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New York Giants Mailbag: Alex Bachman, Salary Cap, the Draft and More

Let's check in with the readers to see what's on everyone's minds.
Patricia Traina|
New York Giants Mailbag: Alex Bachman, Salary Cap, the Draft and More
New York Giants Mailbag: Alex Bachman, Salary Cap, the Draft and More

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New York Giants

Editor's Note: Because of the short work week, I'm folding in some questions received from LockedOn Giants podcast listeners.

If you'd like to submit a question for the mailbag, please send it to nygiantsmaven@gmail.com. We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity and conciseness. While we try to answer all questions received, we reserve to consolidate if several people ask the same question.

(From Pete M.) . I just finished listening to your pod with John Gallucci of JAG-One. He gave the Giant's training/medical staff the highest praise and said they are the best around, so I assume they are doing their job of ensuring the players hydrate, stretch, rehab, etc. He also said their field is as good as any field around. With that being the case, all I can deduce is that the Giants being consistently at the top of the league in injuries for the past few years is just plain bad luck. Was that your takeaway from your call with John?

What's up, Pete? It's not a matter of luck being at the forefront of the Giants being among the most injured teams in the league. It's a combination of things, mainly the constant turnover of the strength and conditioning staff (a very underrated reason), plus the athletes hiring personal trainers and gurus whose philosophies differ from what the S & C coaches preach.

Football, as I've always said, is a violent game. Stuff is going to happen. But usually, those players who take good care of their bodies pre- and postgame can avoid constant visits with the training staff.

(From Dan M.) Patricia, is it better to concentrate on amassing more 2nd-, 3rd- and 4th-round picks or concentrate on getting 1st-round picks next year? Or is it better to pick up available free agents who may be suitable to help the team? So far, the Giants are doing well this year due to coaching and players stepping up, but they need some upgrades on offense and defense.

Hi Dan. It depends on the draft class and where the Giants will be drafting. I keep telling everyone who asks that it's too soon to formulate a draft strategy. Right now, teams are scouting players and compiling info, but I don't think any decisions will be made at this point. Similar with free agency, who knows? Perhaps there will e some salary cap-related cuts coming down the pipe that adds to the free-agent crop.

I think Joe Schoen prefers to retain the talent the team has identified by his staff and the coaches and will use free agency sparingly while leaning on the draft heavily. But we'll see what they do with a healthy cap situation.

(From Avi G.) Does the injury to Xavier McKinney provide some cap relief? If they are not paying him while he is on the non-football injury list, does that get added back into the cap for the season?

Hi Avi. It only provides some relief if the Giants aren't paying him while he's on NFI. I don't believe that is the case, though, so if I'm correct, then no, there is no cap relief.

(From Jon G.) Which of the remaining Giants games, if any, do you think will be flexed and why? Have the Giants received notice from the NFL that any of their remaining games won’t be flexed?

Hi Jon. Hopefully, none--you know how I feel about night games, right? But seriously, the only one I can see being flexed--and that's if playoff berths are on the line--is the regular-season finale with the Eagles. Teams are usually notified about two weeks ahead of any flex scheduling so they can adjust any travel arrangements.

(From Anthony B.) My question is regarding OBJ. I know we do not have much cap space at the moment but considering there is not much left to the season and he won’t hit against a full season salary could joe pull some gymnastics to make that move, maybe something like cutting Golladay?

What's up, Anthony? The Giants cannot cut Kenny Golladay. He's due $4 million in guaranteed money next year, and if they cut him, that accelerates into this year's cap--an expense they cannot absorb.

Beckham is a 9-year veteran. The minimum salary (not that he would agree to play on the minimum) for a 9-year veteran is $1.120 million, or $62,222 per week. Once he signs, he will likely need at least one week to acclimate to his new team. Let's say, for argument's sake, Beckham is fully ready to go by Week 13.

That's six weeks' pay off the base salary alone or $373,332--manageable, yes. The problem is two-fold. I can't see Beckham agreeing to play for the veteran minimum. Two, I can't see him signing without a signing bonus, which will cause the cap hit to jump up.

Per the NFL public salary cap report, the Giants have $2,697,065 of space left. That's a razor-thin amount to get through the rest of the year to make practice squad elevations and injury signings. As it is, Shoen has had to do some roster gymnastics to make certain things work.

Unless they restructure Golladay's contract--and I know for a fact they don't want to do that, though if they do, they will wait as long as they can before touching it to minimize swelling that cap hit any further in future years--they're not in a position right now to afford OBJ this year.

The Giants' best bet is to draft a receiver or two next year-- and I could see that happening in the first round--and see if someone is available in free agency that won't cost them an arm and a leg. If Beckham is still available next year, then maybe revisit the topic, but I suspect his being on the wrong side of 30 and coming off two ACLs might not be as attractive to Schoen.

(From Howard D.) Whatever happened to Alex Bauchman, he was the best receiver of all receivers during the preseason. The Giants are in dire lead of a good receiver, and he was already part of the team.

