Kerry

Wynn

Wynn suffered the concussion in Week 2 against the 49ers and hasn’t played since. He’ll miss at least eight weeks of action.

The Giants were interested in bringing him back, but ultimately he opted for a fresh start in Cincinnati. Wynn collected 39 tackles, two forced fumbles, and 1.5 sacks over 393 defensive snaps last year while also contributing on special teams. The versatile 28-year-old can line up anywhere on the defensive line.

Wynn has spent that last two years as semi-regular starter in New York. He’s a run stopper that shouldn’t get much higher than the veteran minimum. The Giants also have interest in bringing Wynn back.

The tender will be worth $1.797 million if Wynn signs it. Undrafted coming out of Richmond, the Giants will not receive any compensation if Wynn ends up somewhere else. Wynn recorded half a sack in 117 snaps last season. He is 26.

One of the very few teams to test the restricted free agent market, the Pats have hosted a host of RFAs in recent days. The deadline for RFAs to sign an offer sheet elsewhere is next Friday. Wynn was tendered at the original-round/$1.797 million level. Since Wynn is a former UDFA, the Pats would owe the Giants no compensation if they signed Wynn and the G-Men decided not to match.

Wynn (6-foot-5, 266) was a three-year starter for the Spiders, finishing his career with 24 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks. He made third-team all-conference in the CAA as a senior. Wynn showed moderate athleticism at the Combine, clocking 4.87 in the forty with a 34-inch vertical and 9-foot-5 broad jump. He might be best served bulking up and becoming a power end.

An undrafted sophomore out of Richmond, it is a great story Wynn has a chance to start, but it is also an indictment of the lack of talent on the Giants’ defensive line. Though Wynn played well against the run in 192 snaps last year, he is a middling athlete who will likely struggle to get to the quarterback consistently. Unless Jason Pierre-Paul makes a miraculous recovery, the Giants will struggle to create pressure early in the season.

“He’s been great. I think Wynn has been one of our more consistent, dependable, physical, fast football players, and we’ve needed it obviously out there at defensive end,” Spagnuolo said. Wynn has started the past two games and is PFF’s second-ranked 4-3 end in run defense at the season’s quarter pole. He almost single-handedly was responsible for Karlos Williams’ down game last week.

Wynn drew three starts last year, but he was a rarely used backup for most of the season. He will compete for a rotational role in camp.