Where Victor Cruz will play his 2013 football season is still in question. The New York Giants have placed a first-round tender on the restricted free agent, but that is not guaranteeing he re-signs with the team. Cruz is looking to be one of the highest paid receivers in the league, but there has not been a team to emerge willing to give him that. As the wide receiver market gets smaller, Cruz becomes more valuable. Team co-owner Steve Tisch believes a team will make an offer on Cruz before the draft. With the release of Brandon Lloyd, the Patriots could be the team to make the offer.
While the New England Patriots just signed Danny Amendola to a contract, they released Lloyd and lost Wes Welker. They are in need of a big time wide receiver threat to match the rest of the teams in the conference. The Patriots have shown interest in Cruz before the first-round tender was placed on him. Cruz's agent, Tom Condon, does not have the best relationship with the Patriots due to his ability to get his clients top-dollar contracts, but that will not stop the team if they want the wide receiver.
Tisch told media Sunday that it is possible another team will make a bid on Cruz prior to the draft and they are expecting it. He admitted the team knew they were taking a risk by placing the tender on Cruz, but is still hopeful that they can sign him to a deal. Amendola just signed a contract worth $6 million and Tisch believes Cruz will demand more than that.
"We're going to go as far as we can go to keep him on the team," Tisch said.
Condon does represent multiple players on the New York Giants, including Eli Manning and Osi Umenyiora. The team does have multiple contracts to handle at the end of next season so they have to be smart with what to do with Cruz. Hakeem Nicks and Kevin Boothe will all be top priorities next season in need of a contract extension.
Cruz is worthy of the money he is demanding. In 2011, he recorded 1,536 receiving yards and nine touchdowns while following that up in 2012 with 1,092 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. If a team is going to get him, they will have to offer a lucrative contract while also giving up their first-round draft pick this season.
