Two newly-released free agents could be ideal signings for Giants

Dexter Lawrence needs help in the middle of the Giants defense and a former divisional foe could be just what the team needs.

Friday has been a big day for roster moves as all 32 teams attempt to get under the salary cap in time for next week’s start to the new league year. Situations like this can end up thrusting new free agents no one quite expected into the open market, much to the delight of other teams who could greatly use their services.

That is the case with the New York Giants and a pair of defensive players recently released in defensive tackle Jonathan Allen and edge rusher Harold Landry. With that in mind, here’s a quick case for both players as to why either would be a strong signing for the Giants.

DT Jonathan Allen

Allen is coming off his first season since his 2017 rookie campaign in which he’s played in less than 15 games. The 30-year-old missed nine games in the middle of the season before returning in Week 17 against the Atlanta Falcons. In seven starts, Allen recorded 19 tackles, three tackles for loss, and three sacks.

It’s no surprise that star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence could use some help in the middle of the defense. After a year where Lawrence recorded a career-high nine sacks in only 12 games, the Giants would be wise to add another player who could take some heat off their best defensive player.

When healthy, Allen is still that type of player. From 2021-2023, Allen recorded 22 total sacks and 36 tackles for loss. From his sophomore season in 2018 through the 2023 season, he averaged 6.7 sacks and 10 tackles for loss per every 17 games played.

Smart teams find ways to land quality players at discount prices for one reason or another — like when they’re coming off a season-ending injury! — and that’s exactly what I think the Giants could do here.

Edge Harold Landry

Landry would not play as close to Lawrence on the defensive line as Allen, but his presence on the edge could still force offensive coordinators to count for him when he’s running hot after the quarterback.

The 28-year-old has 19.5 sacks and 29 tackles for loss over the past two seasons. Those numbers jump to 31.5 and 43 when accounting for his previous three seasons in which he’s been healthy (missed 2022 with torn ACL).

In general, there should be a number of teams who should be interested in a veteran edge rusher, who’s still under 30, with his level of recent production now that he’s a free agent. But specifically for the Giants, there’s actually some familiarity already on the coaching staff that could persuade Landry to sign with them. Current Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen was with Landry in Tennessee as the team’s outside linebackers coach from 2018-2020 before being promoted to the team’s defensive coordinator in 2021.

The other notable reason the Giants may jump at Landry is the expectation that they could be losing edge defender Azeez Ojulari to free agency who has been the team’s third pass rusher. Landry would immediately help create one of the best pass rush trios in the NFL alongside Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Burns.

Your thoughts, Giants fans? Yay or nay to either of these potential free agent targets? Let us know below!