The Dallas Cowboys are letting cornerback Byron Jones test free agency. He’ll have many suitors, and the New York Giants should be the biggest one.
The New York Giants have a projected $74 million in cap space. Time to start spending.
General manager Dave Gettleman is entering his third year as the team’s general manager and is already on his second head coach. The time to starting winning has arrived.
While the Giants have myriad holes, cornerback is among the most glaring. If there’s ever an investment to be made in free agency, it should be New York on Dallas Cowboys’ star corner Byron Jones.
Jones, 27, has been one of the NFL’s best corners since being selected out of UConn in the 2015 draft. The Cowboys mismanaged their situation, and now must use their franchise tag on Dak Prescott before getting into a high-priced bidding war for receiver Amari Cooper. The result? Jones is going to hit free agency and potentially reset the cornerback market.
Picking fourth-overall in the NFL Draft, the Giants can take their franchise left tackle in Andrew Thomas or Mekhi Becton. In the second round, they can double back and land one of the many receivers thought to be first-round talents. In the later rounds, linebacker can be addressed. Cornerback, however, will be tough to fill in the draft unless New York lucks into Jeffrey Okudah of Ohio State at No. 4.
Of course, landing Jones will require cash and a damn good sales pitch. The Giants are one of many rumored teams to be interested, with CBS Sports naming the Las Vegas Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, Washington Redskins and Houston Texans among the other intrigued parties.
The Giants aren’t going to be contending for the Super Bowl next season, regardless of how well their offseason goes. Second-year quarterback Daniel Jones has to limit his turnovers, the new roster needs time to gel and first-year (and first-time) head coach Joe Judge has to learn the ropes.
Still, progress needs to be made in a major way. If it isn’t, owner John Mara might decide to move on from Gettleman, who has posted a 9-23 record during his tenure. Should Gettleman be given the hook, would a new general manager keep Judge or get his own candidate?
Questions abound in New York. One question which needs an immediate response is whether the Giants are willing to spend big this offseason to improve rapidly.
The answer must be in the affirmative.