Giants Free Agency Targets: Defense

New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen entered his second offseason with plenty of work cut out for him. Schoen has already made his two biggest decisions by signing quarterback Daniel Jones to a four-year, $160 million deal and franchise tagging running back Saquon Barkley. But other notable contributors such as safetey Julian Love, guard/center Nick Gates, and receivers Darius Slayton and Richie James are also pending free agents. Schoen faces critical decisions about which players to re-sign, and which players to let go.

We know now that Jones and Barkley are back in the fold, but the futures of others are murkier. Spotrac currently has the Giants with $18.9 million in available cap space. Even after the expected release of receiver Kenny Golladay, Schoen won’t have very much money to go out and sign free agents from other teams, which he’ll certainly look to do to help nourish a needy roster. So, here are a few affordable mid-level free agents that New York could pursue.

Last week we focused on the offense. With the legal negotiation windown set to begin today, let’s focus on potential defensive free-agency targets.

LB Drue Tranquill

New York’s roster could use help in nearly every area, but one stands out as being especially talent-starved. The Giants’ inside linebackers last year were about as bad as an NFL position group can get. Towards the ends of the season, veteran retread Jaylon Smith and rookie fifth-round pick Micah McFadden were starting. New York got so desperate they signed Jarrad Davis off the Detroit Lions’ practice squad and in Week 16 and started him in the playoffs.

Tranquill is the kind of smart, low-cost signing that could potentially start and at workst provide quality depth. The 2019 fourth-round pick of the Los Angeles Chargers spent last season as a full-time starter for the first time. He responded with productive, five-sack, 146-tackle season. He’s not great in coverage, but he’s a smart run defender that can help Big Blue on early downs. Spotrac has his market value at $4 million per year.

DL Zach Allen

Schoen has spoken about the Giants’ need to address depth along the defensive line. Starters Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams are very good players, but beyond them there is little or nothing. At 6’4″ and 281 pounds, Allen would fit very well next to Lawrence and Williams in Big Blue’s 3-4 scheme. He started 13 games last season for the Arizona Cardinals, putting up solid numbers. The Boston College product had 5.5 sacks and 47 combined tackles. The 2019 third-round pick is a well-rounded, plug-and-play starter, and is projected by Spotrac to command just $9.3 million per year.

CB Marcus Peters

Big Blue has had success fishing for cornerbacks in the free-agency pool in recent years. James Bradberry and Adoree’ Jackson were both free-agent signings that went on the play very well in New York. Schoen may have to go back to the market to look for another cornerback this offseason, as Jackson is the only sure-fire starter at the position currently on the roster.

Familiarity is always a factor when trying to connect dots in free agency, and Peters spent a year and a half playing for Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale with the Baltimore Ravens. The 2015 first-round pick is coming off a down year (113.7 passer rating allowed when targeted) after missing all of the 2021 season with a torn ACL. Peters could have a better 2023 given he’ll be another year removed from that injury, but he’ll also be 30-years old. Spotrac has his market value at $9.3 millon per year, so the Giants could bring him in as a stop-gap starter while younger players like Cordale Flott and Aaron Robinson develop.

S Taylor Rapp

Depending on if Schoen is able to re-sign Love, the Giants may be in the safety market. Rapp brings a similarly versatile skill-set to Love, and may even be a smidge better. The 2019 second-round pick started 16 games for the Los Angeles Rams last year, snagging two interceptions and 92 tackles. Spotrac projects Rapp’s market value at $10 million per year compared to Love’s $7.9 million per year. If the asking price for Love starts to become commensurate to Rapp’s, Schoen may pivot to Rapp if he sees him as the better player.

LB Germaine Pratt

The Giants are so thin at linebacker that multiple signings at the position are not out of the question. If New York doesn’t want to rely on a rookie to start immediately, they may opt for a good young coverage linebacker like Pratt. The 2019 third-round pick started 15 games in each of the last three seasons, so we know he’s durable. Last season was his best, as he registered 99 combined tackles while allowing just a 62.1 passer rating when targeted. Pratt has been a valuable starter for a strong Cincinnati Bengals defense, so we know he can contribute to winning. His market value projects to be $10.6 million according to Spotrac.

– Ryan Cuneo is the Managing Editor of Full Press Giants. He covers the New York Giants. Like and follow on Follow @ryan_cuneo Follow @FullPressGiants and Facebook.