winning streak earlier in the year and the team faltered down the stretch after starting 6-2.
