Prince Amukamara’s contract will expire after this season. The New York Giants shouldn’t wait to get an extension done.
Before his season ending injury last year it looked as if something really clicked for the 19th overall pick of the 2011 draft. In just 8 games Amukamara already set a career high with 3 interceptions, he had 11 passes defended (his previous career high was 14) and an impressive 45 tackles from his corner position.
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With Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie locked in for the forseeable future it would be wise to sure up his counterpart and secure a high quality duo of pass defenders before the contracts of Eli Manning and Jason Pierre-Paul eat up a considerate chunk of the salary cap.
Since Amukamara is coming off an injury shortened season and has only played a full 16 game schedule just once (2013) it shouldn’t take a mega contract to get him signed. Honestly it should take a rather modest contract to keep him in Giant’s blue for the next few years. If Giant’s GM Jerry Reese decides to let Amukamara play out his contract he is taking a risk.
Sep 25, 2014; Landover, MD, USA; New York Giants cornerback Prince Amukamara (20) runs the ball after an interception against the Washington Redskins during the second half at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
I expect Amukamara to pick up where he left off, as a matured corner who is more than willing to make tackles and plays the ball in the air extremely well. If he does that, he will be commanding a top flight contract on the free agent market and will likely be priced out of the Giant’s price range.
For comparison, Byron Maxwell formerly of the Seattle Seahawks, just signed a 6 year, $63 million dollar contract with the filthy bird Eagles . Maxwell had just 2 interceptions and 50 tackles last season. Prince did that in just 8 games. Teams will throw all kinds of reckless money at him that the Giant’s will not even consider matching. The free agent market is a ridiculous place where average players become paid like superstars. Amukamara is a very good young corner and he is still ascending.
Injury is a concern though when we discuss the Nebraska product. He has missed 22 games since coming into the league. This is another factor that will keep his price down, for the time being anyway.
With the safeties a work in progress in the Giant’s secondary, it would be wise to have corners that play at a high level and can do so for some time to come.
You can never have enough corners in the NFL. That is the exact reason why the Giant’s need to re-up Prince Amukamara’s contract sooner than later.