From Matthew Cohen SNYGiants contributor:

For the second year in a row, the Giants have signed a tight end who’s value is likely beneath his true talent level. Their ability to improve tight ends under the tutelage of Mike Pope at Tight End University should once again get the team a bargain tight end.

Last year, the Martellus Bennett signing worked out quite well for both parties. The Giants got a $5 million tight end for $2.5 million. Bennett played one year with Big Blue, improved his value and signed a $20 million contact with Chicago at $5 million per year. Win, win.

The Giants just signed Brandon Myers, my guess for roughly the same amount of money. Myers is a very reliable receiver but has the reputation of being a horrid blocker.

One can surmise that both players had the option of signing elsewhere but chose the Giants because of their reputation for molding tight ends. Let’s not forget that Kevin Boss got a $4 million per year contract 2 years ago. Scrap heap pickup Jake Ballard should eventually get his payday as well.

The reputation of Giants’ tight end coach Mike Pope makes the Giants a logical choice for tight ends looking to improve and have a solid season to set themselves up for a big money contract. It doesn’t hurt to have Eli Manning as your quarterback. A tight end with decent hands is going to get 40 or more receptions and 600 yards.

If Pope can make Myers into an average blocker, his receiving skills will get him that big money contract in 2014. The Giants get a one year bargain and maybe a compensatory draft pick when he moves on. Another win, win.

John Fennelly, Executive Editor

Myers said he chose the Giants based on the recommendation of former teammate Kevin Boss.

“I became great friends with Kevin and his wife,” Myers said as per the Giants official website. “You couldn’t ask for a better guy to be in the tight end room. He’s been talking to me about New York. I’m blessed to know a guy like that who’s been here and can tell me where to go. He told me what a great organization this is from top to bottom – the facilities to everything. He said it’s a great place to be and told me if I have an opportunity to come here I should definitely think about it. He’s helped me out a lot and I’m appreciative of that.”

A quick list of TEs Pope has developed: Mark Bavaro, Zeke Mowatt, Howard Cross, Ben Coates, Tony McGee, Jeremy Shockey, Kevin Boss, Jake Ballard and Martellus Bennett.