The Latest: Giants busy building defense in free agency

The New York Giants are using free agency to shore up a defense that was among the worst in the NFL

The Latest on NFL free agency. Teams can negotiate with representatives of free agents for the second day Tuesday but cannot finalize any agreements until Wednesday. (all times EDT):

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10:25 a.m.

The New York Giants are using free agency to shore up a defense that was among the worst in the NFL.

New York (4-12) placed a franchise tag on defensive tackle Leonard Williams on Monday and over the past 24 hours it has reached contract agreements with Packers middle linebacker Blake Martinez and Panthers cornerback James Bradberry. The Giants also reached an agreement with veteran blocking tight end tight end Levine Toilolo .

The franchise tag on Williams will cost the Giants at least $17 million if he stays. And the team would receive two first-round draft picks from any team signing him.

The Giants will pay Bradberry $45 million over three years, while Martinez gets roughly $30 million over three years. The Giants had $73 million in cap space entering free agency.

Those signings indicate general manager Dave Gettleman will use the draft to get a much-needed offensive tackle.

Bradberry (6-foot-1, 212 pounds) gives the Giants a big cornerback who can match up against any of the league’s tall receivers. The 26-year-old Bradberry missed only four games for Carolina in the past four years, making 268 tackles and eight interceptions, with 47 passes defensed. He started 15 games this past season and had a career-high three interceptions. Bradberry brings experience to a young group of cornerbacks that saw DeAndre Baker, Sam Beal and Corey Ballentine play their first games last season.

Martinez has led the Packers in tackles in three seasons, posting a league-best 155 last year. He has started the last 50 regular-season games for Green Bay, which posted a 13-3 record last season. He also had one interception and a forced fumble.

Entering his eighth season, Toilolo had two receptions for 10 yards in 2019 in 13 games. He also has played with Atlanta and Detroit and appeared in two Super Bowls.

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