Giants Lose DE Tollefson to Raiders

In another salary cap related move, the Giants lost DE Dave Tollefson to the Oakland Raiders yesterday.

The Raiders announced Tollefson’s signing Saturday. The 29-year-old had a career-high five sacks last season while playing in a reserve role with New York.

Tollefson’s contract is for two years and $2.5 million, according to ESPN business analyst Andrew Brandt.

Tollefson provided the Giants with great depth at defensive end, but the Giants weren’t going to pay that much with Justin Tuck, OsiUmenyiora and Jason Pierre-Paul at defensive end and Mathias Kiwanuka playing both linebacker and defensive end.

Tollefson was drafted by new Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie in 2006, when McKenzie oversaw scouting for the Green Bay Packers. He also was on Oakland’s practice squad in 2007. Tollefson also visited with the Packers last week.

Tollefson, who grew up in the Bay area, follows Brandon Jacobs and Mario Manningham to the area. Jacobs and Manningham signed with the San Francisco 49ers in free agency.

The Giants have always enjoyed great depth at the position of D-Line, and with the development of Linval Joseph and the return of Marvin Austin from injury, the team had to decide where to spend some money.  As with all Giants leaving, we wish Dave the best for he and his family, and Thank Him for all that he has done for the team and the fans.