The regular season may be over, but there is still a ton going on around the New York Giants. Here are some of the big stories surrounding the Giants from Thursday, January 16.
NFL.com releases list of top free agents in 2020
NFL.com has released its initial list of top 25 free agents of 2020, which contains some very interesting names. Five quarterbacks are featured on the list, three of which are 38 or older, while the fourth just resurrected his career in Tennessee. The Giants are not going to be focusing on the quarterback position this offseason, so Dak Prescott, Ryan Tannehill, Drew Brees, Tom Brady, and Philip Rivers appear unlikely to call East Rutherford home next season.
Quarterbacks may take up one-fifth of the list, but there are several talented offensive linemen and defensive playmakers that also appear in these rankings. Here are some of the top non-quarterback free agents featured on NFL.com's list.
No. 2: DE Chris Jones
No. 4: DE Jadeveon Clowney
No. 5: OLB Shaq Barrett
No. 7: DE Yannick Ngakoue
No. 10: S Justin Simmons
No. 12: CB Byron Jones
No. 13: OG Joe Thuney
No. 14: OG Brandon Scherff
No. 17: LB Cory Littleton
No. 21: OT Anthony Castonzo
The 2020 league year and free agency period begin on March 18.
The Athletic has Giants selecting OL from Alabama
The 2020 NFL Draft is still over three months away, but that hasn't stopped experts from beginning to predict where each of the top prospects might land. The Giants hold the No. 4 overall pick in April's draft, which means the team will have its choice of almost all of the top players available in this year's draft class.
Different mock drafts have the Giants going in different directions at No. 4. In the latest mock draft released by The Athletic, NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler predicts that the Giants will land Alabama offensive tackle Jedrick Wills. Willis is coming off a very strong 2019 campaign in which he allowed just one sack and 3.5 quarterback hurries.
As Brugler wrote, "Last year's top-10 pick, Daniel Jones, had a promising rookie campaign at quarterback, but New York must invest in protection to aid his development in Year 2. New head coach (and former Alabama assistant) Joe Judge will receive plenty of intel from his friends in Tuscaloosa on Wills, my top-ranked tackle in the draft."
Former Giants RB Tiki Barber finishes 13th marathon
Tiki Barber retired in 2006 as the franchise's all-time leading rusher. In 154 career games, Barber rushed the ball 2,217 times for 10,449 yards, good for an average of 4.7 yards per carry, and 55 touchdowns. Barber has kept busy since his playing days came to an end, as the former running back hosts a daily show on CBS Sports Radio, in addition to making numerous TV and broadcasting appearances over the years.
Since hanging up his cleats, Barber has also been participating in marathons. The Giants all-time great recently finished his 13th marathon, despite having to battle through a heat advisory down in Orlando, Florida at the Walt Disney World Marathon.
"I knew after a mile that I was going to be in trouble," Barber said of the hot and humid conditions. "I've never had a non-finish," Barber told the Orlando Sentinel. "I was telling myself, 'I am not going to not finish. I am not going to not finish."
Barber finished with a time of 5 hours, 12 minutes, which was almost an hour slower than his personal best of 4:18:24 at the New York City Marathon in November.
While still in great shape, Barber did tell the Orlando Sentinel that he is about 30 pounds lighter than when he was playing for the Giants.
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