mastershake

https://www.si.com/nfl/giants/gm-report/giants-sign-veteran-running-back-matt-breida He was on the Bills and with Daboll last year. The deal isn't disclosed yet, but it's probably a 1 year deal for the minimum, around $1M. He's a good back, but health has always been an issue for him. Still, a decent option for depth.

Looks like he's going to the Falcons on a 1 year deal. I wish him well. The last half season was a really good one for him. https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/03/21/lorenzo-carter-to-sign-with-falcons/

Safeties are an enigma. You can get away with a Safety with 4.6 speed in the right scheme/team fit. It's like a running back. 4.6 isn't blowing anyone away, but that meets the basic requirements for the position in the NFL. You'd never match him up with a Tyreke Hill type or anything, but he can cover TEs, can play in the box, can play double high safety, etc. I'm not too worried about the speed. You also need to factor in the other agility/burst metrics. The 40 yard is a good measure of long speed, but there are other measures which are better indicators of quickness and explosion, such as vertical jump (38 inch is very good), broad jump (he had the 2nd best), cone/shuttles (his numbers here fine). As a frame of reference, his 20 shuttle was on par with Kadarius Toney, Kyle Pitts, Erik Stokes, from last years draft. I'm not worried about his numbers. He's obviously a better player playing downhill, but I think he'll be a fine pro if he can stay healthy. Having said all that, do I want the giants to invest the #5 or #7 pick in him? I'm not sure yet. Need to think about it more.

Do we need a safety now? Julian Love was an okay rotational guy for nickel and dime packages, but he want exactly knocking anyone's socks off. I'd say at least we need some depth now. Could they be considering drafting Kyle Hamilton?

Or the kid from Albany or UCLA. You can also draft a CB to compete (eg Sauce Gardener or Derek Stingey). Guys just have to step up. Who cares though? With Bradberry the team was terrible. Why do we insist on him over a capable offensive line?

Hanging on to Barkley to get better trade value near the trade deadline makes sense, but that could easily go south if he gets injured again, plus that's $7M less cap space you won't have to work with this free agency. Bradberry...we have $12M in potential cap savings, so we'd better move him soon. Use that $12M to get one additional starting OL in addition to Glowinksi, plus I'm also starting to think we might need a decent veteran DT to play alongside Dexter Lawrence, now that Austin Johnson and Shelton are gone. OC Bozeman seems to make the most sense right now, and we can probably get him for the same contract Glowinski got. For DT, at least sign someone for depth. You'd probably still then have money leftover for one of the TE's I mentioned earlier. In other words, we can ditch Bradberry and bring in like three free agents with those cap savings. The CB position would still be okay with Jackson (who actually had a nice season last year), Jarren Williams who looks promising, Darney Holmes, Aaron Robinson, plus draft. It's not a great group, but not terrible, and honestly Bradberry is simply not worth it given the gaps we have elsewhere. Gates makes no sense to hang onto given the uncertainty. IF he does somehow recover by August (and I don't think he will), you can always re-sign him for a minimal 1 year $950k deal or so.

Rumor is Schoen is asking for a King's Ransom for Barkley, at least a 1st rounder (which no team is willing to give), so other GMs think he's not serious about trading Barkley. Gates would have been gone already if they wanted to. Not sure what's going on with Bradberry. You could use that $12M in cap savings to sign another veteran OL (a starting capable Center), and backfill the TE position (there's a lot of decent FA TE options available), such as Austin Hooper, Blake Jarwin, Robert Tonyan, Hayden Hurst, who wouldn't cost much. Why wait? Nobody is trading for him.

With our tight cap situation (again because we absolutely MUST have $23M invested in Bradberry, Barkley, and a one legged Nick Gates on this roster, and won't get rid of these guys), I think the idea is to have Ricky Seals-Jones, Chris Myarick, and probably a draft pick fill out the TE position. Not saying this is good or anything, just trying to project what the roster might look like.

The long term play includes dedicating nearly $20M in cap to Bradberry and Barkley though, on the last year of their contracts??? Instead of bringing in reliable veteran lineman for 3-4 years...? And hoping Gates comes back (he won't) who's also in the last year of his contract...where he'll be a free agent next year as well? What's the long term play here?

https://giantswire.usatoday.com/2022/01/11/nick-gates-optimistic-his-new-york-giants-career-will-eventually-continue/ Gates doesn't even know, so definitely not this year. Sounds like typical giants treatment of the OL the last 10 years. Relying on a backup caliber injury prone guy to replace a guy who's coming off a horrific injury and is unlikely to even play. This is Dave Gettleman / Reese style treatment of the offensive line here. Meanwhile, we insist on having James Bradberry and Barkley on this roster instead of bringing in a top tier or solid veteran lineman alongside Glowinski.

The $2.2M in money on Gates could be put towards the aforementioned guys with a cap hit of only ~$3-4M, guys who will actually play this year and didn't suffer a career ending injury that required 6 surgeries.

