This off-season for the New York Giants will be as significant as it gets in retooling both sides of the ball for a new head coach Joe Judge. General manager Dave Gettleman has a tall task ahead of him, especially after two lackluster seasons in free agency finding players who can make a difference every Sunday.
However, this free agency period offers plenty of elite value, and two players that could fit the bill for the Giants are cornerback Byron Jones and pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney.
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What would they bring to the New York Giants?
Signing Byron Jones will take plenty of salary cap, but he’s well worth every penny the Giants would theoretically spend. Looking at his statistical output, he missed only one game in five seasons, proving his consistent health. Injuries have been a significant factor for the Giants in past years, and finding players that remain healthy is essential in the development of a strong and successful team.
Looking at his numbers from 2019, Jones recorded six pass breakups, 47 combine tackles, and a 53.1% completion percentage. He had a 2.1% missed tackle rate and allowed just 260 yards through the air on completions.
While his numbers don’t scream productivity, for a cornerback, they are fantastic. You might be wondering why, but teams aren’t focusing on Byron Jones in coverage, they are staying far away from him and his side of the field. Flashback to his matchup against Michael Thomas, star receiver for the New Orleans Saints last season, where he allowed ZERO completions.
Ultimately, it comes down to price tag, and the Giants would have to fork over at least $16 million per season if they wish to sign Jones in free agency. Gettleman has approximately $80 million in cap space to work with, making Jones a reasonable target. Adding a true number one corner to pair with DeAndre Baker would improve the secondary significantly going into 2020.
As for Jadeveon Clowney, the Giants would be getting an elite edge rusher to add to the defensive front. With the anticipation that they will pursue Markus Golden in free agency after recording 10.0 sacks last season, pairing him with an option like Clowney would offer the defense plenty of talent in the pass rush department.
The biggest knock on Clowney has been his health history, but he only missed six games in the last four years. For perspective, Evan Engram missed eight games last season. As far as production, Clowney only recorded three sacks in 2019 with 31 combine tackles and 13 quarterback hits. Ultimately, he didn’t look as spry as he has in past years, but he is a three-time Pro Bowler that looked fantastic during his time with the Houston Texans. Often, he was overshadowed by JJ Watt, rightfully so, but he would be the Giants’ top option and star defensive end.
In the scenario that Chase young somehow dropped the Giants with the fourth overall pick, caring young and Clowney would give the Giants one of the best pass rush duos in the NFL. At just 27 years old, Jadeveon is still in his prime and looking to wreak havoc on a new team next season.