The NFL’s legal tampering window is tentatively scheduled to open on Monday, March 16. Whether that changes due to fears over the coronavirus or not, the New York Giants will have upwards of $80 million to spend once the free agency frenzy does begin.
But just how much of that money are general manager Dave Gettleman & Co. going to dump on players of need? Well, that depends on who you ask.
Despite their abundance of cash, Giants co-owner John Mara said in January that the team does not intend to go “hog wild” in free agency.
“The thing with free agency, it’s a double-edged sword. I mean, you can fix some holes pretty quickly, but long-term, I’m not sure that it really works,” Mara said. “You still have to build your team through the draft. I think the best thing in free agency is it allows you to fill some needs so you can go into the draft and just take the best player available.
“If you think free agency is going to fix all your problems, you’re going to be sadly disappointed. So yes, we do have probably the most space we’ve ever had before, but we’re not going to go hog wild in there and spend it all. I think if you do that, you’re making a big mistake. We’re going to try to do it wisely, try to get the right guys in here, guys that we hope are going to be here for a while. But still, you have to emphasize the draft, and that’s still the most important thing in building a franchise.”
That seems cut and dry, but those at ESPN aren’t buying what Mara is selling and recently listed the Giants as a team that’s set to spend big.
Overall cap space: $79,290,136
Offense: $83,444,509
Defense: $23,227,343
Special teams: $4,480,000
Analysis: The Giants have money to spend this offseason. A good chunk will have to be earmarked for their defense, which currently accounts for 11.5% of their total cap. The Giants’ top eight against the salary cap are all offensive players. Second-year defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence ($3 million) is their most expensive defensive player, followed by veteran safety Antoine Bethea ($2.875 million). Clearly there’s a need for an influx of talent on defense. Expect investment in the defense in free agency.
The Giants do appear to be focusing heavily on landing a big-name cornerback, which is not going to come cheap. They’re also going to have to pay defensive lineman Leonard Williams the big bucks after blowing two draft picks in order to acquire him during the 2019 season. But beyond that, how much will Big Blue invest?
There have been some pre-free agency rumors that they’re interested in several different linebackers, but it’s been tier 2 guys who aren’t going to land a massive top-end deal. There’s also the need for an offensive tackle, but they may wait on that until the 2020 NFL Draft.
So, where will the remainder of their money go? Do the Giants really intend to just sit on it or will Mara’s warning ring hallow as the team makes it rain like they did in 2016?
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