The following is a brief synopsis with regard to who I the feel New York football GIANTS should sign in the coming free agency. This was written prior to some of the Franchise tagging,  but still has value.

Needs are as follows (not listed in order of priority). DL – DB – S – OL – TE – WR – LB.

DL – Ian Williams 
Very good run defender at nose tackle. Old school hard to move type. Next to Big Bank Hank in a 4-3 the interior line would become a strength. Position would still require attention in draft. I also like the prospect of signing another second tier DT..

DL – Devon Still
Played behind vets and pro bowlers for bengals. Best football is ahead of him. With his daughters cancer in remission he will be motivated to play his best ball, without having all his hearts desire on being attentive to her recovery. NYC and the medical center in Hackensack have amazing doctors for the little lady. We must strengthen starters and the low end of this team. The Giants bottom 20 players, in my opinion, have been the worst any team in the league has had the last 3 seasons. Players off of bad teams practice squads have gotten on the field for us. We must get depth.

DB – Trumaine Johnson (was Franchise tagged)
55.0 passer rating when targeted—second-lowest at the position per PFF™. I think you can tell by now I am ready to let Prince ride off into FA. I am, he can’t stay on the field and I am reading he is looking for the inflated cash out. Not us, not again, let’s be done over paying our so-so draftees because we are afraid they’re gonna fulfill their potential elsewhere. What happened to trading out with equity? Saying look, we maximized what you are, moving forward we want a more sound investment with better prospect of ROI? Can we please be men of business this year? No more “Resse’s Pieces”.

DB – Casey Hayward
Positive coverage grade in each of his four seasons per PFF™. Slot DB with potential to swing outside. Technically sound, while showing a passion for play recognition and sure tackling. No resign of McBride or Hosley, good bye underachievers. With these additions we still need to draft someone that can play now.

Safety – Eric Weddle
I know he will want above market value. I know he is 31. I know many teams bidding will make getting him even more expensive. That said, I feel he is the FA we should overpay. Why? I want the safety dilemma solved. This is the 2nd best coverage safety in the NFL per PFF™ Coming from a team with poor ownership to our team, the class of the league, he will be happy. He gives us the ability to finally shutdown a top tier TE or Slot WR. He is a play recognizing, screen buster, that smells the cowhide, he doesn’t see it, his instincts are second only to Eric Berry and Von Miller in the FA class. This is my big fish this year. Jerry and team Duh better come correct.

OL – Kelechi Osemele
Is in my opinion the most versatile young OL in the class. Guard and Tackle with high acumen. We need this. He would make us the versatile aggressors we haven’t had the talent or aptitude to be. If not I also like Boone from SF. He is solid at the point of attack, nasty aura on the field, very old school, you do not wanna be at the bottom of a fumble safari with him looking for his lunch meat. The rookie, Franken Flowers has a nasty persona too, with Pugh and Richburg, we will run again.

Tight End
Let’s be clear here, I believe in Will Tye. I love what I saw this year. He didn’t block great, but not once did I watch tape and question his effort, it was usually him being out skilled by a better beast. That said he caught balls. Many over the middle. He contributed good YAC and he didn’t do dumb stuff like trip over his own feet and fumble in the red zone like my homie Lawrence Donnell.

TE – Ladarius Green
I love this potential pick up. YES, I know he does not block great. This is true but you are missing the vision. He will be our X-factor hybrid. I see him motioning off the line into the slot for a 6’4″ 239 lbs matchup problem on slots and LBs. I see red zone f#%kery the likes of you cannot imagine, with this guy, Odell, Will “Baby Gates” Tye and a very active play action offense. It is high time we designed a team that is outside the box. We need special talent at all positions. I believe a rebuilt bully style Oline will make up for Green’s c-grade blocking. Green is a career back up behind a HOFer, so you know not only did he learn, but he will be motivated to make a name for himself. Are you seeing a trend here. Bringing in guys with something to prove.

WR – Jermaine Kearse
I love the route running ability. He catches clutch receptions in big games. He’s super bowl experienced. Slot or the WR2 he gets open.

WR – Anquan Boldin
I love the prospect of him playing with that it’s my final year mentality for us. He is a Leader of epic proportions. Mentor for Odell and whoever else is on some diva sh%t. Makes big catches and blocks better than any TE on the roster currently. Please note I see him as a WR3/4 that has value beyond his statistics. Locker room/sideline/media this guy sets the culture. I think he can be an affordable addition.

