Playing Giants GM This Offseason
The only thing harder than being a franchise QB is finding a franchise QB; so a year after John Mara spent upwards of 200 million to go from worst to first on defense, he has tasked Jerry Reese with finding Eli's successor. A 2-3 year endeavor, anything can happen when looking for the next franchise QB and that scale can range from the Texans to the Packers. Eli regressed greatly from accuracy issues to being unable to extend the play. Too many times he hit a receiver in the feet or gave up on the play entirely. I think if he ever did take off running, cobwebs would come out of his ankles.
Ideally, the Giants would like to find #TheSuccessor quickly and then let Eli's 'back nine' coincide with their new QBs developmental years. That's a big IF and a failed experiment as far as Ryan Nassib is concerned. All while finding a top tier talent at sports hardest position, Jerry still has to establish, develop and maintain the rest of the roster. Jerry's job is not easy nor fun, but what is fun is telling someone what to do. So without further ado, lets all tell Jerry how to do his job.
1. Cap Casualties
The next great QB isn't walking through that door today and John Mara knows that. He is also aware of the vacuum that will be left when Eli does leave. Smart money would be to fill out the roster and have it QB ready and made for that inevitable transfer day. It all starts with trimming that fat and adding to the bottom line. This offseason, the Giants had $22 million BEFORE they cut Victor Cruz and Rashad Jennings. Now that Cruz and Jennings are gone, the Giants received cap savings of 7.4m and 2.5m respectively. This brings their grand total to 26.9m AFTER their draft class salaries are deducted. There are two more cuts the Giants can make:
1. Shane Vereen: cap saving-3.7m
Vereen came from New England as the supposed change of pace back but that never came to fruition as SV played in only 5 games and was used sparingly at that. Shane has been a disappointment at roughly $950K every time he touched the ball this season. Cut him.
2. J.T. Thomas: cap saving-3m
The highest paid linebacker and the most disappointing, the Giants were collecting LBs hoping someone would stick but J.T. isn't the sticker. His cap savings could do wonders in the open market.
These two additional cap casualties along with their 2 departed offensive stars brings their overall cap room to 33.6m
2. Unrestricted Free Agents
Time to discuss the 9 finger elephant in the room. JPP was on a 'prove it' deal the year before his infamous fireworks accident and has been on incentive based deals in the 2 seasons since (2 seasons already, wow time flies). Now Jason and the Giants (new band name, I call it) are reportedly at a stalemate with JPP expecting roughly $15 mil a year for 5 or more years (think in the neighborhood of $70m+ guaranteed) but the Giants feel that JPP may be missing something (no pun intended). At 27, the Giants are ironically trying to get younger and may end up calling JPPs bluff and rolling the dice on youngsters like Romeo or Owa. Bold Prediction: JPP calls the Giants bluff and he signs with the Cowboys for 5 years at $60m+ guaranteed).
Other Giants that will follow that symbrachydactyly coward out the door:
Larry Donnell
Mark Herzlich
William Beatty
Josh Johnson
Bobby Rainey
Ryan Nassib
3. Resign Free Agents
Some Giants should've been tossed overboard on Odell's boat (Bobby Rainey) while others had ranging from above par to stellar performances all season. Per usual, some G-men were taken out due to injury and the young players stepped into their increased roles and deliver. Below are some of those that will resign.
Keenan Robinson resigns for 1 year at 2.4m
Marshall Newhouse reprises his original role as swing tackle for 1 year at 1.6m
Leon Hall resigns for 1 year at 1.5m. He performed well while splitting slot duties.
Zak DeOssie-a staple in New York resigns for 3 years at 3.6m
Robbie Gould- waaayyyyy too much kicker drama for one season, they don't want to open that up again. Resign Robbie for 1m with ease. and quietly.
Kelvin Sheppard- 900K; Coty Sensabaugh- 800K; Trevin Wade- 800K.
Jon Hank finally off his rookie contract expects a big payday. He will however, offer big blue a hometown discount and sign 4 years at 18m.
After resigning more than half their free agents, the Giants salary cap drops from 33.6m to 18.9m.
3. ReArrange The Line
@Eflow_74 Be Like... @Giants #CmonMan #revolvingdoor #giants #gmen pic.twitter.com/Xf7f7VEi4t
— oNassttyy (@oNassttyy) February 16, 2017
Ereck Flowers was drafted 9th overall in the 2015 draft and although being named 'most improved tackle', most fans can't wait to get rid of him. He was supposed to be the mean and nasty left tackle of the future but he's just been mean and nasty. Although most people would love to chase him out with pitchforks, management needs to sit down and have a long talk with him about 1. Not hitting reporters and 2. Moving to the Right Tackle position where he might be more comfortable. He's having technique issues that may not be fixed with a simple move which is why a full rearrangement including moving to Justin Pugh to the right guard (from left guard). The Giants would need to redo their entire left side of the line after moving them to the right side but it is doable, but not impossible like finding a new quarterback.
4. Taking Inventory
The defensive side of the ball is pretty much bringing back everybody except JPP, (and thats only speculation). The only needs on that side of the ball are DE and Mike.
On Offensive, the Giants need to replace a lot of their key characters along with their left side of the line. In order from most to least important: Wide Receiver: to replace Cruz and to complement Beckham on the outside; Left Tackle: a real one; Left Guard: another one; Running Back: to change of pace Paul Perkins; backup Right Guard and finally last and not least, a new Quarterback.
To Be Continued.....
