(Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
Five free agents the New York Giants should sign.
In 2011, the New York Giants capped off a 9-7 season with an improbable win in Super Bowl XLVI over the New England Patriots. Since then, the franchise has missed the playoffs seven times in the past eight seasons. The lone exception was 2016 when under first-year head coach Ben McAdoo and the club finished 11-5 and captured a wild card berth. In the past three seasons, the team has gone through its share of sidelined leader and compiled a miserable 12-36 win-loss record.
So it starts over time once again for this proud franchise. The new head coach is Joe Judge, a longtime assistant with the New England Patriots. He inherits a club that made some strides last year but still only won four games. But the Giants are also in a division that has been less than scintillating in recent years and has been won by a 9-7 twice since 2015.
General manager Dave Gettleman added his share of veteran free agents this offseason. So which five players could this team sign over the next few weeks to give them a better chance at a winning campaign?
5. New York Giants free agent targets: James Ferentz, center
Familiarity will become a common theme throughout these choices.
According to the fine folks at Ourlads’ Scouting Services, the only performer listed at center on the New York Giants depth chart is Spencer Pulley. He’s played in a total of 17 games for the club the past two years and made nine of his 10 starts in 2018. As of now, the Giants have not opted to bring back Jon Halapio, who was in the opening lineup for all but one game in ’19.
So the team could use an experienced performer for depth or even challenge for a starting job at this position. Former New England Patriots pivot James Ferentz doesn’t necessarily have a lot of starting experience. But new head coach Joe Judge is familiar with the performer because he spent the last two seasons in Foxborough after stints with the Texans and Broncos. The 30-year-old pro played in a career-best 15 contests this past season and made a pair of starts for Bill Belichick’s squad.