The New York Giants are bringing back Logan Ryan for another few seasons. The defensive back is set to sign a three year contract with the team after originally joining them on a one year deal. However, the Giants still have some other upcoming free agents that they need to make a decision on. The new deal for Ryan ties up some of the cap space that may be needed to keep some of the team’s best defenders.
It’s worth taking a look at which players the Giants could shed if they want to make sure there’s cap space to bring back Leonard Wiliams and Dalvin Tomlinson in addition to Logan Ryan.
Kyler Fackrell
With the Giants needing a pass rusher, they signed Kyler Fackrell on a one year deal before the season. There was some initial skepticism due to his failure to remain a competitive player in Green Bay, but he’s been an alright addition to the Giants with 3 sacks this season. However, Fackrell has a $4.6M cap hit if the Giants sign him on a deal with the same value as his current one.
There’s a chance that he looks for more money thanks to his increased stats since leaving Green Bay, and the Giants may not be in a position to offer a deal like that if they’ve set upon the goal of bringing back both Tomlinson and Williams. We may just see Fackrell walk in free agency this offseason.
Golden Tate
It doesn’t look like there’s a way Golden Tate will be a Giant next season. While things around the wide receiver have since calmed down, his public tantrums about not receiving the ball enough didn’t endear him to head coach Joe Judge. He’s also liked a Tweet asking the Giants to cut him, and peculiarly enough, the Giants are able to do that without paying him guaranteed money.
Tate’s suspension last season for performance enhancing drugs voided the guaranteed money on his contract, and it looks like the Giants will move on from Tate both to save on cap space and to get rid of a player that hasn’t flourished under the new administration. Otherwise, they face a $10.3M cap hit going into next year.
Nate Solder
Nate Solder didn’t have a good first season with the Giants at all. It looks like the Patriots moved on from the player at just the right time, because his performance immediately dropped off after joining the Giants and his role has largely been replaced by now by Andrew Thomas. Solder hasn’t played this season because he opted out beforehand. And he may not play for the team again.
While Solder has a disproportionately large contract for the level of play the Giants have been able to get out of him, he’s said that he’s enjoying life with his family right now and that retirement isn’t off the table. That’s not a guarantee,
Solder has said that he might retire in two years or three years instead. But if he comes back, he does face an uphill battle to get back into the lineup. It’s quite possible we might just see the left tackle walk away instead.