There are plenty of imperfect rosters that could use some fine-tuning as teams labor through their offseason program, the New York Giants included. There are more than a few veterans who can help.
Cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Alterraun Verner, quarterback Colin Kaepernick, defensive end Dwight Freeney, running back LeGarrette Blount, offensive tackles Ryan Clady, Austin Pasztor and King Dunlap, center Nick Mangold, defensive tackles Jared Odrick and Sen’Derrick Marks and wide receivers Michael Floyd and Anquan Boldin are among the notable remaining free agents. They may not be game-changers at this point of their respective careers, but they can help a roster.
Once midnight strikes and Tuesday passes, the shoe may start to drop with some of these veterans, or at least with a player such as Blount who had his contract expire rather than being cut. It is believed that the second Tuesday after the draft is the cutoff for newly-signed players to count in the compensatory pick formula for that year. Players signed beginning Wednesday will not factor into the equation.
The Giants, like everyone else, have some soft spots on their roster. They could use depth at offensive tackle and cornerback. Clady, if healthy, Pasztor or Dunlap could help. So could any veteran defensive back or even some more defensive tackle depth.
Defensive tackle Dan Williams is a free agent. He was on the Giants’ radar several years back as a free agent. Odrick is also a player they checked on earlier this offseason.
There was mutual interest between Blount and the Giants recently. That appears to have cooled after the selection of running back Wayne Gallman in the fourth round, but for the right price, there is always the possibility of adding depth.
“We keep all our options open in respect to that,” general manager Jerry Reese said after the draft. “We keep all our options open as we move forward. There’s a long way to go before we play. We will keep all our options open.”
After Tuesday though, teams may be slightly more aggressive on some of the veteran free agents. They don’t have to worry about any of the signings affecting their compensatory hauls for next year.
The Giants happen to be in good shape to collect a quality compensatory pick in next year’s draft after losing defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins to the Colts, offensive lineman Marshall Newhouse to the Raiders, kicker Robbie Gould to the 49ers and cornerback Coty Sensabaugh to the Steelers. Hankins is the big one (three years, up to $30 million).
The Giants signed tight end Rhett Ellison, offensive lineman D.J. Fluker, quarterback Geno Smith, running back Shaun Draughn and cornerback Valentino Blake. They all should factor in the compensatory formula. Wide receiver Brandon Marshall does not because he was released by the New York Jets. His contract did not expire.
Ellison (four years, $18 million) was the biggest of the bunch, but it pales in comparison to Hankins and the compensatory formula is believed to account heavily for the average salary in the deals. The Giants should get somewhere in the range of a fourth-round pick next year from the compensatory formula after weighing what they lost compared to what they signed this offseason.
Adding a veteran such as Blount or Clady before the end of the day Tuesday would alter it slightly. It may seem minor, but these are the minute details some teams contemplate before making decisions.