The NY Giants are likely to use the franchise tag on Jason Pierre-Paul this offseason as they try and work out a long term deal and in free agency players like Osi Umenyiora, Reggie Bush, Jordan Cameron, DeAngelo Williams and Shane Vereen could be targets and this comes as Antrel Rolle and Walter Thurmond are options to return.
The Giants were projected to have around $23 million in cap space heading into the offseason, but they have already freed up more by releasing Mathias Kiwanuka. Jerry Reese has been focusing hard on the draft as well and the Giants have a new defensive coordinator coming in with Steve Spagnuolo taking over for Perry Fewell. The Giants went 6-10 and missed the playoffs for the third straight season and they have needs on both sides of the ball coming into the offseason.
Tom Coughlin was retained and there will be pressure on him to bring the Giants into the postseason and that makes free agency very important. Pierre-Paul is the top priority this year and ESPN New York reports that the franchise tag will be used if the sides can't work out a long term deal. The tag allows the team to negotiate with Pierre-Paul and if they use the exclusive tag, any team that signs him will have to give up two first round picks.
Pierre-Paul had a bounce back season in 2014 with 12.5 sacks after putting up just eight the previous two seasons and now he is looking to get paid. The Giants are actually in a good position with Pierre-Paul, as they want to keep him and the franchise tag would cost around $15 million, which is about what he would get per year on a long term deal anyway. It's a win-win for the Giants if they get a deal done or if they use the franchise tag, because it means JPP will be there in 2015.
Some free agent options for the Giants from Dan Graziano at ESPN include Osi Umenyiora, Reggie Bush, Jordan Cameron and Shane Vereen, while many have pointed towards Brandon Scherff as the pick in the draft. The Giants need to add on the offensive line and they may also want to sign or draft a running back for insurance in case Rashad Jennings gets injured again. Graziano writes that Vereen or Bush could be solid options, as they are both good as receivers out of the backfield and could take the role that Davis Wilson was expected to have before he had to retire with injuries.
The Giants can free up some space by giving Eli Manning a contract extension and they also have Prince Amukamara on his fifth year option at nearly $7 million. The team let go of Kiwanuka and free up about $5 million and they also could look at releasing players like JD Walton or Jon Beason to free up more on the salary cap.
The Giants have a top 10 pick in the draft and some names that have come up in connection with the pick include Iowa lineman Brandon Scherff and Alabama safety Landon Collins. Jerry Reese used his first round pick on Odell Beckham last season and that ended up being a fantastic move, while Andre Williams also played a significant role with Jennings getting hurt. The team has selected Justin Pugh and Weston Richburg over the past two years and they could go for Scherff in 2015 for more young talent on the offensive line.
