Giants Waive Charles Brown
Offensive lineman Charles Brown didn’t even last one season in New York, as ESPN’s Adam Caplan tweets that the Giants have waived the 27-year-old. ESPN’s Josina Anderson adds (via Twitter) that the team has promoted linebacker Justin Anderson to take Brown’s place on the roster.
The former second-round pick signed a one-year deal with the Giants in April after having spent the first four years of his career with the Saints. The tackle wasn’t necessarily productive with New Orleans in 2013, but ProFootballFocus.com (subscription required) ranked him as an above-average run blocker.
Brown compiled nearly 1,000 snaps with New Orleans last season, but he’s barely seen the field in 2014. The lineman’s only seen 62 snaps on offense, and PFF’s advanced metrics ranked him among the least-productive players on the Giants.
Anderson, an undrafted rookie out of Louisiana-Lafayette, was cut by New York last week. He quickly rejoined the team’s practice squad only a couple of days later.
Giants Sign Charles Brown
WEDNESDAY, 2:21pm: Brown’s contract with the Giants is a one-year, minimum-salary pact, tweets Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News.
TUESDAY, 3:14pm: The Giants’ active offseason continued today, as the team announced it has officially signed offensive lineman Charles Brown. We had heard nearly two weeks ago that the Giants would be hosting Brown on a free agent visit.
Brown, a former second-round pick, started 14 games for the Saints in 2013. Although he didn’t perform particularly well according to Pro Football Focus’ advance metrics (subscription required), whose grades ranked him 66th among 76 qualified tackles, he was a solid run blocker and protected Drew Brees‘ blind side at left tackle until he was benched late in the season.
Brown turns 27 next week, so there’s still room for him to develop into an above-average pro, though I expect he’ll start out in a reserve role in New York.
FA Rumors: De La Puente, Harrison, Murphy
Brian De La Puente is arguably the best center still available in free agency, and it sounds as if he’s drawing interest from plenty of potential suitors. Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post reports that the Saints, Giants, Broncos, and Patriots remain possibilities for De La Puente, who is scheduled to visit with the Redskins. Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link) adds that if there’s no agreement in place when the veteran center leaves Washington, more visits are expected.
Here’s more on some of the free agents still on the market:
- We already heard this week that veteran free agent James Harrison is interested in returning to the Steelers, and according to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, that interest is mutual.
- Having visited for two days with the Buccaneers, wide receiver Louis Murphy is scheduled to meet with the Bengals tomorrow, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
- The Giants will host free agent offensive lineman Charles Brown, tweets Adam Caplan.
- After leaving his visit with the Rams without an agreement in place, free agent quarterback Shaun Hill appears to be considering both the Rams and Lions, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
- The Bengals confirmed (via Twitter) that free agent defensive end Robert Ayers visited with them today, which means he left that meeting without an agreement in place.
- Ravens safety Brynden Trawick is no longer an exclusive rights free agent, having signed his $495K tender from the team, tweets Aaron Wilson.