New York Giants: Grading the returning free agent contracts
By Matt Clark
WR Cody Core
Special Teams ace Cody Core and the New York Giants announced that Core would be returning to the team on a two-year $4.7 million deal with $1 million of his contract being guaranteed. Last season Core led all Giants players in special teams tackles with eight total and six solo tackles.
While injuries to Golden Tate III, Corey Coleman, Sterling Shepard, Cody Latimer and other led Core to thrust into a backup wide receiver role last year that saw him catch three passes for 28 yards, the speedy wide receiver was signed to the extension for his special teams abilities rather than his abilities as a backup wideout.
Prior to playing with the Giants last season, Core was with the Cincinnati Bengals who selected him in the 6th round of the 2016 NFL Draft out of Ole Miss. Core would play three seasons with the Bengals, primarily as a special teams player, before being cut before the start of last season and signing with New York. He has 33 career receptions for 388 yards and a touchdown.
Core was the top kick off and punt coverage man on one of the top-rated kickoff and punt cover teams in the league. He played 62% of all of the Giants special teams plays last season. With new head coach Joe Judge’s background as a special teams coordinator, it is likely that he highly valued Core as a special teams ace.
While $4.7 million total and over $2 million annually seems like a lot of money for a backup wide receiver and special teams ace, it should be noted that the New England Patriots gave their perennial Pro Bowl special teams ace Matthew Slater a two-year $5.5 million extension. While Slater is undoubtedly a better player than Core is, at 34-years of age, he is also nine years older than Core.
The Giants announced that they have also agreed to terms with former Patriots special teams ace and former Olympic rugby player Nate Ebner. The terms of the deal are contingent on Ebner passing a physical, which cannot happen due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, so the details are yet to be announced but it is rumored to be a one-year deal.
It is clear that the Giants are willing to commit a decent amount of money towards assuring that they have a productive special teams unit. Given that the Core will be receiving nearly half a million dollars less annually than Matthew Slater, his deal seems to be proper market value for his position.