Lets start with the Giants, who are coming off a 3-13 season a year ago. They have about $24 million in cap space to be able to work with heading into the free agency period. Offensive Line is the first priority for the Giants, which was one of the worst in the entire year last season. Justin Pugh, Weston Richburg and D.J. Fluker are all coming off the books as unrestricted free agents, which I think makes many Big Blue fans very happy. One of the big priorites for the Giants will be the interior of the line, which will be a major help in trying to establish a running game. Andrew Norwell the former Panthers guard is somebody I've heard is on the Giants radar.
Running Back is also something that the Giants will be looking to improve in the offseason. Orleans Darkwa and Shane Vereen, who had been the featured backs for Big Blue last season, are both free agents. So that pretty much leaves Wayne Gallman and Paul Perkins as the team's top two backs. Its a major hole the Giants need to improve on, because they haven't had a solid run game since their last Super Bowl runs. Former Vikings running back Jerick McKinnon looks to be the option on the market for the position.
Oh but there's more that the Giants, as they also need help in the position of Linebacker. They already got a little bit of help when they made the trade with the Rams for Alec Ogletree. Getting a hard hitting, run stopping linebacker is up on the Giants priority list. One name that's been floating around is Nigel Bradham, the former Eagles Linebacker. He's a hard hitting linebacker who will fit in quite well with the Big Blue Wrecking Crew.
Now on to the Jets and their needs, a team that is coming off going 5-11 for the 2nd year in a row. This team has almost $100 million to be able to work with in terms of cap space, so it will allow Gang Green a little more room to work with on the market. Biggest need for the Jets has to be Quarterback, something that the Jets haven't really been comfortable with since Chad Pennington. The last three years have been a bandage for the problem, covering it up with Ryan Fitzpatrick and Josh McCown. The target line for the Jets at the position is Kirk Cousins, who is on a short list of the Jets and Vikings, so if New York can snag him and get him here for a few years, that would be a major bonus for the club.
Another position of weakness for the Jets is at Wide Receiver, something that lacked badly last year. Yes, they did get a great year out of Robbie Anderson, but with the trouble he got into during the offseason, I don't think he's going to really be an option this year. Who could step in and play the position for the Jets has caused two different names to get thrown around. I've read Sammy Watkins and Allen Robinson would both be good fits here in New York. Both guys have great hands, and can catch anything thrown at them, with plenty of speed, more for Watkins then Robinson. Both guys would be good targets for whoever is throwing the ball.
Getting help on the defensive side of the football is nothing new for the Jets, but Cornerback is going to be one of their bigger priorities in the offseason. New York has had MAJOR problems with this position the last few years, getting lit up on numerous occasions by good wide receivers. A guy who could help out with this problem would be Malcom Butler. He didn't play a defensive snap in the Patriots Super Bowl loss to the Eagles. He slipped a little in his defensive play last year but he could still help out a defense that was 21st against the pass last season.
Free agency kicks off on March 14th.
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