Giants, Bengals Tried To Claim Mettenberger
The Chargers claimed Zach Mettenberger off waivers on Tuesday, but two other teams also tried to land the quarterback. The Giants and the Bengals also put in claims, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets, but the Chargers had higher priority on the waiver wire. 
The Giants’ depth chart at quarterback has gone largely untouched for the last few years with Ryan Nassib backing up Eli Manning. Had the Giants successfully claimed him, Mettenberger could have competed with B.J. Daniels for the No. 3 spot on the team’s depth chart. The Giants’ real motive in making a play for Mettenberger could have been to give themselves insurance in case they did not re-sign Nassib following his contract year in 2016. Mettenberger potentially could have allowed the Giants to entertain trade options for Nassib as well.
The Bengals also appear to be pretty set at quarterback with Andy Dalton as starter and A.J. McCarron – a capable backup – slotted in as his understudy. McCarron completed 66.4% of his passes last season, throwing six touchdown passes compared to two interceptions in three starts in relief of Andy Dalton. Teams inquired on the Alabama product over the offseason and while head coach Marvin Lewis said that he was not interested in trading him, owner Mike Brown did not rule it out. It’s possible that the Bengals were curious to see if Mettenberger could have performed well enough over the summer to make them comfortable enough to move McCarron. Or, maybe they were only looking to put some additional competition for the No. 3 spot alongside with Keith Wenning and undrafted rookie Joe Licata.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Giants Notes: Rodgers-Cromartie, Manning
The two-time Pro Bowler is set to earn a modest $5.98MM salary this year and there are plenty of teams that could use help at corner. At the same time, the Giants’ big need is really at the nickel spot since their top three corners are all better suited to play on the outside. Graziano notes that free agents Leon Hall, Brandon Boykin, and Trumaine McBride could all conceivably fill that role for Big Blue. However, even if Apple proves to be NFL-ready, Rodgers-Cromartie would provide the team with valuable depth at a reasonable price.
After adding Janoris Jenkins and Eli Apple this offseason, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com opines that the Giants should look into trading Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. DRC is unlikely to be on the Giants’ roster in 2017 given that he’s slated to carry an $8.5MM cap number in a year that the Giants have Jenkins at $15MM. So, if Apple shows that he’s ready to start right away, why not consider trading Rodgers-Cromartie? 
The two-time Pro Bowler is set to earn a modest $5.98MM salary this year and there are plenty of teams that could use help at corner. At the same time, the Giants’ big need is really at the nickel spot since their top three corners are all better suited to play on the outside. Graziano notes that free agents Leon Hall, Brandon Boykin, and Trumaine McBride could all conceivably fill that role for Big Blue. However, even if Apple proves to be NFL-ready, Rodgers-Cromartie would provide the team with valuable depth at a reasonable price.
- In today’s mailbag, a reader asks Ralph Vacchiano of the Daily News about the Giants‘ timetable for pondering life without Eli Manning. Vacchiano believes that the Giants should start considering the future of their quarterback position soon, though he’s not so certain that they will. In theory, the Giants could do what Green Bay did with Aaron Rodgers and draft a promising QB to learn from the veteran starter. However, it today’s NFL, it’s tougher to talk a high-end rookie quarterback into taking the scenic route.
Giants Making D-Line Changes
- More from Graziano, who writes that run-stuffer Damon Harrison will team with Johnathan Hankins on early downs. While Snacks’ $9.5MM/year salary might seem high for a two-down player, the Giants firmly believe that he will benefit them on third downs by lengthening the distance their opponent has to go with his work on first and second downs. Giants opponents converted 47% of third-down opportunities in 2016, the highest figure in the league, so Big Blue needs Harrison to help set the tone.
- The Giants will likely move Jason Pierre-Paul around the defensive line this year, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com writes. JPP, who was re-signed this offseason on a one-year, $10MM+ deal, likely can’t line up as a full-time starter at right defensive end spot due to the state of his right hand. The two-time Pro Bowler could be moved inside to play defensive tackle on passing downs while seeking the bulk of his time at left defensive end. On the opposite bookend, the Giants will trot out free agent acquisition Olivier Vernon.
- More from Graziano, who writes that run-stuffer Damon Harrison will team with Johnathan Hankins on early downs. While Snacks’ $9.5MM/year salary might seem high for a two-down player, the Giants firmly believe that he will benefit them on third downs by lengthening the distance their opponent has to go with his work on first and second downs. Giants opponents converted 47% of third-down opportunities in 2016, the highest figure in the league, so Big Blue needs Harrison to help set the tone.