LB – James Laurinaitus
He is what we haven’t had. Acumen, toughness and sure tackling. He is a tackling machine. I would love to see the former rookie of the year finish his career here. He can mentor the young LB we draft…

OLB – Nigel Bradham
from Buffalo wouldn’t have to move far, and would add experience and skill to a young, shallow position group. He is only 26, and I believe he and Kennard would be formidable. That said I really hope we draft the freak kid from ND Jaylon Smith. I know about the injury., but this kid is that rare talent and work ethic we have not had the plums to take a gamble on. With ther aforementioned cons, it is likely he will fall to 10. If we sign FAs as I have written above, he can have the first 8 games and preseason to further heal until he can contribute in spot duty. If we hit on him, and he is what I believe he is, which is the best overall prospect in the draft in my opinion, I believe we can have an impact star similar to what Odell is for the offense. Something we haven’t had since #56.

This post was written by our guest blogger, Dane DBM Henson. Please leave your feedback in the comments section below.

The post Some Other Free Agents Worth Looking At first appeared on Bleedbigblue.com.

The Franchise tag can be used once per year by each team. The Franchise Tag takes the average of the top-5 contracts that year per position and uses that as a baseline. For instance, if the average salary of the top-5 quarterbacks this year is approximately 20 million, which it is, if a team elects to use the franchise tag on their quarterback, they have to pay the quarterback that amount. Each position varies how much it is worth for the franchise tag, of course, because the top-5 salaries per position varies. Also, there is a “non-exclusive” franchise tag which allows teams to negotiate with players that received the non-exclusive franchise tag, but if a team gives the franchise tagged player an offer and the original team declines to match that offer, the new team must give up two first-round picks to the original team. The transition tag is similar to the non-exclusive version of the franchise tag. With the transition tag, the player gets paid the average of the top-10 positions for his position. However, the player is allowed to sign a contract with another team after signing the transition tag. That being said, the original team then has a chance to match the offer the player has signed with a different team in which case the player is forced to sign with his original team. Now that you hopefully have a good understanding of what the franchise tag is, we’ll take a look at which teams “won” or “lost” the franchise tag.

Denver Broncos: LB Von Miller (Exclusive) $15.7M

The Broncos wisely elected to use the franchise tag on Von Miller. Miller made a case throughout the season, and especially in the playoffs, that he is the best linebacker in the NFL. Miller’s pass rushing abilities propel him to the elite status he has. This was an expected decision by the Broncos, however, that being said, it is the first time a team since 2007 has used the exclusive franchise tag on a player that is not a QB. Miller could have possibly made upwards of $20M, but he will only make $15M thanks to the franchise tag.  WINNER: Broncos

Washington Redskins: QB Kirk Cousins (Non-Exclusive) $19.5M

Cousins will make the highest base salary for a NFL quarterback in 2016. Cousins definitely showed in 2015 that he can be a $20M quarterback, however, in years passed Cousins has showed he isn’t even worthy of being a starter. In my opinion, one season will not define Cousins as a player. The quarterback position has become such an exclusive position that the Redskins didn’t have much of a choice but to tag Cousins. Had Cousins been smarter, he would have realized that chances are last year will be as good as he will ever be, which is pretty damn good considering last years numbers, thus signing a long-term contract when you are coming off of an elite season would have been the better option. Although the Redskins may not be happy they were able to secure their franchise quarterback for years to come, they are ultimately winners in my book considering chances are Cousins won’t have as miraculous of a season in 2016 and thus they will not need to pay him what they would have had to pay him had they signed a long-term deal this year. WINNER: Redskins

Carolina Panthers: CB Josh Norman (Non-Exclusive) $13.9M

The situation for Josh Norman and the Panthers is very similar to the Redskins situation with Kirk Cousins. Norman had the best season he will likely ever have. He should have been smart enough to try and realize that and get a long-term big money deal signed. The Panthers play a zone on defense so in my opinion a zone corner just isn’t worthy of money like Norman wants and probably will get. Guys like Revis who can shut down a receiver is worth big time money but when you play a zone you are responsible for your area thus teams that don’t play a zone won’t value you as highly as teams that do play a zone. The Panthers won this deal since Norman will no way no how have the season he did in 2015 again. WINNER: Panthers

