In March 2005, the Giants took over the free agency, hiring middle linebacker Antonio Pierce and right tackle Kareem McKenzie, two players who became part of their triumphant Super Bowl XLII team.
After securing these two players, the Giants did not finish. They chased Plaxico Burress, the Steelers’ tall, explosive wide receiver, and were so determined to include him as a target for Eli Manning that general manager Ernie Accorsi announced that they were ending negotiations with Burress, only to revisit the conversations after he was hired. a new agent.
The deal was closed: six years, $ 25 million. Two years later, Burress managed the winning touchdown pass to win the undefeated Patriots in the Super Bowl.
As head of the professional personnel department at the time, Dave Gettleman had a keen eye on the talent around the NFL and who would best fit what Tom Coughlin and the coaching staff wanted on the pitch. Gettleman was convinced that Burress could be the missing piece in the offensive puzzle, and he proved to be correct in that assessment.
In many ways, Kenny Golladay – the biggest recipient in this year’s free agency class – is similar to Burress, and the Giants certainly have an interest in adding Golladay to their flabby attack, providing Daniel Jones with a premium weapon. Golladay will have many suitors and its price will exceed $ 20 million a year. The Giants are unlikely to be able to fit it into their salary cap, as they were only about $ 4 million below the $ 182.5 million limit, but expected to add up to $ 10 million with the restructuring of Nate Solder’s contract . They would greatly increase their cap if they were able to reach a multi-year agreement with defender Leonard Williams, who is in the books for the entire $ 19.4 million franchise. There is no evidence that a business is imminent.
Gettleman could be seeing Golladay as a player capable of doing for Jones what Burress did for Manning. Comparisons are there to be made.
Burress signed with the Giants when he was 27, after five seasons with the Steelers. He averaged 52 receptions, 4.4 touchdowns per year and 83 yards per game. He had two seasons of 1,000 yards.
Golladay is 27 years old. In his four seasons with Lions, he averaged 45.8 receptions and 5.3 touchdowns per year and 76.7 yards per game. He has two seasons of 1,000 yards.
Burress was six feet tall, a high target. Golladay is 1.80 m.
A caveat with Golladay: he was limited to just five games in 2020 with a hip injury. He must be fully healed, however, and will profit very soon. The Giants are likely to be out of competition for their services. But you never know.