Howard, Bachman was cut, and last I checked, he just signed with the Texans on Monday. Not for nothing, but unless he was injured after camp, I think it's kind of telling that it took so long for him to land with a team.

(From George B.) Just read that Alex Bachman signed with the Texans. The guy led everyone in catches during training camp and showed a lot of talent. So, why did the Giants, who are in crucial need of wide receivers, not re-sign him?

George, the only logical explanation I can come up with is that despite Bachman leading the team in the summer in receptions and receiving yards, the Giants were overloaded with slot receivers--at the time, they had Wan'Dale Robinson, Sterling Shepard, and Richie James at the position.

So it's possible that maybe Bachman felt it was time to move on and pursue an opportunity elsewhere or maybe the rest of the league wasn't ultra impressed with him. Sometimes when a player doesn't re-sign with a team, it's the player's choice and not necessarily the team's. I believe that might have been the case here.

People need to understand that it takes two sides to make a contract. Sometimes a team wants a player back, but the player doesn't want to return. If that was the case, it wouldn't be the first time it happened, and it won't be the last time.

(From Andrew G.) . With the Giants getting healthy and roster moves to be made, who do you see getting released to make room on the roster?

Great question, Andrew. I suspect the Giants might wait to see if they have any injuries to where they have to move someone to IR rather than release someone. I get the impression that the Giants would instead move guys on and off the practice squad since they know the system (and fit under the cap).

But for hints as to who might no longer fit, look at the depth chart on game days. For instance, Devery Hamilton was passed by Tyre Phillips and Jack Anderson for playtime, so when Hamilton was an inactive player last week, I had an inkling he might not be on the roster much longer.

What's up, Peter? The Lions have scored 71 points in their four road games this season. That's an average of 17.75 points per game. If the Giants can hold them to that, I don't think a 30-spot will be necessary.

I could be wrong, but I do not see how the Giants will fit him under their current cap unless they do something with Golladay's contract or Odell makes concessions as to what he's reportedly looking for money-wise. 

Look, there's no question that Odell can help a team that's maybe one player away. Still, if I'm the GM of a rebuilding football team, I probably want to draft at least one receiver within the first three rounds to get him on his rookie deal rather than spend on one guy who has had two ACL tears and who is on the wrong side of 30.

Hi Bob. Based on what I've seen so far, yes, I would. Would I break the bank for him? No, and I've been pretty consistent with my insistence about that. I wouldn't do more than a three-year deal with an out after two years, and I'd look to get him on an APY that hovers around the low end of the range. But I do feel comfortable as of this point if the Giants bring back Daniel Jones. 

What's up, Steve? If Golladay is healthy enough to play, I'd given him one last chance to see if he can get it going against his old team. If he still looks like he's going half-baked out there, then that's it. 

Hi Billy. No, I don't think that is the case. At some point, the player has to get his head on straight, and I know that Daboll and Kafka tried to make it work with him. Sometimes things just don't work out for circumstances beyond anyone's control. And quite often, there is more to the story that never comes out. Toney is now water under the bridge, and it's probably best to move on and look ahead. 

What's up, Peter? Can OBJ help a team? Yes. Is he a luxury for a team that's salary cap strapped this year?  Catch my drift?

What's good, Nick? I'm not sure if they're coached that way or if it's the route being called, but it drives me crazy too. I'll see if I can get an answer for you next time I encounter a receiver in the locker room.     

(From BJ T via Instagram) With Giants only having 4 games between the lions and cowboys. Do you see the Giants limiting the snaps of key players like Barkley, Lawrence, etc? Also what game do you think is going to be more physical. Cowboy, Viking or the Lions? 

What's happening B.J.? This isn't the preseason so you can't be gambling with wins by sitting people down to rest them intentionally. I think you see how the game unfolds. If it's a blowout, then maybe you sit guys down early, but I don't think they'll go into the game intentionally planning that.  And I think all the games will be physical. I can't remember a time when a football game wasn't.

Same answer: Barring something funky, I think Jones is back next year. Makes too much sense for both parties not to continue the relationship given how Year 1 of the rebuild has gone.

What's up, Badhambre? I'm sorry, but I can't make a fair comparison, given the imbalance in snaps played in this system under these coaches.  

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Patricia Traina
PATRICIA TRAINA

Patricia Traina has covered the New York Giants for 30+ seasons, and her work has appeared in multiple media outlets, including The Athletic, Forbes, Bleacher Report, and the Sports Illustrated media group. As a credentialed New York Giants press corps member, Patricia has also covered five Super Bowls (three featuring the Giants), the annual NFL draft, and the NFL Scouting Combine. She is the author of The Big 50: The Men and Moments that Made the New York Giants. In addition to her work with New York Giants On SI, Patricia hosts the Locked On Giants podcast. Patricia is also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and the Football Writers Association of America.

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