NFL Free Agency is heating up...except for the Giants

NFL free agency doesn't technically start til tomorrow, but there have already been a ton of moves.  Here's some big ones:

Ndamukong Suh - Miami Dolphins (shocked it wasn't the Raiders)

Randall Cobb - Green Bay Packers

Devin McCourty - New England Patriots

Jeremy Maclin - Kansas City Chiefs

LeSean McCoy to Buffalo Bills - TRADE

Kiko Alonso to Philadelphia Eagles - TRADE

Brandon Marshall to New York Jets - TRADE


(There's several more moves, but I don't want to bore you) 

Notice something about those signings and trades?  My New York football Giants are nowhere to be seen.  Is it catastrophic?  No.  But they have holes to fill, and it doesn't look like they'll fill them with top tier players.  I can't say I'm shocked, but I am getting somewhat frustrated.  Every time I read or hear that the Giants are interested in a player, almost instantly that guy is signed by another team.  Devin McCourty, Jerry Hughes, hell even Ndamukong Suh (even though I think we all knew that was never going to happen), all gone.  Oh great, and now I just saw that OL Orlando Franklin will sign with the Chargers.  Check another one off the list.  Damn it.

Now I'm full-fledged frustrated.  They have to start grabbing some guys.  They desperately need safeties.  They need pass rushers.  They have to shore up the offensive line.  They need linebackers.  You can't fill all of those positions in the draft alone.  You need quality veteran players that can come in and contribute immediately.  The Giants don't have much time left with Eli Manning, so they can't be patient and hope that their draft picks blossom in a year or two.  They need guys that can be players right away.  They definitely got that in last year's draft with Odelle Beckham Jr, and sort of got it with  Weston Richburg, Jay Bromley, Andre Williams and Devon Kennard.  Granted, Richburg and Williams weren't amazing, but they showed enough and were able to play right out of the gate.  They have to do that again if they're going to be a winning team.

Let's jump over to the Jets for a minute.  Despite being quiet in free agency, they made a huge splash the other day by trading for WR Brandon Marshall.  It's assumed that Percy Harvin will be cut, but that still leaves the Jets with a very respectable receiving corps of Marshall, Eric Decker, Jeremy Kerley and TE Jace Amaro (as long as he improves his catching).  Now they just need someone to throw to them (I'll get to that later).  The trade is great for several reasons.  First, you're getting a top 10 receiver.  Anytime you can add someone of Marshall's caliber, it's a plus.  Second, it's only costing them a 5th round draft pick.  That's a steal.  Yes, he's getting a little older and he was very banged up last year, but you have to imagine he's got a few good years left in him.  And last but not least, if for some reason Marshall doesn't do well in New York, the Jets can cut him after next season with no cap penalty because only this season is guaranteed for him.  So, there really is no down-side to this trade.

Another great move the Jets made was re-signing LB David Harris.  The guy is a tackling machine and has a very high football IQ.  I actually really wanted the Giants to make a run at him, but c'est la vie.  New York apparently has its eyes on a couple more big free agents.  The first is OL Mike Iupati.  I discussed him the other day for the Giants, but it doesn't appear that they're in play for him.  He would be a huge get for the Jets.  The guy is a mauler that would fill a big void for New York.  The second guy is someone Jets fans know all too well, and that's Darrelle Revis.  It sounds like they're making a pretty big push to bring him back.  I have mixed feelings on this.  Of course it would be huge, because he's one of, if not the best cornerback in the league.  But is everyone forgetting how much of a headache this guy was?  He held out twice for contracts and is going to be paid a ton of money.  It might be worth it, though, because Todd Bowles runs a blitz-heavy defense, where a strong secondary is a must.  Revis would instantly improve the Jets secondary, but he can't do it alone.  They would still need another CB, not to mention help at safety.

The biggest need for the Jets, however, is one that probably won't be properly filled this off-season: quarterback.  I say "properly", because I don't see a long term answer in free agency or the draft, and lets face it, barring a miracle, Geno Smith is not the answer either.  People may disagree with me, but I don't think Marcus Mariota is going to be great.  He had a tremendous college career, but to me he's the prime example of a "system quarterback".  Meaning all he knows/all he's good at is that crazy up-tempo offense that Oregon runs.  Now listen, I could be completely wrong, and he could come into the league and be very good.  I just don't see it happening.  I think the Jets are better off grabbing a guy like Bryce Petty, Garrett Grayson or Brett Hundley in the later rounds, and coaching them up a bit.

Then again, what the hell do I know?  The only thing I do know is that free agency is officially tomorrow at 4pm, and I'm way more excited than I should be.