The fact of the matter is, the New York Giants simply cannot put all their chips in on middle linebacker B.J. Goodson any longer. Missing 10 games over the past two seasons does not help the overall success of the defense, and when on the field, Goodson was never elite.
In 2018, he played in 15 games starting 13 of them. He earned 61 combined tackles, four for a loss, and 0.5 sacks. To be quite honest, I cannot recall a moment or game that he stood out. Maybe the week one gem he enjoyed against the Dallas Cowboys in 2017, but he quickly found his way on to injured reserve.
However, there’s still one option remaining in free agency that could make sense for the Giants.
New York Giants: Could Josh Bynes be a solid pickup at linebacker?
Former Arizona Cardinal, Josh Bynes, featured at the inside linebacker position for a majority of his career before moving over to middle linebacker. Last season, he played his more natural position racking up impressive numbers, or at least ones that trump Goodson’s.
Earning 75 combined tackles, 52 solo, 5 tackles for a loss, two sacks, and five passes defended was Bynes, according to Pro Football Reference. These are impressive stats, despite the linebacker turning 30-years-old in 2019. He could provide short-term value alongside Alec Ogletree for a low cost.
Last year, Bynes ranked in the top five at his specific position and was the #14 ranked linebacker in all of football, according to PFF. Adding him to a relatively weak and unreliable Giants unit would immediately provide an upgrade and see more value to the defense. He’s a seasoned veteran that can fill in valiantly or even start — a one/two-year deal might be worth exploring, especially if the team intends to bring in several younger players to work their way through the system. He can help in a leadership role as well.
A two-year, $2.5M deal would be more than enough to secure him.