Post JPP Franchise Tag Strategy
So I am reading blogs and I hear so much hoopla about the cap. “JPP is taking up too much cap room with his Franchise Tag”, cut him!!!! “We have no money, Resse messed up, we can’t fix he holes”…. et cetera. LOL. I have decided to put together an example of how we can completely fix the team with the cap room we have, well sorta(wink wink). No smoke and mirrors, just a basic mathematical breakdown. Read along my fellow NFL mind zombies….
After giving Jason the franchise tag of $16,934,000 we have $15,864,039 in cap space. The following is exactly what I would do to get us ready for the Lombardi run. Bare with me and read it through before you comment.
1. You cut JT Thomas.
His cap hit is 4 mil, with 1 mil dead money, you save 3mil by cutting him. He is a good guy as far as I see but not enough snaps to hold that cap hit. NEW CAP – $18,864,039
2. You resign Jason Pierre-Paul 5 years $72.5 Mil(42 guaranteed) – 14.5 mil per year.
This deal must be structured similar to Olivier’s deal, it must be back loaded so that his hit is 12mil this year. Last year OV did same thing, his hit was 13mil and it jumps up by 3mil each of next two years, starting this year. If done this saves us 4.9 mil this year. NEW CAP – $23,764,039
3. Restructure Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie
Restruture from his remaining 2 years at 8.5mil per(17mil total) to 4 years at 6.5mil(26mil) This would give 30 year old DRC 2 extra years under contract here, with guaranteed money that was not previously there. He can stay home and be fully vested in the Super Bowl runs afoot. This move saves us 2.5 mil this year. NEW CAP $26,264,039
4. Minus $5 million dollars for the rookie contracts we will have to sign. NEW CAP -$21,264,039
NOW LETS FIX THIS F&#KING TEAM!
5. SIGN – Luke Joekel(JAGS)
5 years old – Guard – Luke is the former #2 overall pick, he flunked at tackle for the Jaguars. But let’s be honest, coaching changes, QB play, and poor talent around him had to contribute. With lottery pick talent and the move to the inside he has huge upside. Add in a mentorship from Justin Pugh and we have ourselves a worthwhile project on the cheap. SPORTRAC(#1 Sports Cap website) estimated salary for his new deal is 1.8 mil for 2 years(3.6Mil total). GIANTS DEAL – 3 years for 6.8 mil or 2.26Mil per year. NEW CAP $19,004,039
6. SIGN – Riley Reiff(LIONS)
28 years old – LT/RT – Riley has played on both ends. At LT he wa slightly above average(worlds better than Ereck though). At RT he was significantly better. His versatility helps us, should Flowers make a jump, put it together and stay at LT, we have a guy ready to sure up the other side. If and when he beats Flowers,he can handle the blindside too. SPORTRAC estimated salary for his new deal is 5.3 mil for 4 years(21.2Mil total). GIANTS DEAL – 4 years for 23.6 Mil or 5.9 per year. NEW CAP $13,104,039
7. SIGN – Robbie Gould K
3 years for 2.7 Mil or 900K per year. He played well. Kicks in the wind(Bears all-time leader in points). NEW CAP $12,204,039
8. SIGN – Kayvon Webster
26 years old – Cornerback – Kayvon replaces both Trevin Wade, Leon Hall. He was the fifth corner in Denver and played for league minimum. In the snaps he got he was very good. SPORTRAC estimated salary for his new deal is 1.7 Mil for 3 years(5.1Mil total). GIANTS DEAL 3 years 6.3 Mil or 2.1 per year. NEW CAP – $10,104,039
9. SIGN – Keenan Robinson LB
27 years old. He played on a one year prove it deal for us and was quietly our best two way(run/cover) linebacker. Reward time. GIANTS DEAL – 3 years for 9.3 Mil or 3.1 per year. NEW CAP – $7,004,039
10. SIGN -Levine Toilolo TE
25 years old. Started off the 3rd TE for Falcons and ended up second on depth chart because he blocks well and can catch when he gets open. Showed flashes and is huge, 6’8″ 268lbs. With youth, size, and acumen(Stanford kid) he could be a bargain. he is the 10th ranked available TE this year, it’s deep, with quite a view big names on the market. GIANTS DEAL – 3 years for 7.5 Mil or 2.5 mil per year. NEW CAP – $4,504,039(reflects a surplus of 5 mil reserved for rookies in point #4)
So there you have it. You will notice I over paid(based on SPORTRAC est.) for each and every player assuming we are bidding for them. The offensive line is replenished with guys young enough to grow together. We kept Keenan and Robbie. I did NOT cut Shane because he tried so hard to play after injury. He is a baller when on the field. Still in his twenties. This plan fills the holes in the secondary left by Hall/Wade but at a cap hit that leaves options moving forward. Levine to me has the potential to be a star. He and Jerell could be the Twin Towers(9/11 never forget, RIP) for us. Redone terrors that block. the remaining $4.5 Mil in CAP ROOM I left is for potential roster cuts from other teams after camp when roster must go to 53 men. You never thought there would be change after that meal(wink wink), lol.
I really hope, that even if you disagree with my additions, you see that we have enough cap room to do something special toward this Super Bowl run. I love the Giants very much. I just want to win one more while Eli is here. The key in my mind is to fix the team in FA and go best available in the draft. Please comment. Look out for my NYG 2017 MOCK Draft in the coming weeks. Go Giants!!!!
This post was written by our guest blogger, Dane DBM Henson. Please leave your feedback in the comments section below.