The New York Giants came into free agency with specific needs and general manager Dave Gettleman made surgical strikes in the market, grabbing the players he needed without either breaking the bank or breaking the internet.
Gettleman had approximately $77 million to spend on free agents and didn’t quite make the seismic moves observers were expecting. Their free agent frenzy wasn’t exactly littered with sexy names:
- Austin Johnson, DT: Signed a contract
- Dravon Askew-Henry, S: Signed a 2 year contract
- Dion Lewis, RB: Signed a 1 year contract
- Corey Coleman, WR: Signed a contract
- Colt McCoy, QB: Signed a 1 year $1.5 million contract
- Nate Ebner, FS: Signed a 1 year $2 million contract
- Cameron Fleming, T: Signed a 1 year $4 million contract
- Cody Core, WR: Signed a 2 year $4 million contract extension
- Levine Toilolo, TE: Signed a 2 year $6.2 million contract
- Kyler Fackrell, OLB: Signed a 1 year $4.6 million contract
- Blake Martinez, ILB: Signed a 3 year $30.75 million contract
- Aldrick Rosas, K: Assigned a 1 year $3.259 million second round tender
- Leonard Williams, DE: Offered a 1 year $17.04 million franchise tag
- James Bradberry, CB: Agreed to a 3 year $43.5 million contract
The low-key approach therefore has been rated a “C” by USA TODAY’s Nate Davis.
New York Giants: No major splashes as rookie coach Joe Judge tries to settle in. Martinez and CB James Bradberry agreed to three-year pacts averaging more than eight figures, while DL Leonard Williams was given the franchise tag. Otherwise, it’s been a slew of lower-profile veterans, including former Patriots Dion Lewis and Nate Ebner, who should theoretically help Judge implement his program.
We know from experience that throwing money around in free agency like drunken sailors usually doesn’t equate to success, so perhaps this approach is the right one for the Giants at this time.
They have the No. 4 overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft and will end up with a stud left tackle or defender a that spot, should they not trade back. Even if they do trade back, they can still end up with the player they want and gain even more draft capital to use on their remaining needs.
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