Giants will be shopping from the bargain bin in free agency

Before his 2017 draft as Panthers GM, before he selected RB Christian McCaffrey with the eighth pick, before the start of his last free agency in Carolina, Dave Gettleman outlined his philosophy thusly:

“My philosophy has always been, ‘Whatever you do in unrestricted free agency sets you up for the draft,’ so by the time you get to the draft you can literally take the best player available.”

Gettleman wound up whiffing on prize free-agent left tackle Matt Kalil — five years and $55.5 million, with $25 million guaranteed — and the Giants GM will have to shop predominantly in the bargain basement department now with only $24.7 million available for free agency.

Most of the holes Gettleman needs to fill are on defense, where he’ll certainly be stalking a cost-effective safety to replace Landon Collins, a pass rusher and a cornerback.

The safety market is saturated with options, some of whom will be too rich for the Giants’ blood. But the likes of Adrian Phillips, a jack-of-all trades with a high football IQ, journeyman ballhawk Tashaun Gipson, recently waived by the Jaguars, and Tre Boston, a Gettleman fourth-round pick in 2014, are in play.

With the trade of Olivier Vernon to the Browns for guard Kevin Zeitler, Gettleman desperately needs another pass rusher to help second-year OLB Lorenzo Carter, and Za’Darius Smith or Preston Smith (no relation) could be affordable. If he decides to again pass on a quarterback with the sixth pick — Dwayne Haskins, raise your hand — a rich defensive draft will undoubtedly tempt his thirst for another pass rusher with the sixth pick.

CB Pierre Desir is a 6-foot-2, 198-pound corner who was Pro Football Focus’ No. 18 cornerback last season. Desir, who will be 29 in December, did not miss a tackle. Gettleman needs an upgrade opposite Janoris Jenkins.

Gettleman also needs a right tackle to complete his offensive line rebuild, and Panthers 6-6, 330-pound RT Daryl Williams, a second team All-Pro in 2017, is looking for a new home. Gettleman drafted his beloved hog mollie in the fourth round in 2015. Williams tore his MCL in training camp and spent virtually the entire season on IR.

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