Giants C Brett Jones Signs RFA Tender
Giants center Brett Jones has signed his second-round restricted free agent tender, the club announced today. Jones will now be paid $2.941MM for the 2018 season.
Jones was one of 14 NFL restricted free agents to be tender at the second-round level, and he’s the sixth — following Falcons guard Ben Garland, Jaguars running back Corey Grant, Seahawks cornerback Justin Coleman, and Jets receiver Quincy Enunwa, and Steelers kicker Chris Boswell — to officially sign his tender. There was no rush for Jones to ink his tender, as RFAs have until April 20 to work out offer sheets with other clubs. However, it was always unlikely that any NFL team would have been willing to sacrifice a second-round pick in order to land Jones.
New York didn’t make an attempt to re-sign free agent Weston Richburg, meaning Jones will be the club’s starting center in 2018. He should be well-equipped for the role, as the 26-year-old started 13 games in place of the injured Richburg a season ago. Jones, who joined the Giants in 2015 after spending time in the Canadian Football League, graded as the NFL’s No. 18 center among 37 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus.
Mayfield, Barkley Visits Set For Monday
- Saquon Barkley and Baker Mayfield dined with Giants brass on Sunday night and both will spend Monday meeting with the team’s coaching staff and front office personnel, per Paul Schwartz of the New York Post. Both the Penn State running back and Oklahoma quarterback are among a high-profile contingent traveling to the Big Apple, joining Sam Darnold, Josh Allen and Josh Rosen in that regard. Schwartz no longer expects the team to draft a quarterback at No. 2, which would put Barkley and Bradley Chubb in play there. A trade-down scenario for Quenton Nelson may also be under consideration.
- Odell Beckham Jr. taking the step of pledging he’ll attend Day 1 of the Giants’ offseason program is important for the parties’ potential long-term agreement, Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.tv writes. But Vacchiano adds Beckham’s gesture may be a symbolic one, with the superstar wideout possibly opting to work out in Los Angeles soon. He’s still recovering from a fractured ankle and remains without a timetable for a field return.
Odell Beckham Jr. To Report To Giants
In the midst of trade talk, in the wake of a video that could get him into some hot water, and coming off a 2017 season largely ruined by an ankle injury, Odell Beckham Jr. will be at the Giants’ facility tomorrow for the first day of the team’s offseason conditioning program, according to ESPN’s Josina Anderson (via Twitter). Per Anderson, Beckham wants to “check in, work out in the gym, and meet with some people.”
Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com says that Beckham, who is scheduled to fly from Los Angeles to New Jersey later today, wants to make a goodwill gesture. Big Blue is trying to reshape its culture under new head coach Pat Shurmur and new GM Dave Gettleman, and Beckham’s presence will allow the team to take a look at his ankle and will allow him to show that he is buying in to the team’s culture. Shurmur said last month that he expected the star wideout to be present for the offseason program, which is voluntary and which Beckham was not present for last year.
It is in Beckham’s best interests, of course, to be a good soldier at this point. Even after the disappointment of 2017, he could still land a massive contract with up to $60MM in guaranteed money, but the team has never entered into serious negotiations with him. Now, as he is set to play out the 2018 season under the fifth-year option of his rookie contract (for a “modest” $8.5MM), it’s time for the Giants to make a decision about Beckham’s long-term future in New York.
We heard yesterday that the Giants are unlikely to trade the former first-round pick unless they are blown away by an offer, and it is clear they want to keep him in the fold. But they want to see him grow up a bit, and perhaps his attendance at the offseason program is one way of showing his willingness to do that. However, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports tweets that Beckham is mostly reporting tomorrow for a medical check, and that he will not be back for “a long while” without a new contract in hand. Similarly, Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.tv tweets that it is unknown how long Beckham will stay. We will have to wait and see, then, what Beckham’s intentions are.
"Decent" Chance Giants Trade Down, Could Target Quenton Nelson
- Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com believes there is a “decent” chance that the Giants trade down from their No. 2 overall selection, and if they do, he believes Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson would be the target. Nelson is widely-regarded as the safest bet in the draft.
Poll: What Should Giants Do At No. 2?
With the Browns likely to take a quarterback with the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft later this month, the attention is now firmly on what the Giants will do with the very next pick.
Just a year ago, the team entered the 2017 season as one of the favorites to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LII. With the acquisition of veteran pass catcher Brandon Marshall and the core of its standout defense in tact, the team seemed destined to at least challenge for a playoff spot. That, of course, was not the case. Marshall and Odell Beckham Jr. suffered season-ending injuries, the defense was not what was expected and the team stumbled to an almost unthinkable 3-13 finish.
Down the stretch, the team even benched longtime quarterback Eli Manning to get a look at Geno Smith. That move seemed to mark the end of Manning’s time in New York, but he is now set to return for his 15th season in the Big Apple. Which puts the team in an interesting spot.
With the No. 2 pick in a draft full of quarterback prospects and a 37-year-old signal-caller at the helm, the logical move would be to snap up a Josh Allen, Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen or Baker Mayfield with the pick at let them learn behind a two-time Super Bowl winner.
But the team is hoping that last season was an aberration, and with a new general manager in the fold in Dave Gettleman, the Giants could be looking for a quick rebound in 2018. If that is the route, the team could pounce on Penn State running back Saquon Barkley at No. 2, similar to how the Cowboys took Ezekiel Elliott at No. 4 in 2016, and field a formidable offense. 
