NFL

Reese: Giants will be younger in 2014

INDIANAPOLIS — Don’t count on the Giants re-signing any of their most prominent free agents before the market opens next month.

General manager Jerry Reese said Saturday that fairness — and not just the team’s precarious salary-cap situation — dictates defensive end Justin Tuck, wide receiver Hakeem Nicks and linebacker Jon Beason be allowed to test their value.

“Free agency is free agency, which means you go out and try to get as much money as you can,” Reese said during a break in the scouting combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. “I’m always in favor of guys getting as much money as they can.”

Out of those three, it sounded from listening to Reese that Beason is the only one the Giants are willing to make a serious effort at keeping after the former Panthers standout helped rejuvenate the Big Blue defense following his October acquisition last season.

Reese said the Giants already have had multiple discussions with Beason’s camp about a new deal and didn’t rule out agreeing to a contract before free agency opens March 11.

“We’ve had some talks with him, and hopefully, we’ll be able to get him back,” Reese said of Beason. “We’ll leave our options open, and I’m sure they’ll do the same.”

But Tuck and Nicks appear likely to have new addresses next season, and they won’t be the only ones after Reese promised “significant chances in our roster” after last year’s disappointing 7-9 finish.

“There’s going to be a significant difference in our roster,” said Reese, whose team has missed the playoffs the last two seasons and four of the past five years. “It’s going to have a lot of young players, and we’ll go out in free agency and see if we can find some guys that will fill some holes for us.”

Nicks looks set to depart, but Reese didn’t consider that one of those holes. Reese talked as if the Giants already have a replacement for Nicks in their receiver rotation in third-year pro Rueben Randle.

“We expect Rueben Randle to make a significant jump,” Reese said. “He led our receivers in touchdowns [last season], and we expect him to grow and be a more mature player and be a strong contributor for us.”

It’s no secret the Giants’ most pressing need is for offensive linemen, and Reese admitted that is a priority for the team’s scouts during the combine this week.

The Giants’ need at that spot is well-timed, considering analysts are calling this one of the deepest drafts in years for blockers, with potential starters available as late as the third round.

Reese also confirmed that running back will be an emphasis for the Giants in the draft and free agency, even though the team is hopeful David Wilson can return from surgery to repair a herniated disk in his neck last month.

“He’s doing well from all the medical reports that I’ve gotten so far,” Reese said. “But obviously, we won’t put all our eggs in that basket. We’ll continue to look for a running back in free agency and the draft, as well.”

Reese expressed confidence that the Giants’ efforts there and every other position will lead to a playoff return this season.

“We’ve seen teams go from 2-3 wins the previous year to winning 10-12 games the next,” he said. “I think we can turn it around. If you can give yourself a chance early on and hang in there, you can have a chance to get into the playoffs.  And we expect to do that.”