The New York Giants are in need of linebackers this offseason, especially after releasing Alec Ogletree and Kareem Martin this week in a cap space-saving exercise.
But how will general manager Dave Gettleman approach filling the holes in his roster? Will it be through the draft, free agency or both? Right now, the cupboard is practically bare.
Ogletree and Martin are gone and David Mayo, Deone Bucannon and Markus Golden are headed for free agency. That leaves just the unproven group of Ryan Connelly, Lorenzo Carter, Oshane Ximines, Josiah Tauefa, Nate Harvey, Chris Peace and Devante Downs.
Not very inspiring.
The Giants have the fourth overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft and they could very easily fill some of their holes with that pick or the No. 36 pick in Round 2.
It’s been a dog’s age since they drafted a linebacker high in the draft…
I keep reading how the #giants haven't drafted a LB in the 1st since 1984.. The focus should be Drafting a LB that can play! By today's standards Jessie Armstead would've been a Fee Agent..Last i checked he was pretty Damn AWESOME..* Not where you're drafted It's how you PLAY*
— Carl Banks (@CarlBanksGIII) February 27, 2020
The talk about the Giants and linebackers is intensifying, according to NJ Advance Media.
Whether over world-famous shrimp cocktails at St. Elmo’s, in the darkened far-reaches of Prime 47 Steakhouse, or the lobby of the Marriott Indianapolis downtown, NFL scouts, executives, and agents couldn’t stop talking about Gettleman’s search for talent at one position: Linebacker.
“The name I keep hearing if they don’t trade back in the draft and stay at No. 4 is Isaiah Simmons,” one NFL evaluator tells NJ Advance Media. “That has really picked up since they released Alec Ogletree and Kareem Martin.”
“They seem to be doing a lot of homework on linebackers,” a second individual said.
A few potential targets in free agency are Dallas’ Sean Lee, Cory Littleton of the Rams, the Packers’ Blake Martinez and Kyle Van Noy of New England.
There are others and the Giants have to put their $73 million to use somehow. If they come out of free agency with Leonard Williams and Golden re-signed, ink an offensive tackle and center as well as a solid inside backer, Gettleman will have done his job.
Then whatever he gets in the NFL Draft will be gravy.
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