The NY Giants will have limited cap space this offseason, still have plenty of holes to fill, but some players will likely be moving on as a result
The NY Giants could be staring down the barrel at a roster overhaul this offseason, especially if New York misses the NFL Playoffs for the fifth consecutive season, but with limited cap space to fill the roster’s myriad needs.
Following this season, the Giants will be approximately $8.895 million over the cap, facing the third-worst salary cap situation in the NFL, meaning significant changes will be made.
Because the NY Giants must dig out of a significant salary cap hole, several underachieving players will likely be released in order to create spending flexibility, or not re-signed once their contract expires at season’s end.
Here are seven NY Giants players who will be looking for a new home in 2022:
S – Jabrill Peppers
This was the final year of Jabrill Peppers’ contract, after the NY Giants picked up his fifth-year option last offseason, and unfortunately for the former first-round pick it was cut short due to injury.
When Peppers ruptured his ACL against the Carolina Panthers, it likely ended his tenure with the NY Giants.
Acquired as part of the trade that sent Odell Beckham Jr. to the Cleveland Browns prior to the 2019 season, Peppers produced 196 total tackles over 32 games with the NY Giants, along with 3.5 sacks, 15 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
However, even before Peppers’ injury, his playing time steadily diminished this season, especially after Xavier McKinney emerged as a difference-maker in the secondary opposite veteran Logan Ryan.
In all likelihood, Peppers will have to settle for a one-year “prove-it” deal in free agency, but given the NY Giants’ limited cap space, he will likely find a better offer elsewhere.
OT – Nate Solder
Based on his play this season, it is entirely fair to question whether Solder will even be in the NFL next season, instead perhaps choosing to retire.
However, even if Solder opts to return for his 11th NFL season in 2022, he’ll most likely be playing elsewhere.
Through the first nine weeks of this season, Solder has allowed three sacks and 27 quarterback pressures.
Because the NY Giants are so cap-strapped, and will likely be aiming to rebuild the majority of the offensive line in front of quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Saquon Barkley, moving on from Solder likely improves both situations.
Releasing Solder in 2022 would create $10 million in cap space while triggering a $4 million dead-money charge. For an organization with so many holes to fill, and given how poorly Solder has played this season, this seems like the most likely outcome.
LB – Lorenzo Carter
In some ways Lorenzo Carter has been a disappointment as he has yet to reach his lofty potential coming out of Georgia as a third-round pick, and in others it is fair to wonder just how much of that potential was robbed by a ruptured Achilles he suffered last season.
Regardless, Carter has been virtually nonexistent in the NY Giants’ front seven this season.
Through the fist nine weeks, Carter hasn’t produced a sack, has logged just 20 total tackles. Perhaps more disappointing is the fact that Carter has provided next to nothing as a pass-rusher, with just eight total pressures.
For much of the Dave Gettleman’s tenure, the NY Giants have attempted to cobble together a pass-rush composed primarily of mid-round draft picks and bargain free agents. Carter’s failures underscore the risks of such a philosophy.
EDGE – Oshane Ximines
Speaking of third-round pass-rushers who have failed to meet expectations, Oshane Ximines has followed Lorenzo Carter, in that regard.
The NY Giants had high hopes for Ximines over the past two seasons, but injuries have dogged the former Old Dominion Product’s early career.
Ximines was actually a healthy scratch two weeks ago against the Las Vegas Raiders, on the heels of going the first eight weeks without a sack.
Both second-round pick Azeez Ojulari, and rookie Quincey Roche have significantly outplayed Ximines this season, proving he is expendable.
There’s always a chance the NY Giants bring Ximines back, for depth purposes. However, cutting Ximines would trigger a $209,195 dead-money charge, while freeing up $995,000 in cap space. In an offseason where every dollar under the cap will be precious for the NY Giants, freeing up nearly an additional $1 million may be far more valuable than Ximines has been on the field.
OL – Billy Price
The NY Giants’ preseason trade for Billy Price has not worked out.
Since arriving prior to the season in a deal that sent B.J. Hill to the Cincinnati Bengals, Price has been pressed into action at center, and it has gone poorly.
Price has already allowed one sack and 13 total quarterback pressures.
Regardless of whether Nick Gates is able to return next season, following a horrific leg injury, the NY Giants desperately need an upgrade over Price at the center position.
TE – Evan Engram
Evan Engram‘s breakout performance against the Las Vegas Raiders notwithstanding, it would seem that both the NY Giants and their former first-round pick would each benefit from a change of scenery.
For much of this season, the NY Giants have struggled mightily to get Engram involved in the game-plan, save for finally stretching the field vertically with the Pro Bowl tight end two weeks ago.
Engram is averaging 8.6 yards per reception, and while Daniel Jones has a 102.5 passer rating when targeting him, Engram has just two touchdowns this season.
It would likely be a struggle for the NY Giants to fit a long-term Engram contract under the cap in 2022, if they’re even interested in bringing him back to begin with.
DE – Austin Johnson
Austin Johnson has provided a nice boost to the pass rush this season, and has already produced three sacks.
In a perfect world, the NY Giants would keep Johnson in place along a defensive line that includes Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams, and has been relatively disruptive so far this season.
Johnson has done his part, producing 15 additional pressures, en route to a 65.4 pass-rush grade from Pro Football Focus.
But, there’s a good chance that Johnson could find a better deal than the NY Giants are capable of — and should offer the veteran pass-rusher this offseason.