Can't someone explain to me why 1) We're not cutting Gates (cap savings ~$2.2M) 2) Why we didn't/aren't signing someone better at Center, than Feliciano who's backup caliber at best? Ted Karras went for 3 yrs $18M, and Mason Cole 3 yrs $16M. We could have easily afforded these contracts if we cut Gates and if we structured them like Glowinski's contract so that 2022 cap hit was only ~$4M or so. Bradley Bozeman, JC Tretter, J.C. Hassenauer, are still available. Why did we sign an injury prone guy who's barely spent time at C, and who's a backup at best? If we signed him as a backup, I'm fine, but not as a starter.

They're not exactly geniuses yet. A lot will hinge on how well Zach Wilson plays. Plus they still have some real weird/bad contracts. +$13M on Corey Davis, $17M on CJ Mosley, $15M on Carl Lawson, plus Bechton has weight issues and can't even stay on the field. They also, for some reason, can't seem to hone in Denzel Mims, who I believe still has talent. But I do like SOME of their moves the last year or two. The OL moves are steps in the right direction. Elijah Moore and Quinnen Williams look like players, plus the brother Quincy.

Yeah we're sort of in a spot right now where the Jets were in 2020-2021. We're like one year behind. But hopefully on the right track.

Tomlinson signed with the Jets! 3 years $40M https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/88952/new-york-jets-nfl-free-agent-signings-2022-laken-tomlinson-brings-toughness I might have to follow the Jets now a little more closely. They've really invested in their OL the last few years.

Allegedly this is the cap hit by year. Only $3.6M this year (that's a bargain). Plus only $1.8M in dead money in yr 3 is key, in case he doesn't work out for whatever reason.

Meh...Billy Price played better, plus Feliciano has been injury prone.

Yep. Now we may want to re-sign Billy Price for cheap (3 yrs, $14M) or something. He played well down the stretch and could be a decent option considering we have little money and no starting Center. Then you draft Ekwonu, Cross, or Neal in the first. The OL could look something like this. LT Thomas LG Bredeson C Price RG Glowinski RT 1st rd pick Plus who knows, maybe we draft another lineman in the 2nd-3rd who can compete for that LG position.

https://www.profootballrumors.com/2022/03/giants-g-mark-glowinski-agree-to-deal 3 years, $20M, $11.4M guaranteed. He was a starting RG in Indy. He seems to play better if he's surrounded by OL talent around him, but that could be said for a lot of guards and lineman in general.

Basically 2022 is a transitory year and likely a lost season anyway. Let the young guys develop. Don't burn your cap situation in future years.

Man fuck Dave Gettleman then.

Trade or Cut Bradberry. $+12M Trade Barkley. +$7M There's your money to afford two veteran OL. 1) OG Laken Tomlinson, 4 years $50M. 2022 cap number of $10M 2) OC Matt Paradis, Billy Price, or 2 years $8M. 2022 cap number of $3M. OR OT Morgan Moses, 3 years $22, 2022 cap number $7M. Stop insisting on heading into each draft and each season with a sub-par offensive line.

Man I really love what the Chargers and building over there. First, you gotta love the investment in the OL they've made the last two years. OT Bryan Bulaga OC Corey Linsley OG Matt Feiter, who was real good for them last year Drafting T Rashawn Slater Now Mack. Mack was injured last year, is on the wrong side of 30, and carries a big cap number, but it's a low risk contract for the Chargers (if he doesn't pan out, they can cut him next season or in 2024 and have $0 dead cap because the Bears take that all on). Only had to give up a 2nd and a 2023 6th (not bad, they have many other picks this draft). Mack and Bosa, if he stays healthy, are going to be headaches for OCs. I also like how they didn't blow their load on RB contracts. 4 yrs and $24M for Ekeler, which seems appropriate and not breaking the bank on an RB.

To me this is the key factor. If Barkley had, say, 2 more years on his contact, I'd be fine with keeping him around. He just happens to be in the last year of his contract on a team that's currently trying to turn over the roster (in transition) in 2022...and by the looks of it, unless Schoen pulls a rabbit out of his hat and goes all in on the OL, it looks like we won't have an adequate OL in 2022 to block for Barkley. I too am fully confident that if Barkley were to leave for like the Ravens, Chiefs, or Dallas as you pointed out etc...He'd totally put up 1,500 - 2,000 yards there.

I honestly haven't followed the combine fully. What are the thoughts on Evan Neal and/or Kenyon Green as well? I think I saw Kenyon Green's stock fall. My understanding of Cross...isn't he more of a pass blocking LT, only average at run blocking, probably not suited to switch to the right side? Although with coaching and a training program, anything is possible I guess. Linderbaum looks like the real deal. I'd be fine if we take him at #5 if we think he's the next best OL available, I suppose. Either way we go, I mean.... these are the perils of years of mal-investment in the OL, and leaving your OL to the whims of the draft.