With the Giants moving to a 3-4 defense in 2018, the team traded longtime defensive end and unlikely scheme fit Jason Pierre-Paul to Tampa Bay in the offseason. That seemed to signal a move toward N.C. State pass rusher and near-unanimous top defensive player in the draft Bradley Chubb being the target. Chubb himself is more suited for the 4-3, however, and might not reach his full potential in the scheme.
New York could also look to protect Manning with Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson, heralded by most draft pundits as a can’t-miss prospect. If that route came to fruition, Nelson could be the target if the team decided to trade back with another quarterback-hungry team craving the No. 2 spot.
So, what do you think? Should the Giants go after one of the top quarterbacks, take arguably the top player in the draft in Barkley, add a dynamic defender in Chubb, fortify their offensive line with Nelson or stockpile assets with a trade down? Take PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section!
What should the Giants do with the No. 2 pick?
-
Saquon Barkley 31% (914)
-
Trade Down 28% (819)
-
Sam Darnold 11% (314)
-
Josh Rosen 10% (309)
-
Josh Allen 7% (206)
-
Bradley Chubb 6% (178)
-
Quenton Nelson 4% (119)
-
Baker Mayfield 2% (64)
-
Other 1% (24)
Total votes: 2,947
Chubb's 4-3 Past Not Giants Deal-Breaker
- A team that’s largely regarded linebacker as a second- or third-tier position for many years, the Giants have now committed a staggering amount to that position compared to how it was represented on the 2017 payroll. Former first-round pick Alec Ogletree, and his $10.5MM-per-year deal that ranks third among all off-ball ‘backers, is now in the fold. And, somewhat quietly, the Giants added outside linebacker Kareem Martin for $5MM per year. Last season’s Giants did not have close to that capital allocated to any of its linebackers. Big Blue’s linebacker spending is also spiking considerably as well because of Olivier Vernon‘s relocation to outside ‘backer, Rock writes. Vernon’s $17MM-AAV figure is second only to Von Miller at this position.
Moving to a 3-4 defense, the Giants traded Jason Pierre-Paul to a team that uses a 4-3 scheme. But the Giants do not view Bradley Chubb‘s seemingly superior fit for a 4-3 look as a deal-breaker. New Giants DC James Bettcher doesn’t believe Chubb having played only in a 4-3 setup as enough of a deterrent for the team to automatically pass on him. However, Chubb is 6-foot-4 and 269 pounds, a large frame for an outside ‘backer.
Of course, the Giants aren’t exactly going to say Chubb is out of the question for their scheme, since the N.C. State talent could entice a pass rush-seeking team to trade up. The perceived gap between Chubb and the rest of the edge-rushing class could create a market for the Giants’ No. 2 pick that goes beyond the quarterback position. But Bettcher at least is playing the part of a coach who does not believe that Chubb’s run as a 4-3 end will be too much of a deterrent for his 3-4 approach. Chubb visited the Giants on Thursday.
“Highly Unlikely” Giants Trade Odell Beckham Jr.
Odell Beckham Jr. is likely staying put. A source told Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.TV that it’s “highly unlikely” the Giants deal the star wideout. The reporter acknowledged that the organization could pull the trigger if they were blown away by an offer, but trading him is “clearly not something they want to do.”
Vacchiano writes that Beckham wasn’t necessarily on the trade block to begin with, despite owner John Mara refusing to commit to the receiver’s spot on next year’s roster. The reporter notes that the front office was “listening and they were willing to consider it if the price was right,” and they’d continue to field offers until they sign him to a new contract.
Previous reports indicated that the Giants were seeking a pair of first-rounders in a trade. They lost one potential suitor when the Rams acquired wideout Brandin Cooks, and the Patriots reportedly won’t pursue the receiver. Vacchiano hints that the 49ers could be a team to watch, as the organization could theoretically want a top wideout for Jimmy Garoppolo. Otherwise, the reporter notes that “it’s hard to think of any other team that makes sense.”
The 25-year-old was among the NFL’s top wideouts until an injury cut his 2017 season short. In 2016, OBJ had 101 catches for 1,367 yards and ten touchdowns en route to his third career Pro Bowl selection. However, he was limited to only four games last year, hauling in 25 receptions for 302 yards and three scores.
Giants Have Top-30 Visit With RB Rashaad Penny
- The Giants have set up a top-30 visit with running back Rashaad Penny, reports Ryan Dunleavy of NJ.com (via Twitter). The San Diego State product is currently listed 47th on NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah’s listing of the top-50 prospects. Penny compiled 2,248 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns during his senior season.
[SOURCE LINK]
Giants Host Penn State TE Mike Gesicki
- Yale outside linebacker Matt Oplinger — last year’s Ivy League Defensive MVP — was apart of the contingent at the Giants‘ local pro day on Friday, per Jordan Raanan of ESPN (on Twitter). Raanan also reported (on Twitter) that the Giants hosted Penn State tight end Mike Gesicki for a visit but it won’t count toward their 30 afforded visits because he is a New Jersey native.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/6/18
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
New York Giants
- Re-signed: TE Ryan O’Malley
New York Jets
- Re-Signed: OL Dakota Dozier
- Signed RFA Tender: OL Brent Qvale