The NY Giants released Mathias Kiwanuka on Tuesday in a cap saving move and this offseason the team could look at using the franchise tag on Jason Pierre-Paul, while former Giants Osi Umenyiora could be a potential free agent option and this comes as players like Amari Cooper, Kevin White and DeVante Parker could be targets in the draft following the Victor Cruz injury.
The Giants missed the playoffs for the third straight season in 2014 and coming into this season they will be focused on getting back into the postseason. The Cowboys won the NFC East and the division should be tough again next season with the Eagles coming off of a 10 win year. According to ESPN.com, the Giants released linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka to help free up cap space, cutting his near $5 million salary heading into the new league year.
Kiwanuka counted $7.45 million against the salary cap this year and that adds to what the Giants were projected to have, which was around $21 million in cap space. Kiwanuka won two Super Bowl titles with the Giants along with Eli Manning and Zak DeOssie and now he will be a free agent. The Giants pass rush was better last season after two disappointing years and now the team may look at the free agent market and the draft to add depth. Jason Pierre-Paul is hitting the market and the Giants are working on trying to keep him this offseason.
According to Adam Schefter, the Giants will use the franchise tag on JPP if they can't reach a long term deal at the deadline. Dan Graziano at ESPN.com writes that the team will not be too concerned if that happens, as the cap number will be around $15 million and that is what Pierre-Paul likely would be getting in a long term deal anyway. The salary cap is expected to be around $145 million this year and the space the Giants clear with Kiwanuka and other players will help as they negotiate with JPP.
The Giants could look at drafting a wide receiver at the number nine pick in the first round, as they do not know what Victor Cruz will be when he returns. Cruz had knee surgery last year and while Jerry Reese said he is on track to return for the start of the season, he added that the team cannot rely on him to be 100 percent again. The team could look at Cooper if he slips out of the top five, while White and Parker have been projected as first round picks.
The Giants finished 6-10 last season and won just two games in the NFC East and they now will have pressure to make the playoffs after missing out once again. Coughlin is getting an extension, but he basically is on a year to year deal and if the team missed the playoffs, he could be let go. Eli Manning had a bounce back season and with Odell Beckham breaking out, the offense has the chance to be special. The team ranked seventh in passing yards per game last season, but they were just 23rd in the league in rushing yards per game.
