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New York Giants Mailbag: "Calm Before the Combine" Edition

We check in with the readers to see what's on their minds this week.
Patricia Traina|
New York Giants Mailbag: "Calm Before the Combine" Edition
New York Giants Mailbag: "Calm Before the Combine" Edition

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New York Giants

If you'd like to submit a question for the mailbag, please use this link to avoid having your question land in spam. You may also post your questions on X (formerly known as Twitter) to @Patricia_Traina, hashtag #askPTrain. Please note that letters may be edited for clarity/length.

Ed, I'm not sure I understand your question. Are you referring to cap manipulations and/or contract negotiations? I mean, from the grand scheme of things, considering how underachieving last year's roster was, can this year's roster rebuild be that much worse?  

In no particular order: wide receiver one, outside linebacker/edge, second perimeter cornerback, and quarterback.

I would love it if the Giants and McKinney reach a deal, but I've said all along --and I'm not changing my tune on this right now unless I get new information -- I believe McKinney will follow the money to another team.

I would be shocked if the Giants applied the franchise tag to retain him--that would cost them $17.22 million to do so. (For reference, Over the Cap currently has the Giants with $19,462,691 total cap space). 

Right now, anything is possible unless a player gets the franchise tag. In Van Ginkel's case, he has expressed a desire to stay with Miami.

(From Anthony B.) What would happen if Barkley had a better blocking scheme from the front line? Unlike Christian McCaffrey, who seems to get a bunch of blockers when Barkley runs past the scrimmage line, there are no blockers in front of him. Running backs per yarding gains should say with blockers and without to get more accurate numbers.

Anthony, the answer is kind of obvious, right? Could he do any worse with blockers in front of him? And you kind of answered your own question here. As for your last statement, that's where film work comes into play, though you could probably use Yards Gained After Contact as a metric if you wanted to.

(From Bob M.) I'm curious about your thoughts about Wink landing the DC position with Michigan. Do you think the negative breakup with Daboll & the Giants limited his chances of getting another NFL DC hire this cycle? And would “resigning” his contract have allowed him to sit out coaching for this year if he chose that?

Bob, I think Wink Martindale overplayed his hand. I also suspect that the reports about him allegedly trying to go over the head coach's head couldn't have sat well around the league, especially with new head coaches looking to build synergy on their respective staff.

Could he have sat out this year? Probably, but only if he didn't forfeit the money and the Giants decided not to withhold it from him, given that he had no intention of fulfilling what he was being paid to do.

(From Mike W.) Pat, maybe Evan Neal needs another year to develop. Here are Giants who did not live up to expectations in the first two years of their careers. Granted, they were not selected 7th overall.

  1. RB Joe Morris
  2. 2. DE Michael Strahan
  3. CB Jason Sehorn
  4. LB Jessie Armstead
  5. RB Tiki Barber
  6. WR Amani Toomer
  7. CB Corey Webster

Some players take time to develop. Sehorn did not break out until his 4th year. Strahan did not get double-digit sacks until his 5th year. Armstead was tried at safety by Dan Reaves. Barber was benched for Gary Brown in his 3rd year. Sometimes, teams and fans have to be patient.

Mike, I appreciate the point you're trying to make, but in some cases, the players you mention didn't break out due to other circumstances. Webster, for example, wasn't a fit for Tim Lewis's system, so he was buried, Toomer, as I recall, dealt with injuries early on in his career. Barber, I believe, was part of a committee before eventually becoming the bell cow. And some of the other players might have been buried on the depth chart.

While I hope that Neal develops this year, he's a part of every snap. That he continues to struggle with looking comfortable at right tackle after two years is a concern that needs to be alleviated.

(From Jerry P.) Please share your thoughts on keeping Waller and McKinney. Also, Nabers or Odunze based on the Giant's offensive and coaching philosophy, etc., and finally, what does Kayvon need to do to become more consistent given that 5 of his 11.5 sacks came against the Jets and Washington - 2 teams with horrific O Lines and in 6 other games, he had 0.

Hi Jerry. I already gave my thoughts about McKinney above. As for Waller, I think they'll run it back with him another year since the cap savings ($6,707,500) would be less than the dead money ($7,376,250). I don't yet have an opinion regarding Nabers or Odunze--I think either one could be a good fit, but I will need to do more research. As for Thibodeaux, I think it's a matter of getting stronger and continuing to add to his pass-rushing toolbox so he can develop more of a consistent pass rush.

Great question, Kris. I'm putting that outline together for a podcast, and we're also going to do a series on that topic. Still, off the top of my head, I would say go draft where the class is deepest--quarterback, receiver, offensive line--and free agency where you need a veteran to hit the ground running, e.g., edge rusher, cornerback No. 2, etc.

