NFL Waiver Wire Watch List: Here are potential targets that could help New York Giants

Posted by Admin August 28, 2024 NFL

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EAST RUTHERFORD – The New York Giants believe they can be at their best when it comes to the frenzy that unfolds in the hours after the NFL-mandated roster cutdown when more than 1,000 players officially hit the waiver wire and free agency.

The team building under general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll has not only been about the product on the field, but behind the scenes in the front office and the player acquisition process.

The talent market post-cuts includes the waiver wire for players with under four years of NFL service and vested veterans, who are not subject to the claiming process. You can bet the Giants will be scouring both pools to help plug holes and find hidden gems entering Year 3 for Daboll and Schoen.

In 2022, the Giants claimed Jason Pinnock and Nick McCloud (and Justin Layne and Jack Anderson). Two years later, Pinnock is a two-year starter at safety and McCloud is in line to start at CB in Week 1. They also claimed Tyre Phillips post-cuts a day later that year. So don’t shrug off waiver claims based on this personnel department’s history.

Just a reminder on the waiver wire: it’s not like fantasy football where you get one pick and move on. If Carolina, which is first, wants to put in claims for 7 guys, it gets all 7 guys. Then moves to Washington, and so on. The Giants have sixth priority and will maintain that status for three weeks into the regular season before the order shifts to the reverse standings.

Here’s a look at some names that may interest the Giants, and we’ll continue to add to the list as more cuts come in across the league:

Lewis Cine, Vikings S

Cine, 24, was reportedly a trade target for teams, but the Vikings could not find a partner for their 2022 second-round pick. His NFL career got off to a rough start when he suffered a major leg injury as a rookie and the climb has been arduous after that. The Giants hosted Cine on a “30” visit during the draft process, so it’ll be interesting to see if they believe they can tap into the former Georgia safety’s potential. If he is claimed, he comes on his rookie contract with about $4 million left over the next two years.

Steven Gilmore, Lions CB

The younger brother of former All-Pro Stephon Gilmore impressed the Giants last summer in joint practices. The Lions kept him last year on the 53, but with upgrades and resources put into the position, Gilmore ran into a numbers’ game. “He has lockdown potential,” Lions DC Aaron Glenn said last season. “So he has some of that from his brother.”

Keenan Isaac, Buccaneers CB

Isaac was outstanding in coverage in the preseason and Tampa Bay has a deep cornerback room. He was undrafted out of Alabama State and made an impression as a rookie last year with an intriguing skill set on the boundary.

Ricky Stromberg, Commanders OL

Every team in the NFL is looking for offensive linemen, especially those with good pedigree and the versatility to play different spots. Stromberg, a third-round pick out of Arkansas just last year, has battled injuries. Could the Giants claim him, shift Greg Van Roten from right guard to center in case of emergency and see if Carmen Bricillo and James Ferentz can tap into Stromberg’s potential? Worth exploring.

Neville Gallimore, Dolphins DT

Gallimore is a vested veteran, so he’s available as a free agent. The Giants are likely to consider another piece on their defensive front and Gallimore, a former second round pick out of Alabama, was a target of the Vikings when he was in the 2020 draft. You know who the Vikings’ DL coach was? That’s right: Andre Patterson.

Tre Avery, Titans CB

Could be a homecoming of sorts back to New Jersey for the former Rutgers undrafted rookie. He played two seasons for Shane Bowen in Tennessee and really struggled at times last season. Opposing quarterbacks picked on him a ton. But given the familiarity in Bowen’s system, and clearly he saw potential in their time together in Tennessee, this might be a reunion worth considering as a low cost, low risk option.

Rock Ya-Sin, 49ers CB

The vested veteran who played his college ball at Temple has fought through injuries and has been on four teams in four years. Ya-Sin has experience (66 games, 39 starts) in zone schemes on the boundary and in the slot. If he’s healthy, the Giants might want to add the 28-year-old to an incredibly young room.