Linked to the Giants intermittently this offseason, Andrew Norwell is indeed a priority for Big Blue. In fact, it looks like the All-Pro guard is the Giants’ top priority.
At the tampering period’s outset, the Giants are turning their attention to Norwell and are optimistic about their chances of landing him, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).
PFR’s top non-quarterback free agent, Norwell would satisfy a glaring Giants need — one Dave Gettleman has continually mentioned since being hired as GM — but it would not come cheap. Kevin Zeitler set the new guard standard by agreeing to a $12MM-per-year deal last March. Considering the cap is now $10MM higher than it was at the time of that signing, Norwell — a more acclaimed blocker than Zeitler — could fetch a bigger contract.
The Giants have approximately $19MM in cap space, so barring additional cuts, a Norwell pact would eat into the team’s funds. And Big Blue has multiple needs up front. Norwell, however, would represent the biggest step possible to filling one of them.
Make it happen Big Blue!
He signed with the Jags, oh well. They are a better team so I can’t blame him.
On to the next available OL. Norwell would have been a great signing.