With free agency starting on Monday, the rumor mill has been bubbling, and with several unexpected big moves taking place, the football world has been stimulated since the shutdown due to the Corona Virus pandemic. The New York Giants, however, have sat idly by while teams hit on players like DeAndre Hopkins and Calais Campbell. While these moves might not have benefitted the Giants, silence has ensued nonetheless.
General manager Dave Gettleman and head coach Joe Judge have kept their heads low since the start of legal tampering. Still, they’re reportedly engaged in the linebacker market, as players like Cory Littleton, Joe Schobert, and Blake Martinez remain available, according to Matt Lombardo.
The #Giants are making a strong push to sign former #Packers LB Blake Martinez, per @MattLombardoNFL. Worth adding that the #Giants have also been linked to Jadeveon Clowney, Jordan Jenkins and Cory Littleton.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) March 16, 2020
The Giants are reportedly enamored by Martinez, who logged 155 combined tackles in 2019 with five tackles for a loss and 3.0 sacks. While his tackling numbers look solid, he posted an 83.8% completion percentage against and a 10.4% missed tackle rate. There is reason to believe he’s another version of Alex Ogletree, who racks up tackles but is awful in coverage and misses tackles frequently.
The better option would be Littleton, who landed a 3.6% missed tackles rate last season while holding opposing pass catchers to a 71.8% catch rate. He’s the better player of the two by a large margin, and the Giants would be smart to invest in a position that has been a weakness for the better part of a decade. However, Gettleman and Co. are unwilling to travel beyond a specific price-point, which would be the driving factor in letting him go.
Ultimately, it comes down to money, as price is always the driving force in free agency. The Giants must be willing to spend at a specific position, especially with rumors that Byron Jones is closing in on signing with the Raiders or Eagles. He is still available, though, so we can’t rule out a potential last-second move. The Giants are also reportedly involved in the Jadeveon Clowney sweepstakes, according to NBC’s Peter King.