Contracts Giants Must Consider Cutting in 2024 Offseason

The New York Giants enter the NFL offseason in a decent position with the salary cap.

The Giants have $27.7 million in estimated salary cap space, per Spotrac, but they can create more space to work with if they shed some contracts.

New York committed $160 million to Daniel Jones last offseason, so know it must be more judicious with its spending.

The Giants might land one or two impact free agents, but in their current salary cap state, they have to find value on the market.

New York could open up more salary cap space by cutting one or two big contracts in the offseason.

It may seem a like step backward for the Giants to slash the deals of their top earners, but it may help them in the long run so they can bring in more effective talent.

Evan Neal

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GLENDALE, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 17: Daniel Jones #8 of the New York Giants celebrates a play with Evan Neal #73 during the third quarter in the game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on September 17, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)

Evan Neal's name is always going to come up in potential cut discussions because of his poor performance.

The No. 7 overall pick in 2022 has not lived up to expectations and has been part of an offensive line that allowed Jones and other quarterbacks to be sacked on a regular basis.

Giants quarterbacks suffered 85 sacks in 2023. That number simply is not good enough if the Giants want to bounce back and qualify for the playoffs for the second time in three years under Brian Daboll.

The Giants have all sorts of needs across the offense, but protecting Jones is paramount and that may lead to a total reconfiguration of the offensive front.

Darius Slayton

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - JANUARY 07: Darius Slayton #86 of the New York Giants runs the ball for a touchdown during the second quarter in the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium on January 07, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Darius Slayton is coming off a career best in receiving yards and is a strong veteran presence, but a case could made to cut him in order for the Giants offense to get more dynamic.

Slayton is not a No. 1 wide receiver, so in some cases, he could block playing time for Jalin Hyatt and Wan'Dale Robinson.

The Giants could sign a top free agent at wide receiver, or use the No. 6 overall pick on Rome Odunze or Malik Nabers.

That would put three young and dynamic wide receivers on the depth chart along with tight end Darren Waller to help Jones.

Slayton can stick around and be a valuable veteran presence, but if his role could potentially drop significantly, it may benefit all parties to take the potential out in his contract, which would only cost $1.7 million in dead salary cap, per Spotrac.

Graham Gano

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - OCTOBER 29: Graham Gano (9) of the New York Giants kicks a field goal during the game against the New York Jets on October 29, 2023 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

One way for the Giants to open up more cap space is to not have Graham Gano be the eighth highest-paid player on the roster.

Gano went 11-for-17 on field goals in just eight games in 2024.

The offseason may be the perfect time to split from the veteran kicker to find a younger, cheaper player at the position.

The Giants have plenty of reasons to cut the 36-year-old kicker, who is scheduled to have a $7.2 million cap hit in 2024.

New York can use Gano's injuries and average field-goal kicking stats from 2023 as excuses to cut ties with the veteran.

Gano could still have plenty left in his leg, but he is not worth the price for a team with a ton of offensive holes to plug in the offseason.