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Giants defensive end Justin Tuck should get a nice deal in free agency this offseason.

(andrew Mills/The Star-Ledger)

INDIANAPOLIS -- If the Giants don't get to work quickly and Justin Tuck becomes a free agent, they better watch out.

Tuck's agent believes he will have the best all-around free-agent defensive end on the market in a class filled with highly successful players. Carolina's Greg Hardy, Minnesota's Jared Allen and Seattle's Michael Bennett are just some of the ends that could potentially hit the market next month.

"Justin is by far the most complete d-end in the class," Tuck's agent Doug Hendrickson said. "He can play the 4-3, he can play the 3-4.

"He obviously had an incredible season last year with every stat he had with the tackles, tackles for loss, the hurries and the sacks. They were up there with the upper-echelon defensive linemen."

That's not the sound of a party willing to stay with the Giants on the cheap. The best defensive end – or even one of the best DEs in free agency – usually gets paid.

The Giants have a meeting scheduled with Tuck’s representatives this week in Indianapolis. They will try to make progress towards keeping Tuck a Giant for life. It’s not going to be easy.

The two sides have remained in contact since the conclusion of a season where Tuck rebounded from a pair of down years with 11 sacks. Nothing, however, appears imminent as Tuck is deservingly looking to cash in on nine strong seasons with the Giants.

Tuck said during Super Bowl week earlier this month that he's preparing himself for free agency. Reese said he believes "guys deserve to go out and see what the market is when you reach free agency." The Giants general manager appeared resigned to having one of his best players test his worth.

Both sides have expressed a desire to continue their relationship. It’s likely going to come down to price, and just how much the Giants want to keep one of their best players and team leaders.

Tuck, who turns 31 next month, finished with 11.0 sacks and 63 tackles this season. His 44 quarterback hurries were sixth among 4-3 defensive ends, according to Pro Football Focus. His +11.7 grade against the run was eighth best.

“He can do it all,” Hendrickson said.

It’s going to help Tuck if several of the other top options fail to reach free agency next month as expected. Hardy and Bennett may not hit the market. They are likely candidates for the franchise tag.

Even so, Tuck’s production last season is comparable to both. The biggest difference is age. Hardy (25) and Bennett (28) likely have more productive years ahead. His 2013 performance stacks up well against all of the top pass rushers set to hit free agency.

Top FA Pass Rushers in 2013 Justin Tuck Greg Hardy Brian Orakpo Michael Johnson Michael Bennett Jared Allen Lamarr Houston Sacks 11 15 10 3.5 8.5 11.5 QB Hits 12 27 11 17 17 18 16 Hurries 44 45 29 41 51 34 41 Tackles 63 59 60 56 23 52 69 Run Grade +11.7 +12.6 +10.1 +21.2 +12.0 +1.7 +14.9

*QB hits, hurries and run grade courtesy of PFF

Still, the market for a player of Tuck’s ilk should be strong. Minnesota’s Brian Robison received a four-year, $28 million deal with $13 million guaranteed during this past season. Robison turns 31 in April and has never recorded a double-digit sack season, despite playing across from Allen. He also doesn’t have the same championship pedigree.

An argument can be made that Tuck should have two Super Bowl MVPs on his resume, one at the very least. He had four sacks in the Giants’ two championship triumphs.

The general perception of him might be a little different if one of those MVP trophies that went to quarterback Eli Manning sat on his mantel. Two All-Pro honors, two Pro Bowls, and coming off an 11-sack season make Tuck an attractive option. A Super Bowl MVP trophy would've added a nice touch. BEGIN SOCIAL BOX

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Right now, it seems only age, injuries and money might keep the Giants, who have a long history of handcuffing some of their biggest stars (Michael Strahan, Tiki Barber, Phil Simms, Lawrence Taylor, Harry Carson and Amani Toomer) to the franchise for the duration of their careers, from making Tuck a Giant for life.

Tuck struggled with neck and shoulder injuries in 2011 and ‘12. It limited him to nine sacks in the two seasons combined.

But Tuck still has four double-digit sack seasons in the past seven years. Baltimore’s Terrell Suggs, who signed a four-year extension earlier in the week for close to $30 million, has three double-digit sack seasons in the past seven years. He’ll be 32 this upcoming campaign.

Given what Tuck’s accomplished and his camp’s belief that he’s still in the upper-echelon of defensive ends, the Giants need to bring something solid to the table when they meet with his representatives at the Combine, otherwise they risk losing him.

Tuck wants to remain a Giant, but one of the best defensive ends on the free-agent market is not going to come cheap.