Here are the best NFL free agents for 2015, according to NFL.com
Free agency officially begins with the start of the new league year on March 10 at 4 p.m. ET.
With the window about to open, Giants.com looks at five positions that Big Blue's front office could target in the coming days and weeks.
Keep in mind, beginning March 7 clubs can contact and enter into negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become unrestricted free agents. However, contracts cannot be signed until March 10.
Offensive Line
The offensive line is still coming together after two-time Super Bowl-winning veterans Chris Snee and David Diehl retired prior to the start of last season. The Giants signed, among others, center J.D. Walton and guards Geoff Schwartz and John Jerry in free agency last year. But Walton was recently released by the team, while Schwartz dealt with injuries for most of 2014 and Jerry, who started all 16 games at guard, is set to become a free agent. Plans for 2015 are already underway as the team signed CFL star Brett Jones and head coach Tom Coughlin said last month that last year's second-round draft choice Weston Richburg, who started 15 games at guard as a rookie, will have every opportunity to win the starting job at center, where he played in college.
Those moves and any other potential ones in the future will be part of the plan to protect quarterback Eli Manning and improve the offense in its second season under offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo.
"I think [Eli] can still get better with another year under this new offense and we need to give him a little bit of help, particularly on the offensive line, I believe," Giants president and chief executive officer John Mara said at the conclusion of the 2014 season. "I still think we can win a championship with Eli."
Here are NFL.com's best available offensive linemen
Defensive End
The Giants made the biggest move of their offseason so far when they designated Jason Pierre-Paul as the franchise player, giving the team and the defensive end time to negotiate a long-term contract. The move came after the Giants released one of its most experienced and versatile players in Mathias Kiwanuka. Now players like Robert Ayers and Damontre Moore will look to step up while Coughlin said at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis that the team "would like to add to that potential as well."
Safety
The Giants' entire starting safety corps from last season is set to hit free agency. That group, of course, includes defensive co-captain Antrel Rolle, who started every game over the last five seasons since joining Big Blue in 2010.
"Certainly we would like him to come back," Coughlin said in Indianapolis. "Obviously we do have financial restrictions involved."
Meanwhile, Quintin Demps and Stevie Brown, who started at different times in 2014 opposite Rolle, are also pending free agents. The Giants last season were tied for third-most passing plays of 20 yards or longer allowed with 62.
Here are NFL.com's best available safeties
Linebacker
Largely due to injuries, the Giants' lineup at linebacker constantly changed throughout the 2014 season. While starting middle linebacker Jon Beason dealt with injuries, Jameel McClain held the group together and rookie Devon Kennard came on strong down the stretch. But Jacquian Williams, Mark Herzlich, and Spencer Paysinger are all set to become free agents on March 10.
Here are NFL.com's best available linebackers
Defensive Tackle
While the Giants enjoyed a breakout year by Johnathan Hankins, who had seven sacks, 51 tackles and a forced fumble in his second NFL season, a team can never have enough defensive linemen, especially with the return of Steve Spagnuolo as defensive coordinator. Meanwhile, one of Coughlin's biggest concerns coming out of last season was running the ball as well as stopping it. The Giants gave up an NFL-worst 4.9 yards per carry in 2014.
Here are NFL.com's best available defensive tackles