GMEN HQ
FanSided

Victor Cruz Contract: Trade, Cut, Restructure?

By Neal Lynch

Aug 9, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz (80) and New York Giants cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (21) talk during the second half against the Pittsburgh Steelers at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 9, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz (80) and New York Giants cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (21) talk during the second half against the Pittsburgh Steelers at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Will Victor Cruz return in 2016? Great question. It’s one that’s been asked every single day since the wideout announced he wouldn’t return in 2015.

Over the past week or so, we’ve been looking at potential NFL salary cap casualties at ‘need’ positions for the Giants, thanks to Spotrac.com. Though the Giants are at the top of the league in terms of salary cap space and all other NFC East teams are towards the bottom, Big Blue has some cap tied up in contracts that they’re getting little to no value from.

Live Feed

2023 NFL Mock Draft: Full 1st round with trades
2023 NFL Mock Draft: Full 1st round with trades /

With the First Pick

  • Former Lions cornerback Amani Oruwariye signs with New York GiantsSideLion Report
  • NFC East: Grading the team moves made in free agencyNFL Spin Zone
  • NFL rumors: 3 teams that need DeAndre Hopkins trade to contendFanSided
  • NFL Rumors: Jets may give No. 13 pick for No. 12, D-Hop and Odell Beckham Jr. updatesFanSided
  • NFL rumors: 1 team just pulled out of Odell Beckham Jr. race with latest moveFanSided

    • It’s almost an afterthought that the Giants will release injury-prone middle linebacker Jon Beason. Will Beatty’s future is a little more up in the air as his absence was sorely felt, but his injury history probably warrants a chat about contract restructuring. Then there’s Salsa King of the Big Apple: Victor Cruz.

    Cruz has the second largest cap hit in 2016 at $9,900,000. There’s an above average chance the Giants either trade or release the undrafted free agent out of UMass. If the G-Men trade or cut Victor before June 1st, they’ll take on $3.8 million in dead cap, but save $6.1 million. If the move comes after June 1st,  the Giants will save $8 million and only take on $1.9 million in 2016 dead cap and $3.8 million in 2017 dead cap.

    While some insist Cruz restructure his contract, others have reached the end of their rope, calling for the Giants to cut the one-time Pro Bowler. Seeing Cruz getting media coverage all over the place for non-football activities hasn’t helped. Victor was recently seen pitching a tent in the middle of a busy Manhattan street, angering drivers and holding up traffic just to get a photo. Has Victor’s charm worn off?

    I’m for restructuring Victor’s contract. I don’t think Cruz’s head has gotten so big that he can’t understand why the Giants wouldn’t want him to take a paycut. I have nightmarish visions of the Giants releasing Cruz and seeing him have a Pro Bowl season. He’s 29 years old but should be playing like a 27-year-old having missed nearly two seasons of hits. He won’t need to carry the team on his back like he did in 2012 and 2013. He’ll be a piece of the Super Bowl puzzle next season and could retire a Giants legend.

    Home/NY Giants News