Neither. Get a No. 1 receiver here that can help open the passing game and allow you to get vertical. Yes, the offensive line is a question mark, but see if adding a veteran at guard and getting better coaching fixes that unit.

(from Kip S.) Over the last ten years, it has been torturous watching the Giants and their three general managers fail to solve their root problem for annual failure. An “offensive” offensive line. They should use as much draft capital as possible to rectify this situation. We are 23 games under .500 with “gold jacket” Barkley and nine games under during number No. 1 wide receiver OBJ’s tenure. So, before we worry about 60-yard gallops to the goal line, let’s be able to get a first down by blocking a third down and 2.

Thanks, Kip. There's not really a question there for me to answer, but you're right. This team needs to get its act together and plan where the draft complements the free agency activity. I don't sense that's happened in quite some time.

Highly unlikely.

Greg, it depends on what they do in free agency. Right now, we can agree they have some major needs to address. And while they'll sit there and tell you that you can never have too many good players on any given unit, we all know that isn't true, that a team isn't going to add five quarterbacks to its roster over, say, additional o-linemen and receivers. 

Let's circle back on this after the first two weeks of free agency, as by then, the picture should start to gain clarity. 

I think, hypothetically speaking, if the Giants have a chance at getting a rookie receiver who could become a No. 1 for them on a cheaper rookie deal, I'd rather they do that than give up draft assets or take on a veteran contract.

(From Patrick W.) I hope you can dumb down the Daniel Jones contract for me and help answer a few questions.

  • If DJ's base salary is $30M, how is there a potential for him to earn $35M in guaranteed money?
  • If DJ is healthy at the end of the 2024 season and we decide to cut him, how much would we owe him? How much dead cap would be on the books?
  • Is there a chance we could owe DJ $65M if he's on the roster in 2025 and can't pass his physical? How would that impact the dead cap?
    • $30M base salary
    • $12M becomes guaranteed on day 5 of signing
    • $23M becomes guaranteed for injury
  • If not, how much money would the Giants owe DJ if he can't pass his physical and he's on the roster in 2025? What's the worst-case scenario for us financially? What's the best case for us financially?

    • Thanks for the kind words, Patrick. Nothing like a good salary cap twister to end the day and perk up the spirits.

    Here are the answers to your questions:

    1. As you noted, Jones has guaranteed $12 million of his $30 million base if he's still on the roster. He also has $23 million guaranteed at signing, so I'm guessing those two figures bring him to the $35 million you referenced. However, I suspect the $35 million (actually, it was $36 million) guaranteed at signing was his signing bonus which gets prorated over the deal's life.

    2. I don't believe the Giants would owe Jones anything if he's cut after 2024. Depending on when he was cut, the savings would be $19.395 million (pre-June 1) with a $22.21 million dead money hit or $30.5 million (post-June 1) with an $11.105 million dead money hit in 2025 and 2026.

    3. I'm not seeing where you're coming up with $65 million if he's on the books for 2025. Assuming they don't touch his contract, Jones would get a $30 million base salary, of which $12 million automatically becomes guaranteed (I think you have it as an additional $12 million, which is not the case). He also has a $500,000 workout bonus.

    Add the base and the workout bonus together and add in the prorated signing bonus ($11.105 million), and that gives you his cap number for 2024, which is nowhere near $65 million.

    4. I'll refer you to this article by The 33rd Team, which explains the different types of guaranteed money. It might be a matter of semantics here, but if a player is hurt and can't play, he doesn't have the skill to get the job done.

    Hence, unless there's a full guarantee, a team could cut a player based on his skill having declined (that would have to be spelled out in the contract, though, I believe, e.g., if a player who at one point logged a 4.3 in the 40 can't run that anymore or if his production peaked and then continues to drop, that could be considered a decline in skill.

    The other key point from the article is as follows: "Most NFL player contracts are fully guaranteed, but if not fully guaranteed, then guaranteed for injury only, meaning if a player is cut for skill or cap reasons, they will not receive this money; they would only receive the money if they suffered a football-related injury and could not play and/or were cut."

    Hope that provides some clarity.

    Nick, that's a very valid question and, quite frankly, one that I hope Barkley and his representation consider. Because--and I don't mean any disrespect here when I say this--if Tommy DeVito, a backup quarterback, can get endorsement deals the way he has, imagine what Saquon can get (and just look at what he has gotten in the past).

    How many big NFL names who play for teams outside the New York market get national deals? Not a lot. Barkley already has several national deals with major brands. Does he get those deals playing in smaller markets?

    I'm not sure he does, and it's not a diss to him, but ask yourself how many players from smaller market teams have you seen grace your television in commercials in recent years. For me, Baker Mayfield, Aaron Rodgers, Travis Kelce, and Patrick Mahomes all come to mind. So yeah, where you play can open up many more earning opportunities.

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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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