Should New York Giants cut Brandon Marshall, DRC?

Big Blue’s new general manager Dave Gettleman has plenty of work to do this offseason.

The New York Giants posted a franchise-worst 13 losses in 2017 and have since assembled a new front office and coaching staff.

Despite one of the worst seasons in franchise history, the G-Men will have plenty of talent returning next season. The Giants are just one year removed from an 11-5 record and a postseason berth. Ten-of-11 starters on the defensive side of the ball returned this past season.

Injuries, negligent offseason personnel decisions, and poor coaching all played a factor in New York’s down year. But changes for the Giants are needed at all levels.

Gettleman fired vice president of player evaluation Marc Ross and waived starting right tackle Bobby Hart within a week of taking over New York’s front office. The Giants have multiple personnel decisions to make and with a tighter cap space this offseason, some significant names could be on the chopping block.

The offensive line remains New York’s top priority, but questions linger in Big Blue’s secondary and receiving corps.

Who Will Get The Gettleman Axe?

The Giants new general manager inherits a better financial situation than the one he joined in Carolina in 2013. But he is still likely to make some notable personnel decisions ahead of free agency next month.

Gettleman released Panthers star receiver Steve Smith and longtime running back DeAngelo Williams while fixing Carolina’s salary cap issues. It’s unlikely he will release a player with the equivalent of Smith’s history in New York, but then again only one player on Big Blue’s roster has a Hall of Fame résumé, Eli Manning.

Both Gettleman and head coach Pat Shurmur have said Manning will be back in 2018, but that doesn’t answer who will be getting the axe this offseason.

ESPN’s Jordan Raanan mentions Gettleman’s tough decisions with wide receiver Brandon Marshall and cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie when analyzing New York’s salary cap.

Paul Schwartz of the New York Post also lists the veteran receiver and defensive back when writing about players “in danger of getting the call.” Schwartz also includes wide receiver and return man Dwayne Harris, guard John Jerry, and second-year cornerback Eli Apple among the potential cut list.

Apple is likely the safest of the five due to his contract and upside potential. The 6-foot-1, 201-pound corner showed plenty of promise in his rookie season, but let down his teammates and fans with his lack of effort in year two. Unless the Giants try to void Apple’s guaranteed money due to his one-game suspension, cutting him would cost Big Blue $477,468 against their salary cap, according to Schwartz.

With a new coaching staff in place, Gettleman would be wise to see if the 22-year-old has learned from his mistakes.

Reese’s Failed Experiment

While Giants fans can hope Jerry Reese’s reach of Apple in the first-round of 2016 NFL Draft works out in the long run, the Brandon Marshall experiment has run its course.

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The idea of adding Marshall to Odell Beckham Jr. and Sterling Shepard sounded appealing last offseason, but that was before Big Blue fans knew Reese would abandon the offensive line.

The Giants signed the eight-time 1,000-yard receiver to a two-year deal during the early free agency period. He went down with a season-ending ankle injury the same week as Beckham, leaving New York’s receiving corps short-handed.

The Giants would save $5.1 million on the salary cap by moving on from Marshall. At the very least, Big Blue should see if the 12-year veteran would be willing to take a pay cut.

Reese clearly thought the Giants could win with Manning and a cast of star receivers, but with no offensive line or ground game, that experiment failed quickly.

If Marshall is not willing to take a pay cut, the G-Men could cut the veteran receiver and try to find a cheaper option in free agency or the draft.

The Giants should also look to move on from Harris this offseason. The 30-year receiver and returner is coming off season-ending foot surgery and has dealt with multiple injuries since joining the team in 2015.

Big Blue would save $2.5 million by cutting Harris. The Giants return man already took a pay cut last offseason and will likely have to do so again if he wants to stay in New York.

Why It Make Sense To Keep DRC

Cutting Harris and Marshall may be an easy decision for Gettleman, but deciding Rodgers-Cromartie’s future with the franchise should be far more difficult.

The Giants can save $6.5 million on their salary cap by cutting the 10-year veteran. The two-time Pro Bowl cornerback earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2016, and “quietly” had a productive season for the G-Men in 2017, according to Pro Football Focus’ Ryan Smith.

Rodgers-Cromartie understands it’s a business but hopes to remain with Big Blue this offseason, via New Jersey Advanced Media.

"“I would definitely love to be back if that’s the case. But I know it’s a business. I know they view me as being old and whatnot, but I’m not worried about that. I’ll let the chips fall where they fall.”"

The best case scenario would be for the two sides to come together on a reasonable pay cut.

The G-Men could surely use DRC’s talent under new defensive coordinator James Bettcher, who is known for heavily relying on the nickel formation.

Rodgers-Cromartie is still New York’s best slot cornerback despite turning 32-years-old this offseason.

With cornerback Ross Cockrell set to test free agency and Apple’s development still in question, it only makes sense for the Giants to hold onto DRC.

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