The New York Giants missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season in 2019 with a win-loss record of 4-12. Consequently, the team fired head coach Pat Shurmur and replaced him with former New England Patriots' special teams coordinator Joe Judge.
Other efforts to improve the team in advance of the 2020 National Football League (NFL) season will be made through the draft and free agency. Fortunately, the Giants could have as much as $80 million in salary cap space depending on player cuts and contract restructures.
While it's unlikely the team will pursue big-name free agent quarterbacks like Dak Prescott, Tom Brady, and Ryan Tannehill, there are several other prominent players the team could target in free agency. Below are six free agents who could fill a need with the Giants this off-season:
1. Byron Jones
Considered the eighth-best free agent by NFL Trade Rumors, Byron Jones is a 27-year-old cornerback who has spent the past five seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. He was selected by the Cowboys in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft and played in the 2018 Pro Bowl after a season in which he had 67 tackles and 14 defended passes in 16 games. Through 79 career regular season games, the University of Connecticut alumnus has 349 tackles, 43 defended passes, three forced fumbles, and two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown.
The Giants' pass defense allowed 264.1 passing yards per game last season, which ranked fifth-worst in the league. The Giants have spent a considerable amount of money on high-priced secondary players such as Janoris Jenkins and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in the past and Jones is considered the best free agent corner on the market. Moreover, he would provide veteran leadership to young players like DeAndre Baker, Corey Ballentine, Julian Love, and Sam Beal.
2. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix is another player that could help bolster the Giants' secondary. The experienced free safety was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft and has since played 96 career regular season games with the Packers, Chicago Bears, and Washington Redskins. In those games, he has accumulated 522 tackles, 33 defended passes, 16 interceptions, and four forced fumbles.
New York signed Antoine Bethea last season to start at free safety. While Love, who was selected in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft, could step in and fill that role, it's believed he needs more time to develop.
3. Dante Fowler Jr.
Dante Fowler Jr. commands a yearly salary in excess of $13 million. However, he would be worth the price for the Giants, which was among the league's worst at rushing the passer last season.
A 25-year-old outside linebacker from St. Petersburg, Florida, Fowler Jr. was the third overall pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2015 NFL Draft and played 39 games with Jacksonville before being dealt to the Los Angeles Rams. He had a career-best season in 2019 with 58 tackles, 11.5 quarterback sacks, and two forced fumbles. New York ranked 22nd in the league with only 36 sacks as a team in 2019.
4. Yannick Ngakoue
If the Giants aren't able to sign Fowler Jr., defensive end Yannick Ngakoue is another option to help improve its sub-par pass rush. Also drafted by the Jaguars, Ngakoue was selected in the third round in 2016 and has recorded at least eight sacks in each of his four seasons in the league. He led the NFL with six forced fumbles in 2017 and, through 63 career regular season games, has 122 tackles, 37.5 sacks, 14 forced fumbles, and two interceptions.
Ngakoue is expected to command a higher salary than Fowler Jr., but he has talked about New York as a possible destination. Moreover, the Giants have considerably more salary cap space than the Jaguars, who might be interested in re-signing the Pro Bowl defensive end.
5. Jack Conklin
In addition to improving its secondary and pass rush, the Giants need someone who can provide protection for second-year quarterback Daniel Jones, who had 18 fumbles and 12 interceptions in his rookie season. Two years ago, New York signed left tackle Nate Solder to a four-year, $64 million contract, but he hasn't lived up to the expectations that come with such a high salary. While New York may elect to draft an offensive tackle with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, it could also sign a veteran like Jack Conklin.
6. Kyle Van Noy
Alec Ogletree hasn't worked out as expected at the linebacker position in New York, but Kyle Van Noy could be a valuable replacement. A second-round pick of the Detroit Lions in the 2014 NFL Draft, Van Noy struggled in Detroit but blossomed under Bill Belichick following a trade to the New England Patriots.
Through four seasons in New England, Van Noy accumulated 221 tackles, 16.5 quarterback sacks, five forced fumbles, and two interceptions. He is familiar with Judge as the current Giants head coach was in New England for all four of Van Noy's seasons with the team.