The NY Giants are likely to use the franchise tag on free agent Jason Pierre-Paul this offseason, as reports have New York tagging the defensive end over reaching a contract agreement before free agency and this comes as Mathias Kiwanuka, Jon Beason and JD Walton could get released by Jerry Reese into 2015.
The Giants are projected to have a solid cap situation heading into the offseason, as they are expected to have $22 million in space once the league year starts, according to Over the Cap. The team is expected to make moves to free up more cap space, as Dan Graziano at ESPN.com writes that Kiwanuka and Walton could be cut, while Beason likely will be asked to take a pay cut. The Giants also can free up over $10 million in cap space if they give Eli Manning a contract extension, as he is coming into the final year of his deal. UPDATE: The Giants have released Kiwanuka, which was an expected move.
The cap is expected to be at $145 million for the 2015 season and Pierre-Paul is the top priority for the Giants along with safety Antrel Rolle. The Giants have the franchise tag as an option for JPP and ESPN.com reports that the team will use it if they can't reach an agreement by the deadline on Monday. The franchise tag is around $15 million for Pierre-Paul and the team likely will make moves to free up cap space if they have to use it. Kiwanuka would free up over $ million in cap space, while Walton would add $3 million. The Manning extension could give the Giants another $11 million in cap space.
Pierre-Paul is a key player for the Giants and he had a bounce back season in 2014 after two disappointing years in 2012-13. JPP had 12.5 sacks last season after having just eight sacks the previous two years combined and he could command quite a bit of interest if he hits the open market. The Giants want to retain him and it comes after he was their 2010 first round draft pick at number 16 in the first round. The Giants are also looking at keeping Antrel Rolle, but he likely will have to take a pay cut to stay in New York.
Graziano writes that the Giants are comfortable using the franchise tag, as Pierre-Paul has been inconsistent over the last three years and this could give the team more time to evaluate. The franchise tag and what JPP would get yearly is not that much of a difference and the team could wait until next year to get a long term deal done. Graziano writes that the Giants could also look at players like Pernell McPhee and Jerry Hughes could be targets if they let Pierre-Paul go.
The Giants come into the offseason after going 6-10 in 2014 and they missed the playoffs for the third straight season. Tom Coughlin kept his job after a strong finish by the Giants and the emergence of Odell Beckham made everyone in the organization feel better about the season. Victor Cruz is coming back from a serious injury and if he can't get back to his old self, Beckham will have to step things up along with Rueben Randle.