At this point of the off-season, most big name free agents have already signed new deals. However there are numerous veteran players still available and looking for a new home. With the passing of the May 9th deadline a few days ago, signing free agents from other teams will no longer have an effect on the compensatory draft formula. We are now entering the second wave of free agency, and with the Giants still having a few holes on the roster to fill, let’s take a look at a few players the Giants might target in the coming weeks.
Potential New York Giants Free Agent Fits
Ryan Clady, offensive tackle
Clady entered free agency ranked as ProFootballTalk’s 52nd best free agent. But after the original wave of free agent signings, the offensive tackle has emerged as the best remaining unsigned tackle on the market. The 30-year old Clady was a four-time Pro Bowler with the Broncos, but has had trouble staying healthy the last few seasons.
Clady sat out 14 games during the 2013 season due to a Lisfranc fracture in his foot. Then after making his fourth Pro Bowl team during the 2014 season, Clady tore his ACL during OTAs the following May and sat out the entire 2015 season. Denver then traded him to the Jets, where the tackle played in just nine games before suffering a torn rotator cuff that forced him to sit the remainder of the season.
While there is no doubt Clady comes with some serious health risks, there is also no denying his talent when healthy. Clady, who is listed at 6’6″ and 315 pounds, was one of the NFL’s top left tackles throughout his first five years in the league. Yes, he has dealt with numerous injuries over the last few years, which raises some red flags. However, since joining the NFL in 2008, Clady has played in all 16 games in six of those nine seasons.
Jerry Reese has said several times in the past few months that he is happy with Ereck Flowers at left tackle. While Reese might be content with Flowers protecting Eli Manning’s blindside, it’s safe to say that many fans are a little worried about that thought. At this point of the offseason, Clady is not going to command a big contract. Signing him to an incentive-based deal (based on the number of games he appears in) would be a low-risk, high-reward gamble, and would provide the Giants with some much-needed depth at offensive tackle.
Jared Odrick, defensive lineman
Odrick is one of the more interesting free agents still available. At 6’5″ and 298 pounds, Odrick has the size, speed, and agility to line up both inside as a pass-rushing tackle, as well as outside as run-stuffing defensive end. The 29-year old has picked up at least 4.5 sacks in four of the last six seasons, and is one of the top veteran linemen left.
Similar to Clady, Odrick is coming off an injury-plagued season. The former Nittany Lion appeared in only six games for Jacksonville last season due to elbow and shoulder injuries. In those six games, Odrick picked up just one sack, one forced fumble, and 12 combined tackles. However the defensive lineman is one year removed from a 5.5 sack season in which he played in all 16 games for Jacksonville.
Odrick would make sense for the Giants, as he would serve as a nice compliment to the run-stopping Damon Harrison. While New York did spend a second round pick on Alabama defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson, we have learned over the years that you can never have enough quality pass rushers. Tomlinson still has some work to do on improving his pass-rushing abilities, and Odrick can help ease his transition by taking some of the pressure off of the rookie.
After Johnathan Hankins left for Indianapolis, the Giants showed some interest in signing Odrick. At this point in his career, Odrick is a complimentary player. He is a versatile, veteran lineman that would bring some much-needed pass-rushing skills to the interior of the defensive line. While New York does have Jay Bromley and Robert Thomas already on the roster, Bromley has done little to impress during his first three seasons, and Thomas is still a bit of an unknown. If Odrick is willing to accept a team-friendly, incentive-based deal, the Giants would be wise to consider him.
Alterraun Verner, cornerback
Verner is the top cornerback still available, and would be a solid addition to an already talented Giants’ secondary. Verner played well during his time in Tennessee, racking up 11 interceptions while appearing in every game during his four seasons there. In his contract year with the Titans, the UCLA graduate had five interceptions to go with two forced fumbles, 22 passes defended, and 57 combined tackles. These stats were good enough to earn Verner his first trip to the Pro Bowl, along with a 4-year, $26.5 million deal from Tampa Bay.
However, Verner lasted only three years with the Buccaneers, and saw his performance drop as each season went on until he was finally released this past February. But at 28-years old, the cornerback is still young enough to reestablish his value in time to cash in on one more large free agent contract. Verner is a strong run defender, and could benefit from playing in the Giants’ defense in a reserve role, rather than being relied on to play as a top corner.
The Giants are set at the top of the depth chart at cornerback with Janoris Jenkins, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, and Eli Apple leading the way. But once you get past those three, New York becomes incredibly thin at the position. Antwon Blake and Michael Hunter would be the next two up, and while Blake does have some NFL experience, Hunter barely stepped onto the field during his rookie season last year. Verner would add another veteran presence to the Giants’ secondary, and could prove to be a steal if he can return to his 2013 form. The 28-year old will not cost much to sign. If the Giants are looking to add some depth to the corner position, it wouldn’t hurt to give Verner a look.
