WR Victor Cruz
Victor Cruz would technically be a restricted free agent next offseason, so they could slap a 1st round tender on him and continue to negotiate with him or force him to play out the 2013 season on the tender. However, the Giants may want to avoid a Mike Wallace situation, especially if Cruz continues to produce like he did in 2011 (82 catches for 1536 yards and 9 touchdowns). He’s definitely worth the wide receiver franchise tag value (9.4 million in 2012), barring a regression, and the Giants could choose to franchise him, rather that slap a 1st round tender on him, as an act of good faith.
Likelihood: Somewhat likely
S Kenny Phillips
Of course, the Giants do have other options. After a nasty injury early in his career, Phillips has emerged as one of the better safeties in the league. The safety franchise tag value is pretty inexpensive (6.2 million in 2012), and for that reason, 4 players at the position have been slapped with it in the last 2 seasons, Tyvon Branch, Michael Huff, Michael Griffin, and Dashon Goldson. Phillips would fit in that group, so he could definitely be tagged, but only if they decide not to go this route with Cruz, as he’s the more valuable player.
Likelihood: Somewhat likely
DE Osi Umenyiora
Osi Umenyiora is a very good pass rusher, but the defensive end tag is one of the most expensive tags (10.6 million in 2012, tied for 2nd highest in the NFL), so I can’t see the Giants committing that kind of money to an aging pass rusher (age 32 in 2013), who is still only a situational player. If Umenyiora is going to remain with the Giants, it’s going to be on a pure short or long term deal.
Likelihood: Very unlikely
K Lawrence Tynes
Punters and kickers are the most often franchised because the franchise tag values for them are very cheap and franchising them makes a lot more sense than giving them a long term deal. However, they’re almost always franchised only when the team doesn’t have someone more important to franchise. Phillips and Cruz would definitely qualify, even though Tynes is a solid kicker who has been with the Giants for years and made several big kicks en route to 2 Super Bowl victories. He’s a career 80.9% kicker.
Likelihood: Unlikely
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