Roster turnover is just an inevitable part of life in the NFL. Salary cap restrictions, strained relationships, grass-is-greener. Whatever the case may be, teams are always prepared to lose valuable contributors.
The same holds true for the New York Giants right now as they are preparing to begin contract negotiations with pending defensive free agents Jason Pierre-Paul and Antrel Rolle. As is usually the case in these scenarios, it is the difficult monetary landscape both sides will have to navigate carefully if the goal is a reunion.
"We would like to have [Rolle] back, but again, at the right price," Giants chairman John Mara said after the conclusion of the regular season, according to Jordan Raanan of NJ.com. Raanan notes that Mara echoed similar sentiments when it came to JPP.
"I could say that about anybody. We would like them all back at the right price. What that is, depends on the circumstances."
Of the two, Pierre-Paul, 26, is likely the higher priority. The fifth-year defensive end finished 2014 with 77 total tackles, three forced fumbles and 12.5 sacks while playing stout run defense all season. Pass-rushers, especially among the defensive line, are highly valued in New York as well as the rest of the NFL.
Rolle also played well this past season, appearing in all 16 games for the fifth consecutive year while recording 87 tackles and three interceptions. How the Giants handle his contract situation may affect Pierre-Paul's.
"It's certainly not impossible that the Giants could re-sign free agents Jason Pierre-Paul and Antrel Rolle, but the chances depend on a number of things," ESPN Giants reporter Dan Graziano wrote. "First and foremost is price. If Pierre-Paul is determined to max out as a free agent (which I believe he is), then the Giants would either let him leave or franchise him. If they franchised him, there would be less money for Rolle, who also believes he's worth a lucrative free-agent deal and could leave if they lowball him the way they did Justin Tuck last year. Their best chance for keeping both is that at least one of them gives some sort of 'hometown discount.' They're not likely to get that from Pierre-Paul. But as a 32-year-old safety, Rolle might not find the market for which he's hoping and could decide staying with the Giants at their price is the best option for finishing his career."
