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New York Giants Make Savvy Move Retaining John Jerry

By Kenneth Teape

Nov 27, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; New York Giants guard John Jerry (77) during the second quarter between the Cleveland Browns and the New York Giants at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Giants won 27-13. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; New York Giants guard John Jerry (77) during the second quarter between the Cleveland Browns and the New York Giants at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Giants won 27-13. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New York Giants made a good move re-signing John Jerry, retaining him on a relatively cheap contract.

The New York Giants have made some solid signings in free agency. After having a ton of money to spend last season, the Giants were on a budget this time around. Last year they dropped hundreds of millions of dollars on the likes Olivier Vernon, Janoris Jenkins, Damon Harrison, and Jason Pierre-Paul.

This year, that wasn’t possible. The Giants came into the offseason with limited funds and tied up about half of it in the franchise tag for Pierre-Paul. As a result, the Giants have had to go bargain hunting to fill some of the holes on their roster.

They have succeeded thus far. Their first signing, Brandon Marshall, filled an underrated need at wide receiver. With Victor Cruz shown the door, the Giants needed another wide receiver. Marshall fills that roll and improves the Giants run blocking as well.

The Giants further improved their run blocking with the signing of Rhett Ellison. Ellison will boost the Giants at tight end and give them a versatile piece offensively. He is capable of also playing fullback or splitting out wide. He is the type of piece the Giants severely missed last season with Will Johnson and Nikita Whitlock suffering injuries.

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While those signings will help, offensive line remained a huge question mark. The Giants began addressing the needs there with the signing of D.J. Fluker. Fluker, the 11th overall pick in 2013, flamed out with the San Diego Chargers. The Giants are hoping he can regain the form he showed in 2013 and 2014 when he was playing right tackle for the Chargers.

While Fluker isn’t guaranteed a starting spot, he will help the Giants in pass protection. He could find himself fighting for a spot with incumbent right tackle Bobby Hart, or at right guard. Right guard was seemingly open until the Giants re-signed John Jerry.

Jerry, who started all 17 games at right guard last season, was re-signed on Monday. The Giants and Jerry agreed to a three-year, $10 million deal with only $4.5 million guaranteed. That is an excellent deal for the Giants, as Jerry was entering free agency on the heels of his best season in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus.

Jerry finished last season as the 33rd ranked guard out of 72 qualifying players with a grade of 77. If he can play close to that level again the Giants are going to be getting good bang for their buck. If ESPN New York’s Jordan Raanan‘s numbers are right, Jerry will count only $1.75 million against the cap this season.

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With Jerry back in the fold, the Giants should have three out of the five offensive line spots locked down. Justin Pugh is locked into left guard, while Weston Richburg is at center. After his performance last season. right guard should be Jerry’s. With Jerry back in the fold the Giants will have continuity on the interior of their offensive line. At the price they got him for, it is a worthwhile investment as well.

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