Without looking at redoing any deals, here are some players that can be cut
Name/ Salary/ Dead/ Savings
James Bradberry/ $21,863,889/ $9,727,778/ $12,136,111
Blake Martinez/ $14,025,000/ $5,500,000/ $8,525,000
Sterling Shepard/ $12,495,000/ $7,990,000/ $4,505,000
Kyle Rudolph/ $7,425,000/ $2,425,000/ $5,000,000
Riley Dixon/ $3,120,566/ $320,566/ $2,800,000
Darius Slayton/ $2,598,497/ $58,497/ $2,540,000
Devante Booker/ $3,125,000/ $1,000,000/ $2,125,000
$37,631,111
A couple other options would be to designate Shepard as post 6/1 cut. That kicks about $4M dead money to next year but increases savings by $4M.
Another option would be to try and trade Logan Ryan. Cutting him saves almost nothing, but if you can get a low round pick for him, that clears $7M in space.
Many on the above list either are going to be coming back from injury or underwhelmed so it won't be as painful to cut that much $$ if they choose to go the above route.
Realistically, there are probably significantly more cuts/transactions that need to happen to field a roster this year with a cap down $40M.
Realistically, there are probably significantly more cuts/transactions that need to happen to field a roster this year with a cap down $40M.
Correct. To clear $40 mill, sign draft picks and bring in replacements they probably have to clear $50 mill. It’s a good start and none of these cuts are really that painful. I may be in the minority but I don’t think Martinez is as big of a positive people think he is.
Kyle Rudolph/ $7,425,000/ $2,425,000/ $5,000,000
Riley Dixon/ $3,120,566/ $320,566/ $2,800,000
Just based on the cap hits alone, it seems like these have to happen too:
James Bradberry/ $21,863,889/ $9,727,778/ $12,136,111
Blake Martinez/ $14,025,000/ $5,500,000/ $8,525,000
A cheaper option can be found for:
Devante Booker/ $3,125,000/ $1,000,000/ $2,125,000
Which only leaves:
Darius Slayton/ $2,598,497/ $58,497/ $2,540,000
Agree on Martinez only because I think he can actually still play. I think Slayton is a guy you can easily replace. His route running and hands are both sub par.
Now, these guys might not accept those offers, in which case they get cut. But you kind of want to get rid of problem contracts, and those are both productive players with the caveat of Martinez' injury. I'd rather see the non-productive people get cut.
There is no easy way to do this. And very few should be saved from the scalpel. 2024 maybe the season they can start to be a decent team again.
Kyle Rudolph/ $7,425,000/ $2,425,000/ $5,000,000
Riley Dixon/ $3,120,566/ $320,566/ $2,800,000
Just based on the cap hits alone, it seems like these have to happen too:
James Bradberry/ $21,863,889/ $9,727,778/ $12,136,111
Blake Martinez/ $14,025,000/ $5,500,000/ $8,525,000
A cheaper option can be found for:
Devante Booker/ $3,125,000/ $1,000,000/ $2,125,000
Which only leaves:
Darius Slayton/ $2,598,497/ $58,497/ $2,540,000
I have no problem cutting all those guys.
Bradbury is tough too. A lot of dead money and you lose the potential draft pick that you would get if his contract expires and he signs elsewhere.
Also, if you cut Bradbury and Shep--two of the few good players--you really are looking at a potential 5 win season. Is that really giving Jones the best opportunity?
Giants really need a three-year plan.
Martinez and Bradberry may be sought after - even a 6th round pick is something
Bradbury is tough too. A lot of dead money and you lose the potential draft pick that you would get if his contract expires and he signs elsewhere.
Also, if you cut Bradbury and Shep--two of the few good players--you really are looking at a potential 5 win season. Is that really giving Jones the best opportunity?
Giants really need a three-year plan.
The should bite the bullet now to be a in a better position in 2023 than worried about giving Jones the best opportunity
You are not going to get $40M in savings only cutting people that will be out of the NFL next year. Some are going to be productive players who will just be making too much money while the team is rebuilding.
Cam Aker tore his at the start of the season and is playing already.
They can reach an injury settlement
Martinez and Bradberry may be sought after - even a 6th round pick is something
Yes. It depends on how much money is in base salary or signing bonus. If you trade someone, you are on the hook for the bonuses, the other team takes the salary.
