NFL

Giants re-sign defensive leader Jon Beason

Jon Beason did not want to go anywhere and, after a brief foray into free agency, he opted to stay where he and the Giants feel he belongs — at middle linebacker for a defense that needs him.

The day a report surfaced the Broncos were considering Beason, he increased the intensity of his negotiations with the Giants and on Wednesday eventually came to terms on a new deal that ensures he will try to complete what he started when he arrived last season.

On another busy day for the Giants, they signed former Broncos center J.D. Walton — who did not play in any games in 2013 — to presumably fill the hole in the middle of their offensive line. Terms of the deals were not disclosed.

The Giants also brought in receiver Jacoby Jones and were interested in signing him, but he decided to stay with the Ravens for a four-year, $14 million deal.

Beason was acquired Oct. 4 from the Panthers and solved the middle linebacker puzzle, starting the last 11 games and triggering a dramatic defensive turnaround. As their own unrestricted free agent, the Giants had exclusive rights to negotiate a deal with Beason but that exclusivity ended on Tuesday when Beason, who is representing himself without an agent, hit the open market.

Beason wanted to see what else was out there, who was interested and who was willing to pay what for him.

He wasn’t on the market for long.

Of all the areas of need for the Giants, the return of Beason had to be considered a top priority. Teammates raved about his ability to quickly pick up the defensive system and he showed his surgically repaired knee was healthy, as in his 11 starts he accumulated 93 tackles and one interception. He also emerged as a strong team leader, someone his new teammates were quick to follow.

Clearly, though, the Giants set a price for Beason and they were not going to overextend themselves. Beason, 29, played in a total of only five games in 2011 and 2012 because of physical issues and his future health no doubt was part of the evaluation process.

The Giants made official the signings of guard Geoff Schwartz (four years, $16.8 million $6.2 million guaranteed) and running back Rashad Jennings (four years, $14 million, $3 million guaranteed).

Schwartz — whose brother Mitchell plays offensive line for the Browns — got married Saturday in Santa Monica, Calif. but delayed his honeymoon to meet with the Giants at their New Jersey training facility. He said he’s mostly played right guard in the NFL, but that with Chris Snee returning he’ll start at left guard.

“It’s one of those franchises where, when they come calling, you can’t really say no,’’ Schwartz said of the Giants. “I’m overjoyed. I think when I look back after I kind of get over the initial signing of the contract it’ll be such a pleasure.”

Jennings, after serving mostly in backup roles with the Jaguars and Raiders, could emerge as the Giants’ starting running back, depending on how David Wilson returns from neck surgery.

“I’m so excited to be here for so many reasons,” Jennings said. “One, the Giants organization and the history of it. The magnitude of it, the culture, to be a part of that red, white and blue again. It’s funny because I went to Liberty University, those are the same colors I wore. I’m with the team that wanted me.”

The Giants are rolling the dice with Walton, who is only 26 and started all 32 games for the Broncos in 2010 and 2011 — serving for a time as Tim Tebow’s center.

Walton started the first four games in 2012 before injuring his ankle Sept. 30, 2012 against the Raiders. He was put on season-ending injured reserve.

In 2013, Walton was on the Broncos’ active roster for a month and then spent the last two weeks of that season with the Redskins, not appearing in any games.

At one time Walton was a solid prospect, as the Broncos made him a 2010 third-round draft pick out of Baylor. The 6-foot-3, 305-pound Walton started all 36 games he played in three years at Baylor and was a first-team All-America. In 2010, Walton was the first rookie center in Broncos history — and fifth offensive lineman — to start every game. Now he moves in as the replacement for David Baas, who was waived/injured.