The Giants visited with free agent linebacker Jameel McClain this week, signaling the need for some new blood at the position for the 2014 season.
It won’t be out with all of the old, however. The team announced Friday that they have re-signed linebacker Mark Herzlich, who was set to become a restricted free agent on Tuesday.
Herzlich beat cancer after being diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma while at Boston College and signed with the Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2011. He’s played 43 games since joining the team, but his six starts have shown that he’s best suited for a backup role on defense while being a core member of the team’s special teams units.
The Giants have shown interest in re-signing linebacker Jon Beason, who was acquired in part because of Herzlich’s struggles at middle linebacker early last season, but Beason appears to be headed to the open market. Whether it is McClain or someone else, the Giants would be well served to replace Beason with a better option than Herzlich should the veteran depart for another team.