Giants Wire
Last March in NFL free agency, the New York Giants were active but did not sign any players to what could be called mega contracts — deals that are worth $20 million or more.
This year could be different. With an estimated $50 million in available salary cap space, they could be major players for some of this year’s most coveted free agents.
Marcus Mosher of The 33rd Team believes Giants general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll could be major players for three unrestricted free agents that will be warranting mega deals this offseason.
The first, naturally, is Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold, who could end up getting a three-year, $120 million deal. He will likely also garner interest from the Las Vegas Raiders and Tennessee Titans.
The best landing spot would be with a veteran coach and a roster full of talent on the offensive side of the ball, but considering he hasn’t earned a big payday yet in the NFL, the money could ultimately dictate where he lands.
The question is, will Schoen and Daboll think Darnold is worth $40 million per year? They just got burned by a $40 million quarterback deal and may not have the appetite to take another big bite.
The second is Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa, who Mosher predicts could earn over $20 million per year in a new deal. The Giants are familiar with Odighizuwa having drafted his brother, Owa, who was a third-round pick of theirs back in 2015.
Osa led all interior defenders in quarterback hits this season and is a force as a pass rusher despite less-than-stellar sack totals. He is on the smaller side for a defensive tackle, but teams prioritizing pass-rush ability and durability will fall in love with Odighizwua this offseason.
The Giants are seeking help along the defensive line around All-Pro Dexter Lawrence but Odighizuwa might be a little pricey for them as they have so many other needs.
The third player the Giants could be in play for is Minnesota Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy, who Mosher projects will warrant a three-year, $50 million deal.
Cornerback is another spot that lacks depth in free agency, but Byron Murphy could benefit from that in a big way this offseason. Murphy had a career-high six interceptions with the Vikings this season, playing on the outside and in the slot.
Murphy has dealt with some injuries in the past, but he has 79 career starts in six seasons, and he just turned 27. The fact that he has this much experience but is still this young bodes well for his chances in free agency.
The Giants need help along the exterior in their secondary after watching former first-round pick Deonte Banks underperform in his second season. Murphy could add both maturity and stability to a young defensive backfield.
