The Giants did not have to do one thing on Wednesday to gain $ 2.5 million in salary cap space in the 2021 season.
The problem is that all the other teams in the league also get the same cap position. The NFL ultimately set the cap number for the season, and is $ 182.5 million. This year’s cap floor was set at $ 180 million before all teams were informed that they would have a little more money to work with. This is down from $ 198.2 million in 2020, the result of a global epidemic, the COVID-19 ban and a full season played between empty stadiums in most cities.
Despite the slight increase, the Giants have a lot of work to do to reach the $ 182.5 million limit by March 17, the beginning of the new league year. Currently, they are at a $ 7.9 million cap, according to OvertheCap.com. This includes the $ 19.4 million allocated to Leonard Williams to save his franchise player. It also includes the $ 1.35 million saved by tight end Levin Tololo’s restructuring of the contract (slashing more precisely). Tilolo was scheduled to make $ 2.95 in salary in 2021 but agreed to a pay-cut of $ 1.6 million. Tololo receives a guaranteed sum of $ 650,000 to return to the second season with the team.
To get under the cap, the Giants need to advance their roster. The offensive line is likely a place where they will start. Veteran guard Kevin Jeitler is set to count $ 14.5 million on the cap and releasing him would save the Giants $ 12 million. Zeiter recently turned 31 and was the most consistent lineman on the team and to keep him around, the Giants could reduce their 2021 cap number with a contract extension. General Manager Dave Gatelman said on Tuesday that he hesitated to do so with multiple players, as it could collapse down the road, as far as the team’s future cap difficulty.
Nate Solder dropped out of the 2020 season and is set to count $ 16.5 million on the cap. Releasing him would save $ 6 million on the cap but would also make $ 10.5 million in dead money. Solder posted on the website “The Enhance” on Wednesday that he was not ready to retire, saying, “If I am given another chance to play football, I will take it.”
Leave a Reply