While speculation runs rampant on which players the New York Giants should go after, here’s a list of five they should strongly consider letting go.
By Skylar Darel
Free Agency characterizes this – players who were drafted with a certain team, and won titles with a certain team, can be let go and replaced in an instant. This offseason, the New York Giants have several key players entering free agency, from former first round picks and world champions, like Prince Amukamara and Jason Pierre-Paul, to proven veterans like Cullen Jenkins and Zak D’Ossie, to exciting young players like Rueben Randle.
The Giants won’t be able to resign all of their free agents, and nor should they. In order to make room for newer, and better players, Jerry Reese and the Giants front office will choose not to re-sign some key free agents. Here are five players that the Giants should let go in the 2016 free agency period.
Jason Pierre-Paul
This one is, admittedly, tough to swallow. Jason Pierre-Paul was one of the premier pass rushing talents in the NFL, most known for his incredible 2011 season, where he recorded 16.5 sacks and led the Giants to the Super Bowl.
However, the last seven months have not been good for the USF product, who lost two fingers in a fireworks accident on the Fourth of July. JPP’s contract negotiations then soured, and he returned with a club on his hand in the second half of the season. Pierre-Paul’s hand and tempermant present the Giants with a possible liability, which is why they may be better served parting ways with their mercurial pass rusher.
Another thing to keep in mind: Pierre-Paul just had another hand surgery to start the new year. Risk, personified.
Rueben Randle
This is a fiscal issue, more than anything else. Randle will demand big money, despite not having the numbers to back it up. He is, at best, an average number two receiver, which is why he is expendable.
New York could upgrade at the position, by signing someone like Alshon Jeffrey, or drafting someone like Laquon Treadwell from Ole Miss. The team are better served using their cap space on the defensive side of the ball, which is why Randle will likely go in the offseason.
Cullen Jenkins
Jenkins is a great story– an undrafted free agent who has served successful stints in Green Bay, Philly, and New York. However, at 35 years old, his best days are behind him. While he was a great leader in the club house, New York can afford to lose Jenkins. Jonathan Hankins is a great first option at defensive tackle, and Jay Bromley represents good depth at the position.
Expect the Giants to address the defensive line in the draft, meaning Jenkins will likely not return to New York. Whether he retires or goes to another team remains to be seen.
If he does end up returning, it wouldn’t be the end of the world, but there are certainly better alternatives. Jenkins himself, however, wants to return:
A great leader and man, Jenkins leadership is a good attribute. But is it worth a roster spot?
Trumaine McBride
In limited playing time, Trumaine McBride did record three interceptions, but statistics can be misleading. McBride fell out of favor during the regular season, and was often burned in coverage– not unlike the rest of the Giants secondary.
McBride is a solid backup corner, but the Giants could easily replace him in the draft. As you can see from the tweet below, McBride had a cornerback grade of 43.9 out of 100. Not too good.
Marcus Kuhn
Few players have the determination of Kuhn, who fought off being cut for several years before finally locking down a starting job in the wake of Jonathan Hankins’ injury. However, he only recorded 0.5 sacks all season, and was very mediocre at defensive tackle.
Like McBride, he can easily be replaced in the draft, and likely will be. Kuhn represents an old batch of Giants defenders who were not-so-expertly scouted by Jerry Reese.
He’ll likely be gone before training camp, especially without Tom Coughlin, who undoubtably held a soft spot for the German DT.