Giants Have Some Tough Free Agent Decisions to Make This Offseason

Paul Schwartz of the NY Post wrote an article about the New York Giants' pending free agent situation. The Giants have a pretty impressive list of players set to become free agents: RBs Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward, WR Amani Toomer, CD Corey Webster and S James Butler.

The list is impressive, but not any more overwhelming than the prospective free-agent roster of any other team. Ultimately I think the Giants will target the players that are integral to the franchise - Jacobs and Webster - and give them big contracts. They may offer smaller contracts to the other players, hoping they'll resign at a reasonable rate rather than test the free-agent market.

Ward has had a great season spelling Jacobs, averaging 5.5 yards per carry, but his statistics are inflated. Ward enters the game after opposing defenses have been battered into submission by the force-of-nature that is Brandon Jacobs. He gets "soft" carries. Ultimately, I think he's going to test the free-agent market and a team will be desperate enough to overpay him. The Giants won't really miss him. Ward reminds me a bit of Lamont Jordan when he was number two behind Curtis Martin for the Jets. Martin would play three-and-a-half quarters and bruise opposing defenses. Jordan would step in and finish the game, running hard and wasting clock. Jordan was good, but he hasn't been as effective since. Same situation.

Amani Toomer has been a great player for this franchise, but they don't really need him anymore. The Giants have plenty of young receivers who are ready, willing and able to step into his spot and replace him. Schwartz thinks a lot of sentimentality will go into this decision. Maybe, but ultimately business will win out. I wouldn't be surprised if Toomer retires, especially if the Giants repeat.

And as for Butler. He's good, but the Giants should be able to find an upgrade at the position in the offseason, either through the draft, or free agency. He's certainly not a priority, and he could probably command more than he's worth on the free agent market. Some desperate team will take a big chance on him, hoping that he was somehow the one responsible for the Giants' current success. He won't be back either.