Jerraud Powers Visiting Giants
Free agent cornerback Jerraud Powers is making his first visit of the month on Thursday, according to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com, who tweets that Powers is set to meet with the Giants. Although Powers’ first free agent visit will be to New York, there could be more on the way after that, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
Powers, 28, spent the first four years of his NFL career in Indianapolis before playing for the Cardinals for the last three seasons. Having started 82 of his 87 career regular-season games, the former third-round pick is one of the more accomplished cornerbacks still available on the free agent market.
In 2015, Powers started 13 games for Arizona, picking up an interception to go along with 50 tackles, nine passes defended, and a pair of fumble recoveries. However, Pro Football Focus wasn’t overly fond of his play, ranking him 79th out of 111 qualified cornerbacks, assigning him mediocre grades for both his pass coverage and run defense.
For the Giants, Powers would likely be viewed as a nickel corner if he were to sign, since the team has two solid – and well-paid – outside starters in Janoris Jenkins and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Jordan Raanan of NJ.com mentioned in mid-March that Big Blue was seeking corners capable of playing in the slot, and identified Powers as a possible target.
During the legal tampering period earlier this month, Powers told Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com that he’d like to sign a three- or four-year deal, and hoped to join a title contender. He’s unlikely to land a long-term contract at this point, and the Giants may still be a few pieces away from becoming legit Super Bowl contenders, but considering he’s still unsigned three weeks into free agency, Powers’ market apparently didn’t develop quite like he had hoped.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Giants Re-Sign Jasper Brinkley
MARCH 29: The Giants have officially re-signed Brinkley, the team confirmed today in a press release.
MARCH 18: The Giants will bring back free agent middle linebacker Jasper Brinkley on a one-year deal, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Financial details aren’t yet available. It’s the second straight one-year pact for Brinkley, who joined the Giants leading up to Week 1 last season after the NFC East rival Cowboys released him.
In his first season with the Giants, Brinkley totaled 67 tackles, four forced fumbles and a sack in 15 appearances (nine starts). Overall, he graded a solid 36th among 97 qualifying linebackers at Pro Football Focus for his performance with Big Blue. He 
was especially impressive against the run, ranking as PFF’s fourth-best LB in that category.
Brinkley, a 2009 fifth-round pick, previously played with the Vikings and Cardinals until 2014, racking up 79 regular-season appearances and 42 starts.
The 30-year-old Brinkley is now set to be part of a 2016 Giants linebacking corps that recently added fellow middle man Keenan Robinson and also features Jonathan Casillas and Devon Kennard. He’ll likely serve as a backup to Robinson, per Jordan Raanan of NJ.com (Twitter link).
Brinkley is the latest defensive free agent pickup for New York, which has made a serious effort to improve last season’s worst-ranked ‘D’ in the NFL. Since March 7, the Giants have signed three high-profile defensive linemen in Olivier Vernon, Jason Pierre-Paul and Damon Harrison, added Robinson and Brinkley at linebacker, and given cornerback Janoris Jenkins a mega-deal.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Giants Re-Sign WIll Tye
Giants Eyeing Robert Nkemdiche
- The Broncos and Giants will conduct an official visit with Nkemdiche, Pauline writes. While it has been reported that Giants GM Jerry Reese was at Ole Miss’ pro-day to watch Laquon Treadwell, Pauline hears that he was there equally for Nkemdiche.
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Laquon Treadwell To Visit Giants
Earlier this week, when Mississippi wideout Laquon Treadwell cited five teams who had shown interest in him, one of the five he mentioned was “New York,” creating some uncertainty about which New York team he meant. As expected, it seems he was referring to the Giants and not the Jets — Jordan Raanan of NJ.com writes that the first-round prospect will pay a pre-draft visit to the Giants.
Unlike the Giants, the Jets have a clear No. 2 option on their depth chart at wide receiver, with Eric Decker complementing Brandon Marshall. The Giants, having lost Rueben Randle this week, will be looking for someone to step up and take that No. 2 role behind Odell Beckham, but it remains to be seen whether that player would be Treadwell — the Giants have been considered more likely to use their first-rounder on an offensive lineman or a defender.
Giants Interested In Laquon Treadwell?
Mississippi receiver Laquon Treadwell says the Bengals, Browns, Bears, and Cowboys have shown interest in him, Mike Florio of PFT writes. The first-round prospect also identified “New York” as a team with interest, but it’s not clear if that’s in reference to the Jets or Giants. San Francisco, which owns the No. 7 pick in the draft, has been said to have interest in Treadwell.
- Campbell defensive tackle Greg Milhouse has official visits set up with the Giants and Lions, per Pauline.
- Nebraska offensive lineman Zach Sterup has an official visit set up with the Giants, Pauline writes.
Giants Did Not Pursue Rueben Randle
- The Giants, however, had no interest in re-signing Randle, Jordan Raanan of the Star-Ledger tweets. John Mara said last week the Giants were going to seek receiving help, but the market has been mostly raided in terms of notable first-time free agents. Veterans Roddy White, Marques Colston and Percy Harvin remain unsigned.
Giants Interested In Patrick Robinson?
Patrick Robinson‘s sojourn back around the free agent market post-agent switch could have the cornerback eyeing the Giants.
Although Robinson’s visited the Cowboys and Colts this week, the Giants are interested in the veteran corner, a source informs Jo
rdan Raanan of NJ.com (Twitter link).
Tied to the Cowboys prior to switching agents earlier this week, Robinson may now be the best corner available. And moving from Kevin Conner to Ron Butler appears to have reignited Robinson’s market.
Although the Giants already landed the market’s highest-priced corner in Janoris Jenkins on Day 1 of free agency, John Mara recently identified cornerback as an area New York would target, along with wide receiver and offensive line. Big Blue possesses $24.34MM in cap space despite their historic spending rate to kick off this year’s free agency period.
The Giants have Jenkins and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie as their projected starters but have a need beyond that. Trumaine McBride is a UFA, and young and unproven corners are currently residing behind the Giants’ big two.
Robinson enjoyed a bounce-back season in San Diego, rehabilitating his value on the one-year deal with the Chargers. He rated as Pro Football Focus’ No. 30- ranked cornerback.
Entering his age-29 season, the former Saints first-rounder in 2010 clearly has some momentum after the top-tier corners signed early in free agency.
Photo courtesy USA Today Sports Images
Ben McAdoo On Tom Coughlin's Presence
- McAdoo was upbeat about the fact that Tom Coughlin is still around the building and said, “as long as Tom is around, he’s a resource and we’re going to welcome him,” (link via Dan Graziano of ESPN.com). He also said that he doesn’t anticipate things being awkward once Giants players start to show up.
- When asked if he is going to call plays, McAdoo said it is a “possibility.” When asked if he likes to call plays, McAdoo said, “I LOVE calling plays,” Peter Schrager of FOX Sports tweets. Needless to say, it sounds like there’s a good possibility of the former offensive coordinator calling plays for the Giants in 2016.
- New Giants coach Ben McAdoo doesn’t seem committed to anyone at middle linebacker, Jordan Raanan of the Star-Ledger tweets. The Giants are still looking at draft prospects as well as free agency for options.
Giants Not Done Spending, Could Add Veteran Safety And Offensive Lineman
- Ralpha Vacchiano of The New York Daily News does not believe the Giants are done spending in free agency, and at the very least, he expects the team to pursue a veteran offensive lineman and a veteran safety. He does not, however, believe Big Blue will bring back Rueben Randle or Will Beatty.