Linebacker Jon Beason’s career looked like it was going nowhere fast early last season as he lost playing time with the Panthers after two injury-plagued seasons that saw him play just five of a possible 32 games.
Beason was traded to a Giants team desperate for linebacking help, though, and things went in a much better direction. Beason started 11 games, made 93 tackles and helped solidify a Giants defense that improved a great deal over the course of the season.
Jordan Raanan of NJ.com reports that the Giants are pushing for an encore. Per Raanan, the Giants have been “concentrating their efforts” on reaching agreement on a deal that would keep Beason in blue for the 2014 season.
At 29 with a long injury history, Beason probably can’t expect much in the way of guarantees in a deal with the Giants. The team can offer him some security for the near future in a defense that he clearly fits well, however, and it’s not likely that many other teams will be looking to break the bank to bring Beason on board.
Defensive end Justin Tuck and defensive tackle Linval Joseph are also key free agents from the Giants defense, although all appearances are that both players will hit the open market.