Chicago Bears: WR Alshon Jeffery (Non-Exclusive) $14.6M

Alston Jeffery moved himself into the top-10 list of wide receivers this year. I questioned whether or not he would become better or worse with the departure of Brandon Marshall, but he clearly showed he can serve as the 1 option for the Bears. I like the move on both sides, but $14.5M for a receiver is remarkable considering Julio Jones, the leagues top receiver, is making $14.3M. WINNER: Alshon Jeffery

New York Jets: DE Muhammed Wilkerson (Non-Exclusive) $15.7M

Muhammed Wilkerson has emerged as one of the leagues best defensive ends. It was not a surprise to see the Jets use the franchise tag on him, but it also would not be a surprise to see the Jets trade Wilkerson at some point this offseason. The Jets have Sheldon Richardson and Leonard Williams who are both younger and reliable options at defensive end. They should definitely trade away Wilkerson’s rich contract for either some picks or a star at a needed position. Overall, both the Jets and Wilkerson won this deal as he will be making nearly the same as what JJ Watt is making, and the Jets have the value to trade for another 1st round pick. WINNER: BOTH

Baltimore Ravens:K  Justin Tucker (Non-Exclusive) $4.5M

Although this is a very rich contract for a kicker, Justin Tucker is a top-3 kicker right now and he is just 26 years old. This is a good move for the Ravens as Tucker was uncooperative in signing a long-term deal. The Ravens should be able to work something out with their “franchise kicker” at some point this season/offseason. WINNER: Ravens

Buffalo Bills: OT Cordy Glenn (Non-Exclusive) $13.7M

Solid move by the Bills. They cut Mario Williams in essence because of his negative work ethic as well as his talent, but also to clear up room for the franchise tag. Glenn is one of the top offensive tackles in the league making this a good move for the Bills. I don’t see much changing between now and next season in terms of the amount of a long-term contract for Glenn so there is no winner in this deal. WINNER: Both

Kansas City Chiefs: S Eric Berry (Non-Exclusive) $10.8M

Another great defensive move by the chiefs. Berry is in my opinion the leagues best safety (yes, over Kam Chancellor). Berry was fantastic in his “comeback” season earning himself the franchise tag. He deserves to be making the most money for a safety in the league so the Chiefs franchise tagging him allowing another year to work out a long-term deal was a great move. WINNER: Chiefs

Los Angeles Rams: CB Trumaine Johnson (Non-Exclusive) $13.9M

Great for Trumaine Johnson, not so much for the Rams. Johnson not worth more than $10M in my view. This was a desperation move by the Rams as their other cornerback, Janoris Jenkins, is set to hit the market. Johnson will enjoy his $13.9M and he should be able to work out a deal with the generous Rams one the course of the season. WINNER: Rams

Miami Dolphins: DE Oliver Vernon (Transition) $12.7M

The Dolphins placed the transition tag on Oliver Vernon. This was a bad move by the Dolphins in my opinion. Vernon is worth about $14M, and the franchise tag is $15.7M. Chances are Vernon will sign a contract with another team and whether the Dolphins match or not will be seen, but if they don’t match they receive nothing in compensation and lose the transition tag for 2016. Had they placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Vernon, they would have most likely secured Vernon for 2016 and if another team decided to sign him off of the non-exclusive franchise tag, which is extremely rare, the Dolphins would be owed two first rounders. So although Oliver Vernon for $12.7M is cheap, they likely will lose him to another team of have to match a higher contract. WINNER: Neither

As for the Giants, there are three positives from all of this. First off, the Redskins owing Kirk Cousins $20M is laughable. Cousins showed he has the ABILITY to be a very good QB, but he has also showed that he has the ABILITY to be a very bad QB. Hopefully for Giants fans, Kirk Cousins will go back to his old normal self and lose games for the Redskins. Next, the signing of Muhammed Wilkerson was a positive even though the Giants were a front-runner to sign Wilkerson. Had Wilkerson hit the market, he would have made more that $15.7M per year. If the Jets do plan to trade Wilkerson, the Giants are a likely spot considering they have a highly coveted 10th overall pick and a need for a defensive end. Expect to hear the Giants linked with trade talks for Wilkerson over the next few months. Lastly, Oliver Vernon receiving the transition tag was the best news of all. I expected the Dolphins to franchise tag Vernon which would have kept him a Dolphin, but using the transition tag still keeps the possibility of Vernon being a Giant alive. The Giants would love to sign the 25 year old to a long term deal and add some pass rush to the defensive line.

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