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New York Giants free agency 2020: Top 5 targets

By Mike Phillips

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - JANUARY 09: Joe Judge poses with a helmet after he was introduced as the new head coach of the New York Giants during a news conference at MetLife Stadium on January 9, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - JANUARY 09: Joe Judge poses with a helmet after he was introduced as the new head coach of the New York Giants during a news conference at MetLife Stadium on January 9, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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JACKSONVILLE, FL – DECEMBER 29: Jacksonville Jaguars Defensive End Yannick Ngakoue (91) looks on during the game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Jacksonville Jaguars on December 29, 2019 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL – DECEMBER 29: Jacksonville Jaguars Defensive End Yannick Ngakoue (91) looks on during the game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Jacksonville Jaguars on December 29, 2019 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

2. EDGE Yannick Ngakoue

When the Giants started to struggle in the middle of the season, their fan base started dreaming about the possibility of drafting Ohio State defensive end Chase Young. Widely regarded as one of the best prospects in the draft, Young has been favorably compared to Nick and Joey Bosa, meaning he could be a premier pass-rushing threat for years to come.

The Giants were well-positioned to draft Young for a while, but a pair of late-season victories pushed the Giants back from two to four in the draft order. There is no chance Young slides that far, so the Giants will have to go back to the free-agent well to fill their pass rushing needs.

There will be plenty of good edge-rushing candidates in the free-agent pool, headlined by Jadeveon Clowney, but the best fit for the Giants could well be Yannick Ngakoue. The Jaguars’ product has been a consistent edge rushing force in this league, picking up at least eight sacks in each of his first four seasons.

Ngakoue is a franchise tag candidate for Jacksonville, but the Jaguars’ salary cap issues could hurt that possibility. Jacksonville is currently one of two teams that is projected to be over the cap, so it will have to do some serious salary cap surgery to fit Ngakoue in their budget.

That difficulty could make Ngakoue a true free agent, and if he hits the market the Giants should pounce. Ngakoue could be the latest in a line of great Giants’ pass rushers that has included Jason Pierre-Paul, Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck, and Hall-of-Famer Michael Strahan.

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