By Ralph Vacchiano
The Giants may not dive into the free-agent pool wallet-first when the clock strikes midnight, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be doing some shopping. They certainly have holes to fill, and they can’t fill them all from within or in the draft.
Here’s what I think, and in some cases have been told, are their biggest areas of need and positions they may look at on the free-agent market. I’ve also included the names of some specific players that I’ve either heard they like, heard they will pursue, or think they ought to consider going after.
Just don’t expect this to be the frenzy it was last year. As I told you earlier, I think their plan will be - - for the most part - - to sit back and wait out the initial craziness so the market can sort itself out. (Of course, by the time it does, many of your favorite names will be gone).
MIDDLE LINEBACKER
How big a need is it?: Huge. Perhaps you heard that the Giants cut Antonio Pierce leaving a gaping hole in the center of their defense. Chase Blackburn is considered a backup and Jonathan Goff didn’t do much to earn the starting job down the stretch. So yeah, it’s a pretty big need.
The grand prize: Karlos Dansby, the soon-to-be former Arizona Cardinal. But the guess around the league is he’ll command $30 million in guaranteed money and that the Dolphins are backing up the truck of cash. And forget Gary Brackett, too. He and the Colts are desperately trying to work things out.
More likely targets: I still think the Giants are most likely to fill this hole through the first round of the draft, but that won’t prevent them from sniffing around and maybe bringing in a veteran to help groom the rookie. The problem is the new free agency rules have taken the sizzle out of this crop. There is Detroit’s Larry Foote, formerly of the Steelers, who will be 30 in June and could fill the stop-game need. A more intriguing option might be Kirk Morrison, a restricted free agent whom the Raiders only tendered at the third-round level. He’s a little younger, played well for a bad team, and the compensation price has to put him in play for a lot of interested teams.
SAFETY
How big a need is it?: Pretty big, considering how poorly the safeties played last year. They will get Kenny Phillips back - - hopefully - - but no one knows how healthy he’ll be after knee surgery. Even GM Jerry Reese conceded last week that “I don’t think you can put all your eggs in Kenny’s basket right now because that’s a tough injury to come back from.” By the way, Reese also called out Michael Johnson for his poor play after Phillips got hurt. And no one is dancing over the play of Aaron Rouse or C.C. Brown.
The grand prize: When the Cards cut Antrell Rolle that immediately made him one of the best free agents on the market. He’s 27, had four interceptions last year, and I know there are some in the Giants organization that love him. From what I’ve heard, the Giants put in a call to his agent, Drew Rosenhaus. But will they really be willing to pay a safety $8 million per year, which supposedly is what Rolle wants? I don’t see it. They’ve always valued pass rushers above all else and gotten by with average safeties. And that’s a lot of cash. Besides, there are already reports that he’s ticketed for Chicago where the Bears really want him bad.
More likely targets Boy, if I were the Giants I’d make a call to Darren Sharper just to see what his price is. He’s 34, so teams have to be careful with him, but he sure can transform a defense. Just ask Eli Manning, who he has tormented in the past. But more likely expect them to bring in a veteran to add depth, maybe a guy like ex-Eagle Sean Jones. And don’t rule out a run at restricted free agent George Wilson. The Bills tendered him at the second-round level, so that’s probably unlikely, but new Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell probably would like to bring in at least one of his old guys.
RUNNING BACK
How big a need is it?: Depends on how you look at it. Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw are a pretty good 1-2 punch when healthy. But does anyone think they’ll ever be fully healthy at the same time? Plus, the Giants believe they were missing an element to their running game last year after they lost Derrick Ward - - both receiving out of the backfield and his outside running. They seem to think they need help here.
The grand prize: Well, it would’ve been Darren Sproles, who had been told earlier this week by the Chargers that he wasn’t going to be tendered, which would have made him an unrestricted free agent. But the Chargers changed their minds and tendered him at the highest level - - the first and third round level - - effectively taking him out of play.
More likely targets There’s already a report that the Giants are among the many teams in the mix for Chester Taylor. However, with Sproles off the market Taylor is suddenly the belle of a very unattractive ball. There are age and injury issues with most of the players available. This is a spot you can definitely fill beyond the first round of the draft. And don’t forget they’re also counting on a healthy Andre Brown.
DEFENSIVE END
How big a need is it?: Not a very big one at all if Osi Umenyiora is happy. But it’s a huge one if he plans to talk his way out of town. I don’t think he will, but there has been a lot of chatter about the Giants looking at DEs. Nothing concrete, just chatter.
The grand prize: Forget Julius Peppers. That was a bogus rumor from the start. No way the Giants are throwing $100 million at him or anyone.
More likely targets: One big rumor is that the Giants will go after Aaron Kampman, who most scouts agree is much better as a 4-3 end than the 3-4 linebacker he tried to play last year. He’s coming off an ACL injury, though, and he also appears to have the attention of the Philadelphia Eagles. Beyond the top it’s another unimpressive crop. If they sign anyone of note, that would almost certainly main they’ve given up on calming down Umenyiora.
