Kristian Dyer: Giants need Leon Hall like the world needs another Kardashian

The New York Giants added cornerback Leon Hall to their roster on Thursday, another defensive back about as needed on their roster like the world needs another Kardashian. It continues an offseason for the Giants that, while pricey and prolific has also lacked direction.

This latest addition yet another example of a team that has made brilliant additions at times and elsewhere seems to lack a plan or direction.

Hall, set to turn 32-years old this season, was an All-Pro in 2009 for the Cincinnati Bengals, who made him a first round pick in 2007. He spent the entirety of his career with the Bengals, earning a reputation as one of the league’s better cornerbacks.

Set to enter his tenth season in the NFL, Hall joins an already crowded Giants backfield, an issue that underscores exactly why the Giants didn’t need to make this move. Or perhaps more apt, why they shouldn’t have had to.

The backfield was relatively deep already. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is the veteran of the group and one of the best cornerbacks in the NFC East; then there’s the fact that the Giants already spent big money in free agency to add Janoris Jenkins. They also used a first round pick on Eli Apple taking him ahead of nickleback Vernon Hargreaves III or addressing their needs along the offensive line, in particular at right tackle.

The decision to sign Hall despite the pressing needs at right tackle is a head-scratcher. General manager Jerry Reese did well in some regards during free agency to address needs on the defense but the addition of Hall makes very little sense.

And why draft Apple if the team felt that they needed a nickleback? Sitting at No. 10 in the draft, they could have had Hargreaves who would have been an ideal fit and was considered the draft’s best slot cornerback.

Before signing Hall, the Giants had invested heavily in their backend already. They did not need another cornerback if they are serious about developing Apple and now the selection of Apple is perplexing.

So too is Reese’s dogged determination to ignore the glaring need at right tackle, throwing money and salary cap space at Hall that could have been used to beef up the offensive line.

Hall literally adds nothing to the Giants defense right now while hurting their salary cap flexibility. He also hasn’t played a full, 16-game regular season since 2010, not exactly good news for a team that led the league in missed games due to injury over the past two seasons.

At least if there was another Kardashian, odds say that this one has a chance to be somewhat average in intelligence.

Law of averages, right?