New New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen will have his work cut out to get under the salary cap in his first offseason at the helm
There’s no polite way to put this; Joe Schoen is going to need to navigate the New York Giants out of salary cap hell.
As a pivotal offseason, one that should begin an overdue rebuild of a roster that’s lost double-digit games each of the past five years, begins, the Giants currently sit approximately $5.74 million over the cap in 2022.
Schoen acknowledged what he’s up against, from a cap perspective, during his introductory press conference as New York Giants general manager.
“We need to fix the cap over the next couple years,” Schoen said Wednesday.
Schoen is put in a difficult position, with limited upside this offseason, because of moves made by former general manager Dave Gettleman and the previous regime. For example, the New York Giants converted all of Solder’s salary in 2022 into a signing bonus, which in turn tied up $4 million in cap space that would trigger a $4 million dead-money charge if he were released.
But, there are some moves that can be made, and players who can be released, to create additional cap space.
Five moves alone can give the New York Giants an additional $11.9 million in cap space, which would position New York to be $5.47 million under the cap
Here’ are five players the New York Giants can cut to create some cap space
WR Sterling Shepard
$4.05 million saved
Sterling Shepard is the longest-tenured New York Giants player, but his time in East Rutherford might be coming to a disappointing close, after tearing his Achilles against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 15.
Shepard is set to count $12.49 million against the cap in 2022, but releasing the veteran wide receiver would create $4.05 million in cap space, while triggering a $7.99 million dead-money charge.
After the Giants selected Kadarius Toney in Round 1 of the 2021 NFL Draft, it seemed a matter of time until he replaced Shepard as New York’s primary slot receiver. Following an inconsistent rookie season, Toney’s time appears to be 2022.
TE Kyle Rudolph
$5 million saved
The New York Giants signed Kyle Rudolph last season, but the veteran tight end came up woefully short of even the most modest expectations.
Rudolph caught caught only 26 passes for 257 yards and one touchdown in his first season in a New York Giants uniform.
Between Rudolph’s lack of production and the fact that the New York Giants are likely moving into a rebuild, moving on from the veteran might prove prudent.
If the New York Giants release Rudolph, it would create $5 million in new cap space, while triggering a $2.42 million dead-money charge.
While the tight end position will potentially be in flux for the Giants in 2022, especially if Evan Engram signs elsewhere in free agency, Rudolph’s cap savings might prove more valuable than his on-field impact.
LB TJ Brunson
The New York Giants chose T.J. Brunson in the seventh-round of the 2020 NFL Draft, out of South Carolina, but to date the former Gamecock has made little impact at the NFL level.
Brunson has yet to appear in an NFL game, and given the dire cap situation the Giants find themselves in, with few options to create significant spending flexibility, it would make sense to move on.
If the New York Giants release Brunson, they would create $874,000 in cap space.
DL David Moa
David Moa appeared in four games as a rotational defensive lineman for the New York Giants, but was never more than a depth player.
After finishing last season with three total tackles, it wouldn’t be the least bit surprising to see the New York Giants move on, which would create $825,000 in new cap space.
DE Niko Lalos
Niko Lalos became a bit of a fan-favorite down the stretch of the 2020 season, thanks to a strong finish. However, he was rarely more than a rotational depth player during the 2021 campaign.
If the New York Giants release Lalos this offseason, the move would open up $705,000 in cap space. In an offseason where every dollar counts, it wouldn’t be surprised if Lalos is cut.