The NY Giants restructured wide receiver Sterling Shepard’s contract Wednesday, but the move could force some difficult decisions next offseason
The NY Giants restructured wide receiver Sterling Shepard’s contract Wednesday, somewhat surprisingly making a move that creates cap space in 2021 but pushes the team’s financial obligations a year down the road.
According to ESPN’s Field Yates, the NY Giants converted $5.985 million of Shepard’s salary into a signing bonus, which creates $3.99 million in cap space this season, but pushes his cap number up by $1.995 million in 2022.
The Giants converted $5.985M of WR Sterling Shepard’s base salary into a signing bonus, creating $3.99M in cap space.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) September 8, 2021
Sterling’s cap charges go up by $1.995M in 2022-2023, while New York gets 2021 space.
Wednesday’s move is a bit surprising, because it seemed that first-round pick Kadarius Toney could wind up pushing for Shepard’s starting slot receiver job — and roster spot, as a cheaper option in 2022, but now the NY Giants will be increasing how much they owe the 28-year-old next season.
Upon his arrival as NY Giants general manager in 2018, Dave Gettleman repeatedly chided the fact that in order to build out the roster he desired he first needed to clear out the cap space left over from moves made by his predecessor, Jerry Reese.
Following Wednesday’s move, the NY Giants now have approximately $6.91 million in cap space in 2021, but are approximately $6.038 million over the projected salary cap in 2022.
Next year’s cap could potentially rise before the 2022 league-year begins this winter, but the moves to create spending flexibility this season could force some difficult decisions this offseason.
Matt Lombardo is FanSided’s National NFL Insider and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday. Email Matt: Matt.Lombardo@FanSided.com.