NFL Salary Cap Casualties: 9 Wide Receivers Who Could Be Giants
By Neal Lynch
At first glance, the New York Giants don’t have a dearth of wide receivers, but adding one or two targets in free agency of the draft would make Big Blue a Super Bowl favorite. Of course, there’s Odell Beckham, Jr. at the top of the heap and everyone else way down below. Victor Cruz hasn’t played a down in a regular season game in (what will be) almost two years. Rueben Randle is an unrestricted free agent who many believe won’t return. Dwayne Harris wasn’t expected to be a secondary or tertiary threat, yet had four games of 5 catches or more. However, he disappeared when the team needed him most. Hakeem Nicks had to be added to the roster late in the season and was virtually non-existent.
You might think going after a guy who’s 30+ and just been cut is not an advisable move. I got two words for ya: James Jones. That still hurt?
Here’s a look at potential NFL salary cap casualties at the wide receiver position who might end up with the Giants.
Marques Colston (New Orleans Saints)
Age: Will be 33
2016 Cap Hit: $5,900,000
Likeliness of Trade / Release: A
If Traded or Cut: $2.7M in 2016 dead cap ($3.2M savings)
Saints have the third least salary cap space available and will probably try to restructure Drew Brees’ contract to bring down his league-leading salary cap hit in 2016. New Orleans is about $6 million over the limit.
Colston has surpassed the 1,000 receiving yards mark six times in his career, but has failed to do so in the last three seasons despite coming close in 2013 and 2014. Last season was his worst as he fell to the fourth best target behind tight end Benjamin Watson and had less catches than running back Mark Ingram who missed a good chunk of the season.
Still, Colston’s size (6 foot 4 inches, 225 pounds) would come in handy on jump balls and on mismatches in spread sets.
Greg Jennings (Miami Dolphins)
Age: Will be 33
2016 Cap Hit: $5,500,000
Likeliness of Trade / Release: A
If Traded or Cut: $1.5M in 2016 dead cap ($4M savings)
After three straight 1,000 yard seasons from 2008-2010, Jennings hasn’t surpassed 70 catches in the five seasons since and only totaled 1 touchdown in five starts and a career low 38 targets last season. I don’t see the immediate appeal, but having a veteran presence could be a nice short-term boost.
Andre Roberts (Washington Redskins)
Age: 28
2016 Cap Hit: $5,000,000
Likeliness of Trade / Release: A
If Traded or Cut:
- Pre 6/1: $2M in 2016 dead cap ($3M savings)
- Post 6/1: $1M in 2016 dead cap ($4M savings), $1M in 2017 dead cap
Not sure why Andre commands so much money, but he appears to be a decent #3 or #4 option. With Beckham at 1, Cruz at 2, Harris at 3, Nicks possibly at #4, and Randle maybe gone, I don’t know how he fits in. In the two seasons he started in Arizona, he saw a ton of targets, but not many receptions.
Dwayne Bowe (Cleveland Browns)
Age: Will be 32
2016 Cap Hit: $8,000,000
Likeliness of Trade / Release: A+
If Traded: $1.75M in 2016 dead cap ($6.25M savings)
If Cut: $4.6M in 2016 dead cap ($3.4M savings)
The 2010 Pro Bowler only played in seven games for the Browns last season with zero starts, five catches and 53 yards on 13 targets. With Cleveland attempting to move in a new direction, Bowe will have to find a new home at a substantially lower price.
Vincent Jackson (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Age: 33
2016 Cap Hit: $12,209,777
Likeliness of Trade / Release: B
If Traded or Cut: $2.432M in 2016 dead cap ($9,777,777 savings)
I can’t hide my bias on Jackson; Dude needs to be on the Giants roster. The three-time Pro Bowler is 6 feet 5 inches, 241 pounds and is the big body Eli can rely on. Problem is the Bucs have a bunch of room under the cap to re-sign him. Sure, he only stated nine games last season, but he had four straight 1,000 yard campaigns prior. I don’t think Big Blue would expect those kind of numbers, but clutch third down conversions and red zone touchdowns would go a long way in getting back to the Super Bowl.