E-GIANTS
Dave Klein was the Giants' beat writer for The Star-Ledger from 1961 to 1995.
He is the author of 26 books and he is one of only three sportswriters to have covered all the Super Bowls. Dave has allowed TEAM GIANTS to reprint some of his articles.

THE FIRST WAVE OF FREE AGENCY SHOWS
THE GIANTS STILL HAVE PLENTY OF WORK TO BE DONE

By Aaron Klein
How did you like the first three days? Right.

The first wave of the 2014 free agency period is, for the most part, over, save for a few big names and potentially big deals.

Now the second phase begins, or already has, and the Giants still have plenty of work to do.

The rundown: the Giants re-signed linebacker Jon Beason, safety Stevie Brown, kicker Josh Brown, guard Dallas Reynolds, fullback Henry Hynoski, running back Peyton Hillis, cornerback Trumaine McBride and quarterback Curtis Painter.

They signed guard Geoff Schwartz, center J.D. Walton, running back Rashad Jennings and agreed to terms with linebacker Jameel McClain, while missing out on several potential free agents, notably wide receiver/kick returner Jacoby Jones.

And oh, by the way, the Giants lost (let go) defensive end Justin Tuck, defensive tackle Linval Joseph, linebacker Keith Rivers, safety Ryan Mundy and wide receiver Hakeem Nicks, who signed Friday night with Indianapolis. Cornerback Terrell Thomas has already made at least one visit (Oakland) and running back Andre Brown has attracted interest as well.

There is still plenty of work to be done on the honey-do list, but first a quick assessment of the big picture.

The biggest names in the free agency period, save for a few, are long gone and the name of the game in free agency is to over-pay to get what you need. The Giants, as you may have noticed, don't go that way but they are trying to build for the future with youth and potential ... as they always do. See, the Giants are in a constant state of building/rebuilding and will never overreact.

Of course, in doing his due diligence, it is widely believed that general manager Jerry Reese made a cursory inquiry as to the needs of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who were trying to trade cornerback Darrelle Revis. That's doing the work, but the Giants would never have parted with a high draft choice and, when Revis hit the open market, would never have paid him $12 million for one season, which is what he got from New England.

So the Giants do plenty of advance work before free agency begins, scan the big ticket items, do some window shopping, put the big money on a few players then fill in the gaps with potential bargains as well as some of their own free agents. It doesn't mean they don't want good players, but they won't overpay, as Denver did with former Dallas defensive end DeMarcus Ware, who signed a $30 million deal with $20 million guaranteed.

Before the period began, it was generally accepted that the Giants needed a new center, a new tight end, a few new offensive linemen, a cornerback and, depending on the free agency wins and losses, a wide receiver, few linebackers and at least one defensive linemen.

Many of those aforementioned positional needs are still in play, but not for lack of trying. The Giants brought in wide receiver Jacoby Jones, who went back to Baltimore for less money. They brought in cornerback Tracy Porter, who took a deal with Washington instead. They showed keen interest in wide receiver/kick returner Ted Ginn Jr., who signed with Arizona. They showed interest in cornerback Alterraun Verner, who signed in Tampa Bay. They supposedly had interest in tight end Andrew Quarless, but he's apparently decided to return to Green Bay.

If Reese didn't make at least a half-hearted attempt at trading for offensive dynamo Darren Sproles, who was dealt by New Orleans to Philadelphia for a mere fifth-round pick, somebody needs a trip to the woodshed.

Too often, there is a lot of talk during free agency and people are quickly enamored with some of the biggest names available without realizing that many of them will only contribute for a short period, if at all, or at least may very well underperform compared to his contract. Often, the top names are quarterbacks, a stray receiver, an aging stud defensive lineman or a solid running back coming from a team with too many in the collection.

Nothing different this year, but the Giants, as is their modis operandi, never pounce on the pretty pictures, instead trying to find the steak without the sizzle.

Even more than before free agency began, the Giants will now likely troll the remaining field, make a few offers to maybe a key player or two, then compare the free agent leftovers to the potential draft pool at certain position and remain patient. There are still some big names left but they'll demand a high salary and Reese isn't one to open the vault often. Remember, all free agents are players left unwanted by the original club, either because of money, performance or injury.

Any potential suitor has to look at each free agent in much the same way. Sure, you can harken to the old cliché, "one man's trash is another man's treasure," but for the most part that isn't really the way this works. Rather, free agency is largely a flea market. There are bargains and broken things, antiques with value and old stuff, a few inexpensive toys and some questionable merchandise.

All that said, here's our version what's left on the shopping list and whether or not a given position would best be filled via free agency or the draft... or both.

Center: As of this writing, Green Bay's Evan Dietrich-Smith and New Orleans' Brian de la Puente are still available, and we can only assume still smack dab in the middle of the Giants' radar. The signing of Walton, also a center, may have been an insurance policy against the possibility of missing out on these two. If that happens, look for Kevin Boothe to come back and compete for the center job. Also watch for a mid-round center/guard.

Tight end: Detroit's Brandon Pettigrew was high on the Giants' list, but he re-signed with the Lions on Thursday. Green Bay's Jermichael Finley has been talked about in the media and among fans, but I'd be surprised if the Giants aren't leery about his neck and salary demands. Best bet is that they go into the draft with who they have -- Adrien Robinson, Larry Donnell, Daniel Fells -- and find a tight end of the future. Bear Pascoe could be back, too. The free agent pool at the position is slim, though the Giants could take a flier on Dallas Clark, Dustin Keller or Ed Dickson. One of them might have a few miles left in the tank.

Cornerback: Still plenty of players left from whom to pick, but the best appear gone for good. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Antonio Cromartie, Walter Thurmond III and, perhaps the best, Chicago's Charles "Peanut" Tillman, were still available as of Friday morning. Tillman will command a big contract and it appears that the Bears want him back.

There are more still, mostly built for competition rather than starting, though the Giants could find a nugget here and there. The bigger the better, since the Giants are too small at the position. Don't be surprised if the team brings in a cornerback you've never heard of, then uses its first-round pick for a major-league cover corner of the future.

Wide receiver: The Giants could find some value in the remaining group of receivers (Brandon LaFell? Kenny Britt? Sidney Rice? Lance Moore?), though the best bet is that the Giants see Victor Cruz, Rueben Randle and Jerrell Jernigan as their top three receivers for 2014, unless a second- or third-rounder jumps up and bites them in May. Still, I'd expect Reese to bring in and sign at least one veteran wideout, and Britt could be a bargain with potential and little to lose.

Linebacker: Re-signing Jon Beason and inking McClain helps plenty, especially with Spencer Paysinger sitting on his Restricted Free Agent tender offer and Jacquian Williams still under contract. Free agent Mark Herzlich was also tendered and provides depth. The Giants could still use a veteran free agent as well as a solid draft choice and the second-tier remains decent, featuring Calvin Pace, Shaun Phillips, James Harrison (!), Parys Haralson and Erin Henderson.

They'll get another one, but keep in mind that with the loss of Tuck, the Giants could bolster the defensive end spot via free agency and leave Matthias Kiwanuka at linebacker, which would somewhat negate a big push for another free agent linebacker on his last contract.

Defensive tackle: Joseph will be hard to replace, but the Giants currently hold Cullen Jenkins, Jonathan Hankins and Markus Kuhn at defensive tackle with a so-so list of remaining free agents. Expect the Giants to re-sign Mike Patterson and maybe kick the tires on a few second- or third-tier free agents, and don't expect them to make a play for Henry Melton, B.J. Raji or, if he's released, Vince Wilfork. The draft could reap a future starter.

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