New York Giants surprising favorites to sign controversial free agent

With a need to address the secondary, oddsmakers believe the New York Giants will turn to a free agent in the middle of a controversy.

According to BetOnline , the Giants are currently the favorites (+400) to sign former Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard.

Howard, who was released this offseason as a salary-cap casualty, is facing a lawsuit alleging the cornerback "sent a male teenager a sexually explicit photograph of the young man’s mother because she refused to get an abortion," according to the Associated Press .

It's unlikely the Giants, or any team, will sign Howard until this matter is resolved. The 30-year-old cornerback has been productive throughout his career with 29 interceptions and 95 passes defensed in 100 career games.

The Giants have a young cornerback room so it's not outside the realm of possibilities that they look to add a veteran to the position.

Second-year corner Deonte Banks will lead the way while Cor'Dale Flott is getting the first crack at the starting boundary role opposite him.

Another issue with the Giants signing Howard is the fact that they don't have much salary-cap space to work with. According to Over The Cap, the Giants have roughly $11.5 million in cap space, the 10th-fewest in the NFL.

Also among the favorites to sign Howard include the Jacksonville Jaguars (+500), Chicago Bears (+600) and Baltimore Ravens (+900).