Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker Anthony Spencer (93) at FedEx Field. The Redskins won 28-18. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Giants could take a flier on a talented free agent from a rival squad who is coming off of a severe knee injury, as the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that they will host Anthony Spencer on a free agent visit today. Although the Dallas Cowboys could use him back, they aren’t expected to re-sign Spencer and haven’t seemed to make any moves to keep him around. It was reported earlier today that Spencer would visit the St. Louis Rams (we’ll see if that’s still in the works), and he also visited another NFC East rival in the Washington Redskins early in the free agent period.
I like the Giants decision to work out Spencer, even if he is coming off of microfracture surgery and probably won’t be ready for the start of training camp. Microfracture surgeries are usually damaging to a player’s career, but Spencer has the raw talent to make a one-year, incentive-laden deal with no guaranteed money worth it.
The Giants lost Justin Tuck to the Oakland Raiders this offseason, and it makes sense for them to take a flier on Spencer, who will almost certainly come cheap. He recorded 95 tackles and 11 sacks in 2012 in the best year of his career and is a significantly better fit as a 3-4 OLB, but he is still a good 4-3 DE due to his raw talent. He has massive health concerns, but he also has the upside to make signing him to a one-year deal a worthy reclamation project.