The Giants spent a lot of money to bring the wide receiver Golden Tate as a free agent in 2018. They didn’t exactly get a return on investment in their $ 37.5 million business in four years.
He only lasted two years with the Giants.
The Giants launched Tate on Wednesday in a limit economy move. They also launched reserve linebacker David Mayo.
Sign up for Giants Extra: Receive exclusive news, behind-the-scenes remarks and the ability to send text messages directly to reporters
In two years, Tate has accumulated just 1,064 receiving yards, which ranks 65th among all 2019-20 wide receivers. He also lost nine games in total due to multiple suspensions and injuries.
Now, he’s gone so that the Giants could also have enough money, probably chasing a wide receiver at the free agency.
Vicious circle.
Here is a closer look at the situation of the Giants’ salary cap after these last changes, and what changes may yet be coming:
Cutting Golden Tate
The Giants will save $ 6.1 million by cutting Tate, although they incur a $ 4.7 million penalty. They can release more limit – with a minor penalty – if they assign Tate a post-June cut, although they still have to carry their $ 10.8 million limit reached by June 1.
If they did that, which seems unlikely, they would save $ 8.5 million with a $ 2.35 million dead-roof penalty.
Cutting David Mayo
Mayo, 27, had a decent debut season with the Giants in 2019, receiving 82 tackles and two sacks, while starting 13 games. He was supposed to remain in the starting lineup in 2021, at least after the Giants eliminated Ryan Connelly, but Mayo injured his knee on the training ground and missed the first five weeks of the season.
When he returned, the Giants had already handed the keys over to newcomer Tae Crowder, a choice from the seventh round in 2020. Mayo still started two games, but ultimately did not contribute much to the defense. He finished with 29 tackles.
The Giants save $ 2.3 million by cutting Mayo and do not incur any dead limit penalty.
Current boundary situation
Limit space before cutting Tate and Mayo (for Over the Cap) at a salary cap of $ 180.5 million: $ 486.53.
Space designed for the cover after cutting Tate and Mayo: $ 7.4 million.
(Note: the NFL has yet to announce what the official salary cap will be, but it is expected to be in the $ 180-185 million range.)
What is the next
The Giants are still trying to hire striker Leonard Williams before he reaches the free agency and / or decides to hire him again. There is also the possibility that they will try to sign Dalvin Tomlinson’s defensive attack again, although it is unlikely that they will end up bringing them both back.
Either way, $ 9 million is nowhere near enough wage cap space for both to re-sign one or both players, while also chasing any major free agent.
Some other players that can be cut (or traded) to save the limit:
Solder OT Nate: He intends to play this year, but it would be a surprise if it were with the Giants. Cutting it now saves $ 6 million with a $ 10.5 million dead limit penalty. Cutting it with a post-June 1 designation saves $ 10 million with a $ 6.5 million dead-roof penalty.
TE Levine Toilolo: They paid dearly to Toilolo, which at best amounts to a tight end of a third-string lock. Cutting it will save $ 2.95 million without a maximum penalty.
WR Cody Core: The star of the special teams lost the entire last season due to an injury and could still be brought back at a reduced rate, but for now, cutting it would save $ 2 million without penalty.
CB Isaac Yiadom: He showed flashes of being a capable cornerback, but he was very inconsistent after all and the Giants are likely to seek an upgrade at some point alongside James Bradberry. Yiadom can be safe. Cutting it would save $ 2.18 million without penalty.
P Riley Dixon: He had a difficult season, but he is usually reliable. The Giants have Ryan Santoso in the lineup on a futures contract after he spent the season on the training team. Cutting Dixon would save $ 2.67 million with a $ 250,000 penalty.
G Will Hernandez: The previous choice of the second round was replaced by a choice of the fifth round in 2020 and never got his job back. It is unlikely that they would eliminate Hernandez, who could still compete to start, but that cannot be completely ruled out. Cutting it would save $ 2.18 million with a $ 874,680 penalty.
G Kevin Zeitler: He has a significant limit of $ 14.5 million reached in 2021, and cutting or exchanging him would save $ 12 million … but he is also the best and most consistent lineman. Most likely, the Giants will agree to an extension of some kind to reduce the limit reached.
TE Evan Engram: He had a disappointing season, but the Giants could have negotiated him on time and opted to keep him. It is unlikely that they would cut it, but doing so – or changing it – would save $ 6.013 million without penalty.
Receive text messages from Giants: Eliminate clutter from social media and text directly with traditional copywriters. In addition, exclusive news and analysis. Sign up now for a free trial.
Please sign up now and support the local journalism you trust and trust.
Zack Rosenblatt can be contacted at [email protected]. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip on here.