Generally speaking guys with high base salaries and no bonuses aren't going to generate any cap savings, those are the guys to trade.
Trading or cutting Bradberry is the same cap hit according to spotrac.
link - ( New Window )
You are not going to get $40M in savings only cutting people that will be out of the NFL next year. Some are going to be productive players who will just be making too much money while the team is rebuilding.
They are not cutting 40M like this. Cutting Bradberry makes no sense. Its a hard to fill position that requires some
investment. Unless they are targeting Stingley, there would be no backup plan. They need to beef up Oline, LBs, and WRs without decimating other positions.
I like where this is heading.
Sadly I think a 2022 hit here is too much. 2023...fine
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to get anywhere close to cutting $40M off the cap without at least cutting Bradberry, Martinez, Rudolph and Shepard.
You are not going to get $40M in savings only cutting people that will be out of the NFL next year. Some are going to be productive players who will just be making too much money while the team is rebuilding.
They are not cutting 40M like this. Cutting Bradberry makes no sense. Its a hard to fill position that requires some
investment. Unless they are targeting Stingley, there would be no backup plan. They need to beef up Oline, LBs, and WRs without decimating other positions.
Given how Bradberry played most of last year, you could get similar production from a mid-tier FA.
If they can't find a way to generate a better pass rush, whoever is back there will suffer.
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is their difference between cutting someone and trading them?
Martinez and Bradberry may be sought after - even a 6th round pick is something
Yes. It depends on how much money is in base salary or signing bonus. If you trade someone, you are on the hook for the bonuses, the other team takes the salary.
Generally speaking guys with high base salaries and no bonuses aren't going to generate any cap savings, those are the guys to trade.
Trading or cutting Bradberry is the same cap hit according to spotrac. link - ( New Window )
Thank you!
Bradbury is tough too. A lot of dead money and you lose the potential draft pick that you would get if his contract expires and he signs elsewhere.
Also, if you cut Bradbury and Shep--two of the few good players--you really are looking at a potential 5 win season. Is that really giving Jones the best opportunity?
Giants really need a three-year plan.
You can spread Shep's $8M hit over two years if designated post 6/1. That would add $4M savings to 2022 but then you are kicking $4M dead cap to 2023.
I’m just hoping to see major improvement in OLine and Jones
But as good as Williams is, if you're rebuilding, you're rebuilding. He probably has to go.
But as Branch Rickey once said to Ralph Kiner after he led the NL in HRs and wanted a raise "we finished last with you; we can finish last without you."
IMO the Giants have 3 players on their current roster that are long term foundation pieces if they remain healthy, Andrew Thomas, McKinney and Toney. I hope everyone else is available for the right price.
Certainly tough decisions have to be made with respect to the salary cap. With the exception of Bradberry and Booker, I agree with the list BH28 provided. I recommend we keep Booker and cut C Nick Gates. I love Nick Gates but he may not be able to play next season.
Based on recent game production, game availability (player health) I'd look to try and extend the contracts of James Bradberry (Age 29) for 1 year and Leonard Williams (Age 28) for 2 years to lower the AAV and cap for 2022. I think these are quality players to keep in the locker room who have a higher probability of providing solid game play up to their age 30 season. Reassess if you'd want them on the roster once they play out their contracts. I know there has been talk about the perceived drop in play regrading Bradberry and Williams after the 2021 season. I really think the drop in play had more to do with the defensive game plan (soft zone, "bend don't break" scheme - which was infuriating to watch) than the individual player's ability/skill set.
The players that I'd be more incline to cut are WR Kenny Golladay and CB Adoree Jackson. They are often injured and certainly didn't meet or even come close to meeting expectations last season. I think these contracts reflect the level of desperation the franchise was facing heading into the 2021 season.
Players I'd like to bring back on cheap, 1-year prove it deals are:
IOL Kyle Murphy (Age 24)
WR John Ross (Age 27)
WR Dante Pettis (Age 27)
ILB Jaylon Smith (Age 27 - His knee does concern me)
I would also like to see the Giants re-sign DT Austin Johnson on a 3-year deal with little dead cap money after the second year.
