Feb 25, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; New York Giants senior vice president and general manager Jerry Reese speaks to the media during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

New York Giants: Eddie Lacy Expected To Be Available At Affordable Cost

New York Giants: Eddie Lacy Expected To Be Available At Affordable Cost by Maxwell Ogden

The New York Giants have significant decisions to make from a financial perspective. A new report stated that New York will keep the defense together.

New York Giants general manager Jerry Reese built a legitimately elite defense in 2016. Unfortunately, building a roster in the NFL isn’t quite as simple as adding talent and helping them grow.

With free agency taking players from contending teams on a yearly basis, the Giants have reached a potentially disastrous offseason.

New York will send some of its most valuable defensive players to free agency in 2017. With a salary cap that limits the Giants’ flexibility, it may not be possible for Reese to bring back every player he intends to.

During a recent Facebook Q&A, Jordan Raanan of ESPN reported that the Giants are going to try to keep the defense together (h/t Dan Benton of Giants Wire).

“The Giants are trying very hard — they’re going to try very hard to keep that defense together. That’s what I’m hearing right now,” Raanan said in a Facebook Q&A. “The Giants want to keep that defense together. . . . Their desire, from what I hear, is to bring back JPP and Hankins and a guy like Keenan Robinson. “They think that defense has the potential to be really special. So I think the odds are, right now, the odds are greater than 50% they are back for next season. All of them.”

If the Giants are going to keep the defense together, then Reese will need to pay a hefty cost.

The defensive players who will become free agents in 2017 include Leon Hall, Johnathan Hankins, Jason Pierre-Paul, Keenan Robinson, and Kelvin Sheppard. Every one of those players contributed to New York’s elite defensive unit this past season.

Pierre-Paul alone is expected to command a salary close to what Olivier Vernon is making at $85 million over the course of five seasons.

Re-signing Pierre-Paul will be a tall task, but the decisions to part ways with Victor Cruz and Rashad Jennings created financial flexibility.

Regardless of what the Giants manage to do, this offseason will define the future of the organization. New York ranked No. 2 in the NFL points allowed per game during the 2016 season, but the only way to maintain success is to continue building upon it.

The Giants have a chance to build something special, but it could require yet another costly offseason.

General manager Jerry Reese is going to be tested during the 2017 offseason.