Despite desperately needing a receiver at the trade deadline, the New York Giants and general manager Joe Schoen sat pretty and refused to part ways with any draft capital.
Investing assets in approving the team now is justifiable given their 6–2 record. However, the Giants are looking to their future instead of harping on the success they’re enjoying currently, given the holes on the roster and lack of depth. The Giants currently have about $2.45 million available in salary space, which may not even be enough to get through the rest of the season.
It is likely they restructured Kenny Golladay‘s contract, despite Schoen wanting to avoid that reality. Golladay is all but gone after the 2022 season concludes, which would save the team $6.7 million unless he is traded, which would save them a bit more.
- Giants’ receiving corps listed among the most improved following NFL Draft
- Giants’ free agent running back acquisition will offer great value at a fraction of the cost
- Giants’ 3rd-year receiver could have a breakout 2024 season
The New York Giants have room to work with in 2023:
Big Blue projects to have about $62 million in available salary space, but that is before the potential extensions for Julian Love, Daniel Jones, and Saquon Barkley.
Love could earn somewhere around $7 million per season, with Saquon landing around $12 million and Jones between $20–25 million. That would take up a significant portion of their flexibility, but they have tons of salary space they can utilize in 2024, keeping the first year of any signings cheap.
Given the Giants refuse to part ways with any of the draft capital, that is an indication they are still laying the foundational bricks at an extremely cheap price point. Considering the Giants’ record, they project to have a bottom-half first-round pick in 2023, a far cheaper situation than landing two top-10 picks again.
With that being the case and a significant portion of their 2022 class contributing as rookies, the Giants are building the right way, keeping their spending down in free agency, which was the exact opposite under the leadership of Dave Gettleman.
If the team can successfully plug holes with rookies, using draft capital, they can spend at essential positions. Having Andrew Thomas and Evan Neal on rookie contracts is ideal. That is not even to mention Kayvon Thibodeaux and Azeez Ojulari on rookie deals as well. That makes four of the highest-paid positions in football reasonably priced, which opens up the entire playbook for Schoen and the future of this team.