USAT: Giants Wire audio clip

USAT: Giants Wire

Feb 27, 2022

The New York Giants will enter the new league year on the hunt for upgrades at multiple positions, including along the edge. Perhaps second only to offensive line reinforcements, the Giants need a quality pass rusher to add to Don Martindale’s defense. - However, given the team’s salary cap restraints, that fix is unlikely to come via free agency. Rather, the draft seems like a much safer bet. - But that’s not a thought that entered the mind of Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine, who recently broke down every team’s ideal trade scenario. - In Ballentine’s breakdown, he postulates that the Giants should trade for Green Bay Packers defensive end Za’Darius Smith. - Za’Darius Smith broke out and earned himself a big contract with 8.5 sacks in his final season with the Baltimore Ravens. That also happens to be the year that Don “Wink” Martindale made the move from linebackers coach to defensive coordinator. - Martindale now happens to be the new defensive coordinator with the New York Giants. - The Packers find themselves in a position where they are paying Za’Darius and Preston Smith nearly a quarter of their salary-cap space. With Rashan Gary proving he’s ready to take over one of their spots, it makes sense they would want to move one of the Smiths. - . . . - Smith would instantly enhance New York’s pass-rush. He spent most of the 2021 season on injured reserve, but he had a sack on just 19 snaps in Green Bay’s lone playoff game. That’s a good sign he’ll be ready to produce again in 2022. - The problem with the Giants potentially acquiring Smith is outlined in Ballentine’s analysis. Although it would be a positive to reunite him with Martindale, New York is currently over the cap and have no means to take on Smith’s massive salary. - Smith is entering the final year of a four-year deal and is slated to account for a whopping $27.7 million against the cap. The only scenario in which the Giants could absorb that hit is a contract extension — something they may not be willing to do or even interested in entertaining. - An alternate scenario would be the Packers releasing Smith as a cap casualty, but then a feeding frenzy would likely ensue with the Giants being priced out. - Ultimately, Smith in a Giants uniform is a fun and intriguing thought, but it’s not something that’s going to manifest. - - RelatedPat Fitzgerald thinks Mike Kafka can fix Giants' broken offenseBill Barnwell: Giants must decline Daniel Jones' fifth-year optionDaniel Jeremiah: Ikem Ekwonu would be 'slam dunk' pick for Giants - - - - - - - - - - - - Email - - - - - Sign up - - - - - - - - Like this article? - Sign up for the Giants Wire email newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning - - - - An error has occured - - - Please re-enter your email address. - - - - - - Thanks for signing up! - - - You'll now receive the top Giants Wire stories each day directly in your inbox.

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