The Giants have plenty of needs to address on their defense in free agency and are being linked to two different linebackers.
SNY's Ralph Vacchiano reports that the Giants are interested in free agent linebacker Deone Bucannon while Matt Lombardo of NJ.com, reported the Giants have "significant interest" in free agent Preston Smith.
Both are outside linebackers but Bucannon's strengths seem to be his versatility while Smith is more of a pure pass rusher.
Bucannon, 26, is of particular note because he is a former first-round pick and played under Giants defensive coordinator James Bettcher with the Arizona Cardinals.
Originally drafted as a safety, Bucannon thrived under Bettcher, recording 109 tackles in his second season but struggled when Bettcher left and the Cardinals shifted to a 4-3 defense.
Smith, also 26, was a second-round draft pick for the Redskins in 2015 and is coming off a season in which he finished with 53 tackles, four sacks, 16 quarterback hits, one interception and three pass deflections.
He did have an eight sacks in 2017 and his rookie season, as well as 21 quarterback hits in 2017, too.