Let’s take a quick swing around the league’s east divisions:
- Jordan Raanan of NJ.com believes the Giants will bring in a veteran wide receiver at some point over the next couple of months, though there is no rush for the team to do so right now, as there is currently not much of a market for the remaining free agent wideouts. Raanan sees Anquan Boldin and Andre Johnson as potential fits, as both bring the size and physicality that would complement the speed of diminutive receivers Odell Beckham, Jr., Sterling Shepard, and Victor Cruz while giving Eli Manning another credible redzone threat.
- 13 of the Jets’ crop of 14 undrafted free agents received signing bonuses, and three of those players–Jalin Marshall, Doug Middleton, and Lawrence Thomas–received bonuses higher than $10K, suggesting that they were “priority” free agents. Of that trio, Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com sees Marshall, the former Ohio State wideout, as the player with the best chance to make the club, as he has the kick return ability to contribute right away while he develops his fledgling receiver skills. Gang Green, of course, struggled mightily in the return game last year.
- Former NC State quarterback Jacoby Brissett, one of the Patriots‘ three third-round draft choices this year, is the only New England draftee who has not yet signed his rookie contract, as Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com observes. Brissett is the league’s only draft pick to not hire a traditional sports agent, instead relying on former NFL safety Abram Elam, whom Brissett is consulting as an adviser, and NFLPA director of salary cap and agent administration, Mark Levin. Although rookie contracts under the new CBA are fairly straightforward as a result of the rookie wage scale–Brissett himself has said that the deal will get done, and he will get a four-year contract worth roughly $3MM with a $680K signing bonus–the Brissett situation serves as a reminder that there is still some back-and-forth between teams and rookies, especially third-round draftees. As Reiss points out, while nearly 75% of this year’s draft class has signed, only 15 of 35 third-round picks have inked their rookie deals. First- and second-round picks can receive a maximum of 25% allocation of a team’s rookie salary cap, but because the third round does not max out at 25%, there is often debate over what the correct percentage should be, and therefore more room for negotiation and the inclusion of incentives like workout bonuses.
- In the same piece linked above, Reiss observes that Patriots’ fourth-round draft pick Malcolm Mitchell was one of 41 rookies invited to the NFL Players Association Premiere in Los Angeles from May 19-22, and he was the only one that did not attend the event. Mitchell reportedly felt traveling cross country before arriving back in town at midnight tonight or early tomorrow morning would have put him in a position where he wouldn’t be at his best for tomorrow’s start of voluntary organized team activities. Although the NFLPA might not be in love with Mitchell’s decision, New England will certainly appreciate Mitchell’s concern for his new club.
Why in hell is there so much talk about another receiver when we need help in other areas ……
Giants had a pretty strong draft, some thought Apple was a reach, but I think he’ll be a solid NFL corner. I really like the WR Shephard in the 2nd, Safety Thompson in the 3rd, and definitely think Adams could contribute as a 6th round TE.
Q would definitely fit well with this Giants team as a free agent pick-up, but I think they almost have to take a gamble on Foster. I’m not all that impressed with their RB’s, and think they could use an upgrade on 1st and 2nd down with Vereen, when healthy, as a very capable 3rd down back.
Their O-Line won’t be a top group, but overall I think they can get the job done enough for success.
I like Apple, Collins, Jenkins, and DRC in the secondary, and love the defensive front line, especially the Harrison pick-up!! Not quite sold on their group of linebackers, but again their depth on the line is just about up there with St.Louis.
If the linebackers can finish off plays, make their tackles, and provide some decent help in coverage then I think the New York Defense can once again become pretty solid.
All in all, I think they just need to add Anquan and Foster, have their O-Line hold up, and have their LB’s play sound football. If that happens, then they will definitely be toe to toe with Dallas and Washington for the NFC East Title. Without those additions, they will still compete and be there at the end. I just think those additions could really give them the extra boost they need to slide into the playoffs.