The NY Giants have been very active in free agency this offseason and they have remade their secondary and now names like Jermichael Finley, Owen Daniels, LeGarrette Blount and James Starks could still be targets on the free agent market, while players in Mike Evans, Eric Ebron, CJ Mosley or Taylor Lewan could be options for Jerry Reese in the first round of the NFL draft.
The Giants were criticized by some fans for taking a slow approach to the free agent market and letting names like Linval Joseph, Justin Tuck, Hakeem Nicks and Kevin Boothe go without much of a fight, but that approach has netted a number of players that fill needs on the roster. The team added Walter Thurmond at cornerback and safety Quintin Demps after signing Rashad Jennings at running back and Geoff Schwartz on the offensive line. ESPN.com reported on Monday that the team signed Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to the secondary and that could help turn a weakness from last season into a major strength and the deal was for five years and $39 million with $15 million in guaranteed money and while that will likely get a restructure towards the end, it gives the Giants one of the best cornerbacks on the market this offseason.
Last year the team had issues stopping offenses through the air and now they have added depth at the position behind Prince Amukamara, re-signing Trumaine McBride and bringing in Thurmond, Rodgers-Cromartie and Demps. The front office focused on addressing areas of need in free agency early on with signings at cornerback and on the offensive line and another area of concern was in the return game and that led the Giants to add Trindon Holliday and Demps. The team has had issues for years returning kicks on a consistent basis and now they have one of the most explosive punt returners in the game and one of the most productive kick returners in Holliday and Demps.
Holliday was signed to a one year deal and while he has had fumbling issues in the past, he brings some amazing return skills and he had over 1,000 yards returning kicks with two touchdowns and has had 10 fumbles the last two years. Demps had four interceptions last season with the Eagles and he will likely serve as kick returner for the team if Davis Wilson is not cleared after his neck injury from last year. The Giants now have added depth in the secondary and on special teams and they still have moves they could make. The Giants let Tuck, Joseph and Nicks go because they believe that Rueben Randle, Damontre Moore and Jonathan Hankins can step into bigger roles and now Reese will have to see if that happens.
The Giants also can add an impact player in the draft with a pick at number 12 this season and many experts have predicted that they will look at names like tight end Eric Ebron, linebacker CJ Mosley, wide receiver Mike Evans and offensive lineman Taylor Lewan. Ebron is an athletic freak and he has a solid combine and he could be a top 10 pick if some teams fall in love with him, but after losing Brandon Myers in free agency, the Giants could look to snag him if he is on the board. With Hakeem Nicks leaving they also could look at Evans, Odell Beckham, Brandin Cooks or Jordan Matthews.
