New York Giants 2017 Roster Preview: Linebackers
By Sean Dyer
MLBs Mark Herzlich, Curtis Grant, and Calvin Munson
These three reserve middle linebackers, if they make the team, will be key special team contributors.
Mark Herzlich has already been a key special teamer for the Giants over his six-year career. Not only has Herzlich been one of Big Blue’s best special team players, he has also started 17 games at linebacker over his career.
Herzlich is not a starting middle linebacker in the NFL but when injuries have occurred for New York, he has stepped in admirably. When the Giants play Herzlich at outside linebacker instead of inside, he doesn’t stick out quite as much.
The New York Giants love Mark Herzlich and his special teams ability. They brought him back this year on a one-year, $855,000 deal to play the role he’s played for six years.
Herzlich changed his number to 44 this offseason so he could have an eligible number and play tight end as well as linebacker this year, but I don’t see that working out. Expect more of the same from Mark Herzlich if he makes the team.
Curtis Grant went undrafted out of Ohio State in 2015 and has since been all around the NFL trying to make an active roster.
In just two years, Grant has spent time with the San Diego Chargers, Atlanta Falcons, Tennessee Titans, Oakland Raiders, and San Francisco 49ers. He’s been on a few of these teams’ practice squad but was eventually cut by all of them.
Curtis Grant would appear to be a longshot to make the New York Giants as well.
Calvin Munson signed with the Giants this offseason as an undrafted free agent out of San Diego State. Munson was a starter for the Aztecs for three years, amassing 301 total tackles, 35.5 tackles for loss, and 18 sacks over his career. He also hauled in seven interceptions, forced three fumbles and recovered two.
Munson is a similar player to Mark Herzlich. He’ll need to contribute on special teams in order to earn a reserve linebacker spot.
Munson has impressed on special teams thus far and injuries to the linebacking corps gave him an opportunity to run with the first-team defense earlier in the week.
It will be interesting to see if the Giants are able to keep both Herzlich and Munson or if they’re forced to pick just one.