Giants can’t allow prestigious honor to overshadow $40 million reality check

The 2025 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award nomination for Bobby Okereke is a well-deserved honor. It highlights his meaningful work with the Boys & Girls Clubs of New Jersey and his dedication to giving back, making him the perfect representative of the G-Men for the league’s most-coveted off-field distinction.

For a player long praised as a leader in the locker room and the community, this recognition is a testament to the kind of impact he’s had beyond the sidelines.

But while the silhouette on the back of the helmet looks nice, the 2025 season tells a different story. Financially, Okereke carries a big cap hit of just under $14.5 million in 2026, and in a season where production has dipped, and effort has felt inconsistent at best, that number starts to feel more like a burden than a badge of honor.

With the G-Men currently projecting only about $17.3 million in cap space heading into the offseason -- before any contract restructures or cap cuts -- that kind of load could handcuff any real attempt at a much-needed roster overhaul.

Combine that money crunch with the reality that several other players -- linebacker Micah McFadden and receiver Wan’Dale Robinson are due for extensions -- and suddenly, Okereke’s goodwill doesn't look as bulletproof as it once did when they signed him to a four-year, $40 million deal in 2023. If the front office wants to clear space to build around its home-grown youth, releasing Okereke might be one of the smartest moves they can make.

Walter Payton Man of the Year honor can’t hide Bobby Okereke’s on-field drop-off

If the Giants move on from Okereke after the season, they’d eat about $5.5 million in dead cap but free up $9 million in space. With how tight things are financially heading into free agency, that kind of savings might be too hard to pass up, especially with the 29-year-old showing obvious signs of decline.

According to Pro Football Focus, the seven-year pro is having his worst season since 2020 with a brutal 53.3 overall grade. That puts him 63rd out of an eligible 84 linebackers. That just won't cut it.

However, it's not just the advanced stats that suggest the Giants should move on from him. The eye test is saying so, as well. Okereke looks flat-out lost this year. He's missing tackles, blowing assignments, and is struggling with his gap coverage. While those struggles are alarming in their own right, the most disturbing issue has been his lack of effort.

The tackle-everything-in-sight linebacker is apparently on hiatus, while this new version takes over for the time being. It's a shame, honestly. The former Indianapolis Colts standout was brought in as the defensive leader of an up-and-coming group. But it seems like all this losing has taken a toll on his ability and attitude.

The Giants can honor everything he’s done off the field and still admit it’s time to move on from him on it. Sentiment can’t shape the roster this offseason, not with the cap crunch they’re staring down and the number of key decisions looming. If the team’s serious about building around its young core, Okereke’s contract becomes an obvious place to start trimming.