New York Giants Make Baffling Bet On Rhett Ellison

The New York Giants signed Minnesota Vikings free agent fullback / tight end Rhett Ellison to a four-year agreement worth $18 million. Here’s a rundown of the confusing move.

Rhett Ellison is a much wealthier man on March 9 than he was the day before. The 28-year-old Minnesota Vikings tight end signed a surprisingly lucrative deal with the New York Giants (per NJ.com) on Thursday that has many fans face-palming and questioning general manager Jerry Reese’s sanity. Ellison’s name wasn’t part of the conversation on free agent tight end targets until recently.

The initial buzz was around Martellus Bennett, then shifted to Jack Doyle. Once Doyle re-signed with Indianapolis and Bennett entertained chats with other teams, many thought Verona, NJ native Anthony Fasano was the best fit. Instead, the Giants end up with Ellison, an exceptional blocker.

Ben McAdoo coached a New York Giants team that went the entire 2016 season without a fullback. The franchise signed Pittsburgh Steelers hybrid H-back Will Johnson to a two-year deal worth $2.3 million last offseason and had high hopes for fullback turned defensive lineman Nikita Whitlock. Johnson suffered a stinger that somehow ended his year while Whitlock got hurt then tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

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At the time of the Will Johnson signing, I wrote that he could’ve been the most underrated free agent acquisition for the Giants. One could argue that Johnson’s absence was sorely felt. Neither Larry Donnell or Will Tye were highly regarded for their blocking abilities. Now, Donnell is gone and Will Tye is back on a cost-friendly contract. Does Ellison’s signing mean Will Johnson’s departure? Apparently so.

According to another report from NJ.com, the Giants will release Johnson. However, there’s chatter that New York could look to re-sign him after on a cheaper, league-minimum contract.

Ellison made a little more than $1.6 million in the final year of his rookie contract with the Vikings in 2015 and signed a one-year deal that totaled $1.85 million in 2016. He played less than 25 percent of Minnesota’s offensive snaps last season. All of his career highs came in 2014, which isn’t saying much. He hasn’t topped 19 catches or 208 yards in a season.

The former fourth-round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft out of USC tore his patellar tendon late in the 2015 season. That’s the same injury Victor Cruz endured in October 2014. Pro Football Focus had Ellison as the 13th highest graded free agent tight end. Reports indicate Ellison’s agreement includes $8 million guaranteed. There’s a lot of uncertainty around such an unproven asset.

Next: NFL Free Agency Rumors Tracker: March 10

With those lofty numbers hovering over Ellison’s (and Reese’s) head, the pressure will be high to make good on the deal. One would expect his snap count and targets to skyrocket. Hopefully, he’ll be showing all the haters how much of a steal he was. If he doesn’t pan out and the Giants half-baked offensive line lags, legions of naysayers will point their pitchforks to this head-scratching handshake.

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