DE Greg Hardy
This one is pretty obvious - taking a flyer on Hardy after his domestic violence charges were settled in a civil suit to invest even a fraction of Hardy’s $13 million franchise tag value from 2014 would come with intense scrutiny and major risk. The Giants would like an upgrade on the defensive line, but New York will be better off finding 80-85% of his talent with 90% less baggage on the free agent market.
S Nate Allen
Safety is the Giants’ biggest priority, but in a weak free agency class at the position, Nate Allen is one of the better options. He should be entering the prime of his career at age 27 that will likely cause a team to overpay for his services even though he’s just not that good. Allen allowed a 106.2 passer rating, five touchdowns, and a terrible 17.5 yards per completion for the Eagles last season, making it clear that he’s not a consistent starting-caliber guy.
RB Ryan Mathews
New York is in the market for more depth at the running back position, and Mathews is one of the bigger names on the market. He has been productive in his young career, but had dealt with numerous injuries and was limited to just six games last season. The injuries will drive the price down for Mathews, but the tag will still be relatively high and the Giants have plenty of other more pressing needs they should spend their money on.