The NY Giants are hopeful for 2015 after bringing back head coach Tom Coughlin and heading into free agency the team has players like Jason Pierre-Paul, Antrel Rolle and Walter Thurmond hitting the market and they could return and this comes as Eli Manning could be in line to get a contract extension.
The Giants are coming off of a 6-10 season in 2014 and they will be looking to make the playoffs after missing the postseason in three straight years. According to ESPN.com, the Giants have hired Steve Spagnuolo to take over as defensive coordinator after parting ways with Perry Fewell and he returns after winning a Super Bowl with the team. Fewell was let go after the Giants finished fourth worst in the league on defense in yards allowed per game.
Last year the Giants made a change at offensive coordinator with Ben McAdoo coming in for Kevin Gilbride and while the team missed the playoffs, they improved on that side of the ball. Eli Manning had a bounce back season after throwing 27 interceptions in 2013 and he found a star in Odell Beckham Jr. The Giants are hoping to get Victor Cruz back healthy and they have a top 10 draft pick coming up this spring that could add another top prospect after taking Beckham last year.
Dan Graziano at ESPN.com was asked about potential free agent options for the Giants this offseason and he mentioned names like Doug Free, Bryan Bulaga and Frank Gore as possible targets. The Giants may have around $20 million to work with in free agency depending on what moves they make and that could enable them to sign some solid players. Gore could be an option if he doesn't cost too much, as the Giants need more of a running game, while Pierre-Paul and Rolle are options to return.
Last offseason the Giants brought in a high amount of free agents, including Walter Thurmond, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Rashad Jennings. The team could end up releasing Mathias Kiwanuka or Jon Beason this offseason and that would help free up some cap space for next year.
The Giants also have the chance to work on an Eli Manning extension since he is coming into the final year of his contract and that could also give the team cap space. Manning has one year left on his deal and has a cap number near $20 million and if he gets that down a bit it would give the Giants some flexibility moving forward. This season ended up being a significant one for Eli Manning, as he had his worst season last year with 27 interceptions and 57 percent completion percentage. Manning bounced back and threw 30 TDs for the first time since 2010 and he had over 4400 yards, his highest total in four years.
The Giants had a seven game losing streak this season, but they finished winning three of their final four games and that helped save Coughlin's job. The emergence of Beckham also turned the feeling of this season over the second half and now the Giants have big expectations for 2015.
