DMN: NFC East off-season update: New York Giants … two ex-Cowboys hoping to make impact for G-Men

[jobberone]

NFC East off-season update: New York Giants … two ex-Cowboys hoping to make impact for G-Men
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Jon Machota Email jmachota@***BANNED-URL***
Published: April 10, 2015 10:48 pm
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Former Cowboys wide receiver/kick returner Dwayne Harris is now a New York Giant. (Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News)

With the NFL draft less than three weeks away, I figured it would be a good time to assess what each NFC East team has done so far this off-season.

Up first is the New York Giants.

Last month, the Giants began their off-season moves by placing the franchise tag on Pro Bowl defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul. They also inked head coach Tom Coughlin to a one-year contract extension which keeps him in New York through the 2016 season.

New York wasn’t very active early on in the free agency process. According to Giants co-owner John Mara, that had a lot to do with the talent that was available.

“There were obviously some star players out there, but for the most part I thought it was a mediocre free-agent class,” Mara said last month, via NYPost.com. “And I think a lot of guys got paid more money than maybe they would have in other years because there was a lot of cap room out there. I think the guys who we got will help us, but we still have a long way to go.”

Key free agency signings:

Dwayne Harris, WR/KR. The Giants made Harris an offer the Cowboys simply weren’t going to match, signing Harris to a five-year, $17.5 million deal with $7.1 million guaranteed.

Kenrick Ellis, DT. Played in 14 games last season for the Jets, recording one sack and 12 tackles.

J.T. Thomas, LB. Started 10 games last season for Jacksonville. Had 84 tackles and two interceptions.

Shane Vereen, RB. Over his last two seasons with the Patriots, Vereen had 599 rushing yards, 874 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.

Marshall Newhouse, OG. The Dallas native played in 15 games last season for the Bengals after spending the previous four seasons in Green Bay.

George Selvie, DE. Spent the previous two seasons in Dallas, recording seven sacks in 2013 and three in 2014. The deal is for one year, $1.4 million.

Key free agency losses:

Mathias Kiwanuka, DE. The two-time Super Bowl champ was released by the Giants in February. He had 38.5 sacks in nine seasons with the club.

Antrel Rolle, S. The three-time Pro Bowler signed a three-year, $11.25 million deal with the Chicago Bears.

Walter Thurmond, CB. Signed a one-year deal with the Eagles. In his only season with the Giants, he missed the final 14 games after tearing a pectoral muscle.

Draft needs:

After going 6-10 last season, the Giants have the ninth overall pick in this year’s draft. Their biggest needs: Offensive line, safety, pass rusher.

Popular first-round projections: Danny Shelton, DT, Washington; Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa.

Follow Jon Machota on Twitter: @jonmachota

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[jobberone]

I put this in the Fan Zone instead of the NFL Zone because it's news about the East and there are enough former Cowboys to create some conversation.

I think Harris is going to contribute more than many suspect but I still think he was overpaid. Selvie, when healthy, will help with some pressure and is steady but may not give you many negative plays. They didn't lose much and Rolle was a good player but slightly overrated in perception.

If Eli has a good season then they could make some noise. I fear you know who.

 

[AsthmaField]

Not a stellar free agency haul, that's for certain.

Harris is a good guy to have on your roster. He can play both in the kick/punt returner roles as well as the kickoff/punt teams, and he can probably be a pretty decent slot receiver if given some chances. However, paying that guy $17M is just wack. I mean, just straight up crazy. Removing him from the Dallas roster and putting him on the NY roster won't do a thing to swing the balance of power in the East. Dallas will simply find someone else to return kicks and they'll find a guy to be the gunner... and NY will still be paying Harris $17M to help the back end of their 53 man roster.

It is funny that Mara says teams over paid after paying Harris $17M.

As for Selvie, it isn't really a bad move to bring him in but he's not going to do much for you beyond just giving another body for the DL rotation. Again, won't hurt Dallas (he probably wouldn't have made the team this season) and won't do much to help NY.

All of the other guys they signed aren't going to do much to help either. Vereen is a good receiver out of the backfield but he is simply pedestrian in the run game.

 

[jobberone]

Not a stellar free agency haul, that's for certain.

Harris is a good guy to have on your roster. He can play both in the kick/punt returner roles as well as the kickoff/punt teams, and he can probably be a pretty decent slot receiver if given some chances. However, paying that guy $17M is just wack. I mean, just straight up crazy. Removing him from the Dallas roster and putting him on the NY roster won't do a thing to swing the balance of power in the East. Dallas will simply find someone else to return kicks and they'll find a guy to be the gunner... and NY will still be paying Harris $17M to help the back end of their 53 man roster.

It is funny that Mara says teams over paid after paying Harris $17M.

As for Selvie, it isn't really a bad move to bring him in but he's not going to do much for you beyond just giving another body for the DL rotation. Again, won't hurt Dallas (he probably wouldn't have made the team this season) and won't do much to help NY.

All of the other guys they signed aren't going to do much to help either. Vereen is a good receiver out of the backfield but he is simply pedestrian in the run game.

You're probably right on all counts. I still wonder (and worry a tad) that Harris will give them some plays.

 

[Wolfpack]

You're probably right on all counts. I still wonder (and worry a tad) that Harris will give them some plays.

Not $17m worth. That was a nutty move. Like Commander nutty.

 

[ShiningStar]

give ti time if the Giants dump him, many cowboy fans will be screaming how much we need him.

 

[zack]

I'm really not worried about the Giants at all. I think that we will have an improved pass rush and their offensive line still is not very good. Yes, Beckham is scary but Eli will be on his back before he can do the famous chuck and duck routine.

Their defense is nothing to worry about.