Based on the the player evaluations by JS, BD and the new staff, it would be interesting to see if they opt to offer contract extensions to players like Dexter Lawrence, Julian Love, and dare I say Saquon Barkley.
Yeah, unfortunately that is correct. I hope the new coaching staff will get better production out of them. Thanks again for your post.
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is their difference between cutting someone and trading them?
Martinez and Bradberry may be sought after - even a 6th round pick is something
Yes. It depends on how much money is in base salary or signing bonus. If you trade someone, you are on the hook for the bonuses, the other team takes the salary.
Generally speaking guys with high base salaries and no bonuses aren't going to generate any cap savings, those are the guys to trade.
Trading or cutting Bradberry is the same cap hit according to spotrac. link - ( New Window )
Wouldn't it be best to trade Bradberry then?
Exactly! Some players may accept paycuts to stick around ( Slayton, Rudolph, Gates, Shepard), and others might restructure/ extend to lower this season’s and future average annual salaries ( Bradbury, Martinez, Williams, Adoree). Maybe not all but some. With the possible exception of Rudolph, the rest could be significant contributors in 2023 when hopefully we’ll be in a better position to compete, and with a rising cap, contracts agreed to now may seem like bargains in the future.
As much as I’d hate it, that was the option, in addition to the ones mentioned, that I was going to suggest.
That and the other moves get to $47/48M and one of the 3rd rd picks for a DE/ or a 1 yr prove it vet, or both( I prefer the all in youth move).
You mean Blake Martinez who played in 2.5 games, is coming off an ACL, and is due to make $14M in his walk year? He is one of the most obvious cuts out there. Barring he agrees to take a paycut if the Giants go that route. But the point of this excercise is to look at players underperforming their contract due to injury or production that can save the Giants money. These aren't foundational pieces that are going to contribute to the next playoff window in a few years due to age, price, skill, or a combo of all of the above.
Don't forget the Giants have a QB on a rookie salary, if you have to pay a QB $20M/yr in 2023 you cant afford these guys anyway.
If they cut Martinez, they can draft Lloyd or Dean at 5 or 7.
I really don’t know anything about these names , or any others , other than U/Michigan players, other than what is mentioned on BBI about them.
My point being, imo, we can move on from about 4 of them and likely draft their replacements in the first 4 rounds and still draft 2 OL.
Of course trading Bradberry would help a lot.
$21.8M for James Bradberry. Good CB - but holy sh#t on a shingle.
The Giants are very unlikely to compete this season. The sooner they rip the band-aid off the better. I love Martinez, but they played with out him last year, it hurt, but they survived. His contract ends this year. He is not likely part of the rebuild and doubtful he would get re-signed for 2023. Bradberry was not as good as 2020 and that may have been scheming. But at 29, I do not see him as part of the future. They Giants do have a couple young guys and Love that can take his spot. That is near $21 million on just those two cuts/trades.
Shep should never have been restructured. Rudolph is not part of the future. They can get a UDFA to punt. Maybe they can trade Barkley and/or Jones. There is a chance they can trade Leo Williams but I doubt it. Not many teams want to pay a DT/DE $19 mill. Likewise Jackson, but he is still very young and could be part of the future.
IMHO, there are only a handful of players, all young, that should not be considered tradeable or cut.
Just consider 2022 as a reset. This is a write off year. They may go 0-17.
The big cap savings comes via trade only this year for KG.
Logan supposedly is a big cap savings if cut before a certain date.
Shep is an 8.5M cap savings if designated as a post June 1 cut.
Leonard an option for restructure, KG too. There are quite a few ways to get 40M shaved off the cap.
It looks like if he was cut post June 1st, it would save $7.75 mill.
They need to see where the two Post June 1st cuts save the most money.
They want a read on DJ. He said they will eat dead money to create cap room. What is the fastest way to get a read on DJ? Its to create cap room and sign more vet FA IOL than it is to go too heavy in the draft on O-Lineman who even though some may be day 1 starters almost all come with a level of learning curve.
Last years signing period further showed that the IOL market is more favorable in FA than the tackles. Maybe they try to for 2 vet IOL in FA (not marginal starters like Omemeh either). Then follow up with an OT in the draft since the draft is deep at OT this year. Also an OT high in the draft is usually better value than an IOL if the grades match up