Giants Likely To Add Veteran Slot Corner
- The Giants invested heavily in their secondary over the past several months, signing free agent cornerback Janoris Jenkins to a five-year deal and selecting Ohio State corner Eli Apple with the No. 10 pick in last month’s draft. But the club might not be finished upgrading, according to Jordan Raanan of NJ.com, who expects New York to bring in a veteran corner who can man the slot. The Giants have been linked to several experienced cover men recently, including Jerraud Powers (who was reportedly offered approximately $2MM before signing with the Ravens) and Leon Hall, who visited the team last week. Chris Culliver, Alan Ball, Trumaine McBride, and Charles Tillman are among the corners still left on the market.
Ranking Jerry Reese's Best UDFA Signings
- James Kratch of NJ.com rated the best undrafted free agent signings made by Giants GM Jerry Reese over the years. The list is headlined by a true no-brainer pick in wide receiver Victor Cruz. Cruz, a former star at Paterson Catholic, became a key cog on the Giants’ Super Bowl XLVI team. Currently, the Giants are unsure of what they have in their former salsa-dancing star after he missed most of the last two seasons. The list of notable Big Blue UDFAs also includes tight end Larry Donnell and linebacker Mark Herzlich.
Uani Unga Reverts To Giants' IR
Ben Edwards Tore ACL, Placed On IR
- When the Giants waived wide receiver Ben Edwards earlier this week, the team did so with an injury designation. As Jordan Raanan of NJ.com explains, the injury Edwards suffered was a torn ACL. Since the wideout went unclaimed he’ll revert to IR — Big Blue can either keep him there for the 2016 season, or negotiate an injury settlement if he has a chance to return before the end of the year.
Colts Claim QB Josh Woodrum From Giants
- The Giants‘ signing of Matt Smalley will wait until the Lafayette cornerback is done with his finals, according to Ralph Vacchiano of the Daily News (on Twitter). That will give Big Blue time before they have to release someone from the 90-man roster.
- The Colts have claimed quarterback Josh Woodrum off waivers from the Giants, as Mike Wells of ESPN.com tweets. In a related move, the Colts waived-injured tight end Mike McFarland. McFarland will go on the Colts’ IR if he clears waivers. As for Woodrum, he becomes the team’s fourth QB on the depth chart after Andrew Luck, Scott Tolzien, and Stephen Morris.
- The Giants‘ signing of Matt Smalley will wait until the Lafayette cornerback is done with his finals, according to Ralph Vacchiano of the Daily News (on Twitter). That will give Big Blue time before they have to release someone from the 90-man roster.
- The Giants released linebacker Uani Unga (Twitter link via SiriusXM).
Giants Sign B.J. Daniels, Three Others
The Giants announced the signing of a quartet of players, including quarterback/wide receiver B.J. Daniels. In addition to the versatile Daniels, the Giants confirmed the addition of wide receivers Kadron Boone and Donte Foster as well as defensive end Ishaq Williams (previously reported). To make room, wide receiver Ben Edwards was waived/injured while linebacker James Morris, quarterback Josh Woodrum, and tight end Cedrick Lang were waived. 
Daniels has been with the 49ers, Texans, and Seahawks in the last three years. A former seventh-round draft pick of the Niners, Daniels did not appear in a game until last season, when he played in six for the Seahawks and two for the Texans. His final stat line for the year was one completion off of two passes, six rushing attempts for six yards, two receptions for 18 yards, and five punt returns for 25 yards.
Williams has not seen live football action since 2013 when he was punished at Notre Dame for alleged academic fraud. In his three seasons for the Fighting Irish, Williams played in 35 games and totaled 45 tackles, six tackles for losses, one sack and one forced fumble.
Boone, an LSU product, played in college with Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and punter Brad Wing.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Giants Sign Two Tryout Players
- The Giants will sign Lafayette cornerback Matt Smalley after his weekend tryout, Jordan Raanan of the Star-Ledger tweets.
- The Giants have agreed to sign former Brooklyn and Lincoln High School star Ishaq Williams, as Ralph Vacchiano of the Daily News writes. The linebacker has not played football since 2013 since a suspension over academics knocked him off the team at Notre Dame.