I sure hope the New York Giants have been attending their yoga classes, because they're going to need all the flexibility they can get with the upcoming cap gymnastics they're about to perform.
The G-Men currently have $6.9 million in cap space to play around with this offseason, and that’s even with the $20 million cap jump from 2025 to ’26 already factored in. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on who you ask, New York also has an impressive 27 upcoming free agents (21 unrestricted, two restricted, and four exclusive rights).
That’s half an NFL roster’s worth of decisions. Fortunately, there are really only three names of the bunch worth monitoring closely: offensive tackle Jermaine Eluemunor, cornerback Cor'Dale Flott, and wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson. And of this lot, Robinson's status is the most compelling, thanks to his breakout 2025 season and Jaxson Dart's potential second-year leap.
The 25-year-old is expected to cash in this offseason to the tune of a four-year, $70 million contract, which puts the G-Men in the pickliest of pickles. Do you re-sign the 5-foot-8 slot receiver for $17 million per season? Or do you let him walk for nothing and hope you either sign someone else or draft his replacement?
There is a third option -- they could franchise tag him -- but once you see that number, it’ll be clear that’s not really an option. According to Spotrac, the going rate for a franchise tag on a receiver in 2026 is $28.82 million. In this economy?
Franchise tag math makes Wan’Dale Robinson future complicated in New York
With a hard no likely coming from the franchise tag side of the aisle, it all boils down to Robinson's asking price. He'll get a fair shake -- ascending receivers coming off 92-catch, 1,014-yard seasons are in high demand.
He's publicly stated he wants to return to North Jersey, but at what cost? Is $17 million a season his floor? Would he be willing to take a hometown discount to work with new head coach John Harbaugh? There's a reality where a bidding war breaks out, and his AAV climbs over $20 mil. If that's the case, it's hard to see general manager Joe Schoen justify bringing him back.
Additionally, Big Blue needs to be thinking ahead with Malik Nabers' potential massive extension. And they also just gave Darius Slayton three years and $36 million last offseason. Add Robinson at $17 to $20 million per year on top of that, then prepare for a Nabers payday, and suddenly you’re dedicating too much cap space to one position group.
Schoen doesn’t have the best history when it comes to letting players walk in free agency for nothing. It almost always blows up in his face. But unless he can talk Robinson into a reasonable AAV, this feels like a walk-away situation with a compensatory pick waiting in 2027.