Dave Gettleman’s offseason strategy was to hand out short, prove-it deals to veterans who complement an overall youth movement.
The second-year general manager is one short so far.
Even though Gettleman signed Markus Golden to a one-year contract, the Giants could use another quarterback-menace to take some of the pressure off of second-year edge-rusher Lorenzo Carter and still-unsigned rookie Oshane Ximines.
The Giants finished second-to-last in the NFL with 31 sacks last season and at best broke even by acquiring Golden after trading two-time sacks leader Olivier Vernon to the Browns for offensive guard Kevin Zeitler.
So, where is the improvement coming from? Crossing fingers for more out of Carter and 2018 free-agent signing Kareem Martin?
Well, an interesting solution could be trading for Houston’s Whitney Mercilus, as speculated by The Ringer. He fits outside linebacker under Giants coordinator James Bettcher.
Mercilus registered at least five sacks in each of his first five seasons and broke through with 12 in 2015, followed by 7.5 in 2016. Since then, however, he has missed 11 games due to a torn pectoral muscle, battled hamstring soreness and lost his starting job, totaling just five sacks in his last 21 games.
The soon-to-be 29-year-old former first-round pick is due $5.75 million on the final year of a four-year contract.
So, assuming the trade cost is a mid-round draft pick, the Giants have little to lose, especially with nine picks spread over seven rounds in 2020. They would have to free up additional cap space, but that could be done during training camp without touching the enormous reserve available in 2020.
Mercilus was asked by the Texans last season to drop more often into pass coverage, and he allowed 23 catches for 208 yards. Considering how the Giants’ linebackers and safeties fared in coverage last season, those numbers represent an upgrade.
“Yeah, it was a new adjustment for me: Understanding and dropping back into pass coverage, helping out there with the route combinations that were there and jumbling around in my head,” Mercilus recently told MSN. “This time around, I’m better prepared and able to get the look that I need to do in my drops and understand the route combinations. I’m embracing it.”
Mercilus also checks Gettleman’s bonus-point boxes for a high-character player who will be respected in the locker room and involved in the community. Meanwhile, the Texans enter the season without a general manager, planning to divide up responsibilities after firing New Jersey native Brian Gaine in June.
Here is a snippet of what The Ringer wrote about a possible Giants-Mercilus match:
The soon-to-be 29-year-old pass rusher is a holdover from Rick Smith’s time as general manager, and he arrived in Houston before head coach Bill O’Brien’s tenure began. The Texans will likely prioritize bringing Jadeveon Clowney (who’s currently on the franchise tag) back on a long-term deal next spring, and with Clowney and J.J. Watt on the roster, the Texans are loaded with pass-rushers. Rather than watch Mercilus walk in free agency next year, O’Brien and the team’s makeshift front office could look to recoup some value from one of the league’s many pass-rush-needy teams.
Ryan Dunleavy may be reached at rdunleavy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rydunleavy. Find our Giants coverage on Facebook.