The New York Giants started the league year with one of the highest cap space totals in this NFL. It wasn't surprising then that Giants GM Jerry Reese didn't waste any time on Wednesday, as the Giants have reportedly landed some of the top free agents this offseason.
The Giants locked up arguably the top cornerback on the market earlier Wednesday as former Rams cornerback Janoris Jenkins agreed to terms to sign with the Giants. And while the Giants looked to improve their secondary through free agency with Jenkins, they also made it a priority to bolster their pass rush after finishing 30th in the league with 23 total team sacks last season.
The Giants have already re-signed defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul to a one-year contract, and are reportedly expected to sign free agent nose tackle Damon Harrison. The Giants then made another huge splash in free agency as they have reached an agreement with former Dolphins defensive end Olivier Vernon.
The Dolphins withdrew the transition player designation on Olivier this morning and it didn't take long for the Giants to hand Vernon a record-setting contract. Vernon's new deal is reportedly worth $85 million over five years and will pay him $54 million in the first three seasons. The Giants were said to have outbid the Jaguars to land the coveted pass rusher.
Vernon's reps posted a photo when it became official that he would be joining the Giants.
The Giants pass rush suddenly looks very much like a strength headed into 2016. It will be interesting to see how their defense comes together under coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. Vernon will be entering his fifth season in the league in his first year in New York and is coming off an impressive season in Miami in which he recorded 61 combined tackles and 7.5 sacks.
The Giants look to be rebuilding the formula that won them Super Bowls with quarterback Eli Manning, and have heavily bolstered their defensive line and added a talented press corner. New York finished the 2015 season with the sixth-highest scoring offense in the NFL, and are adding significant pieces to their defense this offseason, as they look to again be contenders in a weak NFC East.
