With the NFL Combine here, that means that the free agency window and draft are around the corner. But before the New York Giants can make any free-agent signings, they’ll have to clear some cap space so John Harbaugh and the front office can improve the roster.
Big Blue has around $7 million in cap space available right now, which is simply not enough if they want to retain players like Wan’Dale Robinson, Jermaine Eluemunor, and Cor’Dale Flott, and bring in players like Isaiah Likely and Tyler Linderbaum. The G-Men could also bring in other players on the market this offseason that could address several positional needs.
So, how do the Giants plan on creating space to make these moves during free agency? Well, they can certainly restructure high-value contracts like those of Brian Burns, Dexter Lawrence, and Andrew Thomas, which could allow for over $40 million in total projected cap space. They may also have to part ways with certain players whose contracts are eating up space, including likable veterans and even some team captains.
Giants team captain Bobby Okereke may be on the chopping block this offseason if they want to free up some space
The Athletic NFL Staff recently released an article about potential 2026 salary-cap cuts from every team. Dan Duggan of The Athletic wrote about Giants’ veteran linebacker Bobby Okereke, who, by cutting, could create $9 million in cap savings for New York while eating $5.5 million in dead money.
Big Blue can likely cut players like Devin Singletary, James Hudson III, and Graham Gano. Still, Okereke will be the toughest decision they will have to make, as he has been a captain for all three seasons he’s been in New York, but his performance has declined each season.
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The 29-year-old is coming off a 2025 campaign in which he totaled 143 tackles (78 solo), one sack, a fumble recovery, and two interceptions across 17 games with the G-Men, which, based on stats alone, does not look bad, but missing tackles, blowing assignments, and struggling with his gap coverage speak for themselves. So, if the Giants have the opportunity to save money to get an upgrade in free agency, why not?
A decision has to come before a $3 million roster bonus is due on March 13. So we’ll get a better understanding of how much money the G-Men will have to play with in free agency when Harbaugh and the Giants regime return from the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. Until then, they’ll use this time to find ways to improve the team before the 2026 season.