4 veterans NY Giants should replace in 2021 NFL Draft

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New York Giants offensive coordinator Jason Garrett fist bumps wide receiver Golden Tate (Image via The Record) /

2) WR Golden Tate

The cap space the NY Giants can create by moving on from Golden Tate is more valuable than the production the veteran wide receiver has given on the field the past two seasons.

Tate, 32, was benched for one game last season after showboating in the end zone during a loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night Football, caught just 35 of his 51 targets for 388 yards and a pair of touchdowns in 12 games last season. He also dropped two passes as NY Giants quarterbacks had a passer rating of just 95.9 when targeting him.

Set to count $10.85 million against the cap in 2021, the NY Giants can free up $6.14 million in cap space this season, while absorbing a $4.7 million dead-money charge, as well as an additional $6 million in 2022 with just $2.35 million in dead money added to next year’s cap number.

Given Tate’s diminished role in offensive coordinator Jason Garrett’s scheme — he finished fourth in receptions, fourth in yards, and tied for second in touchdowns — along with his age and hefty price tag for an organization up against the cap, the Giants would be wise to use those resources elsewhere and replace the veteran with one of the top receivers in a historically deep and talented draft class at the position.

Possible NFL Draft targets:

Ja’Marr Chase (LSU), DeVonta Smith (Alabama), Jaylen Waddle (Alabama), Rashod Bateman (Minnesota), Kadarius Toney (Florida)

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