Giants, Bills Pursuing Martellus Bennett
The free agent tight end market is heating up, as the Bills and Giants are pursuing Martellus Bennett, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link), who also confirmed the previously reported interest displayed by the Jaguars. The Titans and Lions are also contacting tight ends , per La Canfora, while the Packers are aiming to retain Jared Cook.
Bennett is reportedly seeking $9MM annually after a 2016 campaign which saw him 701 receiving yards and seven touchdowns for New England. Given that Jack Doyle recently re-signed with the Colts for nearly $7MM per season, Bennett seemingly has every right to ask for $9MM, but a report last month indicated a “real possibility” that Bennett won’t be returning to the Patriots in 2017. Now that New England has acquired Dwayne Allen, Bennett is almost assuredly not returning to the Patriots.
The Giants, meanwhile, are reportedly eyeing all the top tight ends on the free agent market, a list that includes Bennett, Cook, and previously Doyle, and have also expressed interest in Anthony Fasano. The Raiders, too, have been linked to Bennett, who ranks as PFR’s No. 20 overall free agent and No. 1 available tight end.
Giants Sign WR Brandon Marshall
Brandon Marshall doesn’t have to go house shopping. The wide receiver has struck agreement with the Giants on a two-year deal, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. It’s a two-year, $12MM deal for Marshall (Twitter link). Marshall tweeted a picture of the signed contract, so it’s now official.
The Giants have been linked to Marshall ever since the Jets released him earlier this month. He’ll now line up opposite of Odell Beckham Jr. and give defenses something to think about before they double team the young superstar. The Giants’ WR depth chart is looking pretty strong at the moment with OBJ, Marshall, and rising sophomore Sterling Shepard in the top three slots.
Marshall is just two years removed from a season in which he had 109 catches, 1,502 yards, and 14 touchdowns. His numbers dipped significantly last season, but that can be largely attributed to the Jets’ overall offensive quagmire. Now, he could be reinvigorated as he switches jerseys in the same building.
Marshall not only avoids the hassle of moving by signing with the G-Men – he’ll also get to stay in the country’s No. 1 media market. The charismatic veteran already does a fair amount of TV work and he hopes to continue in broadcasting after he’s done playing.
After being released, I ranked Marshall as the sixth-best wide receiver available in free agency, behind Alshon Jeffery, Terrelle Pryor, Kenny Stills, Kenny Britt, and DeSean Jackson. That position slotted him ahead of notables like Pierre Garcon, Torrey Smith, and Terrance Williams.
Giants Deal Could Alter Marshall's Media Role
- The prospect of staying in New York would on the surface allow Brandon Marshall to continue being a rare in-season media regular, but Judy Battista of NFL.com notes (on Twitter) the Giants and Jets’ schedules aren’t structured equally. Inside the NFL tapes on Tuesdays, when many teams give their players off days, but Battista points out the Giants work on Tuesdays. This might not be a deal-breaker, though, with Marshall having established himself on the long-running weekly show the past two years and signing with the only other team that would keep him in the city.
Giants May Cut WR Dwayne Harris
The Giants seeking to restructure the deal of wide receiver Dwayne Harris, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. If the Pro Bowl special teamer and the Giants cannot come to terms on a new deal, he could be released, according to a source close to the situation. 
[RELATED: Giants Sign WR Brandon Marshall]
The Giants gave Harris a sizable deal (by special teams standards) prior to the 2015 season in order to pry him away from the Cowboys. Harris is now slated to enter the third season of his five-year, $17.5MM contract ($7.1MM guaranteed), and it makes sense that the Giants would want to shave down that number. Harris will now have to weigh his potential market before making a call on a proposed pay cut. On one hand, he’s coming off of his first career Pro Bowl selection. On the other hand, he’s going to turn 30 in September, so he’s unlikely to fetch anything with significant long-term guarantees.
Last year, Harris returned 29 punts for 170 yards (5.9 average) and took back 22 kickoffs for 533 yards (24.2 average).
RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/7/17
Unrestricted free agent news will obviously dominate the day, but several clubs also had to make decisions on whether to offer tenders to restricted and exclusive rights free agents. All RFA tenders listed are original round/right of first refusal (worth $1.797MM), and all links go to Twitter:
RFAs:
Tendered:
- Bengals — G T.J. Johnson (via Jim Owczarski of the Enquirer)
- Bills — C Ryan Groy (via Mike Rodak of ESPN.com)
- Buccaneers — DE Jacquies Smith (via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times)
- Giants — DE Kerry Wynn (via Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com)
- Patriots — T Cameron Fleming (via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com)
- Rams — DT Dominique Easley (via Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com)
- Ravens – S Marqueston Huff (via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com); WR Michael Campanaro, T James Hurst, RB Terrance West (via Jeff Zriebec of the Baltimore Sun)
Non-Tendered:
- Bills — DE IK Enemkpali, P Colton Schmidt
- Broncos — OL Sam Brenner (via Mike Klis of 9NEWS)
- Chargers — WR Jeremy Butler (via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk)
- Seahawks — LB Brock Coyle, CB DeShawn Shead (via Sheil Kapadia of ESPN.com)
ERFAs:
Tendered:
- Broncos — LB Zaire Anderson, OLB Shaquil Barrett, RB Kapri Bibbs, C James Ferentz, WR Bennie Fowler, LS Casey Kreiter, C Matt Paradis, WR Jordan Taylor (via Nicki Jhabvala of The Denver Post)
- Cardinals — QB Zac Dysert, DT Olsen Pierre, G/T John Wetzel (via Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com)
- Jaguars — S Peyton Thompson (via Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union)
- Lions — DE Brandon Copeland (via Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com)
- Packers — LB Joe Thomas (via Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
- Panthers — C Tyler Larsen, P Michael Palardy
- Patriots — CB Justin Coleman (via Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald), TE Matt Lengel (via Kevin Duffy of MassLive)
- Saints — WR Brandon Coleman (via Nick Underhill of the Advocate)
Non-Tendered:
- Buccaneers — DE Howard Jones (via Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times)
Giants Eyeing Top Tight Ends
After getting limited production from the position last season, the Giants are reportedly seeking an improvement at tight end. Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com tweets that team is eyeing some of the top available tight ends, including Martellus Bennett, Jared Cook, and Jack Doyle. Earlier today, we learned that the team was also interested in Anthony Fasano.
The Giants crop of talented receivers predictably accounted for the majority of Eli Manning‘s targets last season, but the team still didn’t get much from their tight ends. Will Tye ended up leading the way, collecting 48 receptions for 395 yards and one touchdown. Jerell Adams and Larry Donnell combined for another 31 receptions.
The trio mentioned above would provide a certain upgrade at the position. Cook’s 10 games limited his counting stats, but Bennett and Doyle both finished with at least 55 receptions and 550 yards. The three players were also listed as PFR’s top available tight ends.
Giants A Potential Suitor For OL D.J. Fluker
- When it comes to offensive lineman D.J. Fluker, the Saints, Lions, Seahawks, Colts, Vikings, Giants, Cardinals, and Falcons are among the potential teams to watch, according to Josina Anderson on Twitter.
- The Giants have expressed some initial interest in tight end Anthony Fasano, an NFL source tells Paul Schwartz of the New York Post (on Twitter). The Jets also have some interest in the blocking specialist.
[SOURCE LINK]
Giants Won't Tender Orleans Darkwa
- The Giants will not tender an offer to restricted free agent Orleans Darkwa, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com writes. A return is still possible, but the running back will first test the market. Darkwa was recently cleared for action after recovering from a leg injury.
Five Teams In On Terrelle Pryor
Terrelle Pryor is days away from free agency and, as expected, he’ll have a healthy market for his services. The wide receiver is drawing interest from the Giants, 49ers, Eagles, and Titans on the eve of the legal tampering period, sources tell Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. More teams could get involved and, of course, the Browns are working hard to re-sign him. 
At this point, the Browns and Pryor are far apart in negotiations, Cabot hears. agent Drew Rosenhaus is looking for Pryor to get paid like one of the top receivers in the NFL. After Rosenhaus blew the ceiling off of the WR market with Antonio Brown‘s new deal, there could be a domino effect that aids the Ohio State product. Still, a deal that puts Pryor in the top five at his position in terms of compensation would be a shocker.
Pryor is firmly in the top tier of available receivers this offseason, along with Alshon Jeffery of the Bears and Kenny Stills of the Dolphins. Our most recent rankings have Pryor as the second-best WR on the market, behind Jeffery and ahead of Stills. Despite Rosenhaus’ ambitions, I still see Stills as having more earning power than Pryor.
The Giants are in the market for a receiver after parting ways with Victor Cruz and a player like Pryor would help deflect attention from star Odell Beckham Jr. Still, I’d be surprised if they were able to keep up with the bidding on him. The Eagles and Titans are logical landing spots since both clubs are also in on Jeffery and a possible Brandin Cooks deal. The 49ers, like the Browns, have lots of cap space to work with.
Giants' Robbie Gould To Test Free Agency
- Giants kicker Robbie Gould will test free agency, according to a source who spoke with Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com. Gould, 35, did not miss a single field goal attempt in his lone season with the Giants. Including the playoffs, he went 12-for-12 on three point tries, with a long of 47 yards. He made 21 of his 24 extra point attempts. The Giants do have a kicker signed to a futures deal, but it sounds like they might be the market for a proven leg.