The Giants are close to agreeing to terms with free agent cornerback Zackary Bowman on a one-year deal, according to Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com. Despite a limited amount of leftover cap space, the Giants continue to be active in free agency, having already signed offensive lineman John Jerry today.
Bowman, 29, is an unrestricted free agent this offseason after spending the first six years of his NFL career with the Bears. After starting 12 of 16 games for the team in 2009, Bowman has mostly played a part-time role since then, though he did see seven more starts in 2013. The former fifth-round pick recorded 48 tackles and three interceptions in 2013, and received a slightly negative grade from Pro Football Focus (subscription required), in large part due to a poor showing against the run. Bowman’s -3.6 grade as a run stopper ranked in the bottom 10 among qualified cornerbacks.
For the Giants, Bowman will almost certainly return to a reserve role, considering the club has already re-signed Trumaine McBride and added Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Walter Thurmond in free agency this month.
According to Dickerson, the Bears are believed to have expressed some interest in bringing Bowman back.