Giants off season continues

The Giants relatively quiet off season continues with rumors of Cruz signing a long term extension. The Giants have offered a little over $7m and Cruz wants over $10m.  He won’t get it.  He is a slot receiver benefitting from the attention Nicks gets on the outside and the excellent quarterback play of Manning.  Most importantly he just has very little negotiating leverage.  He will make under $3m this year and can be franchised for $11m next year.  Ironically this $14m two year total averages to the $7m that he would average if he accepted the Giants offer, but all this with less security.  The memory of Steve Smith’s bad gamble, and the knowledge that Randle is waiting in the wings, further hurt Cruz’ negotiating leverage.  Lastly, the fact that Cruz hired Jay Z tells me that he knows he has commercial viability in New York that he would lose much of in another city.  He can posture all he wants but the Giants do not need to pay him the $7m per year.  If I was the Giants, I would pay no more than $5.5m.

The NFL draft is coming up and with it all the fun speculation about who the Giants may take.  Its impossible to predict who will be available when they fraft at 19 and the Giants claim to take the best player available.  It’s not entirely true.   If a quarterback is the best player available in round 1 they obviously won’t take him.  They tend to have groupings of players they rank at various levels and then within that level will allow need to factor in. 

The Giants biggest needs are at right tackle and linebacker.  However, they could use talent at most positions.  The only positions I’d be surprised to see the m use a number 1 or 2 on is wide receiver and running back.  Despite free agency of Cruz and Nicks, and despite Bradshaw’s departure those are two deep positions.   If good players were there at guard, defensive end or tackle or even cornerback, they would take them.  Rumor has it the Giants don’t take linebackers in the first round.  You never know if that is policy r happenstance.  They did take Clint Stintim with the 40th overall pick a couple of years ago.  That is almost eh first round.  I’m not sure that the fact that he was bust will influence their decision. It actually would not be surprising if they took Manti Teo who will certainly now slip to #19.  There are always players who slip.  Players that all the experts predict to be top 12 often wind up available at 19.  It happened with Prince Amukamara a couple of years back. 

I have to assume that Tuck still being on the Giants is both a thank you for years of service including years that you were underpaid and didn’t complain. He is now overpaid and should no longer be starting in the NFL.  He was blown off the line this past year and this is the second subpar year in a row.  Players don’t come back from back to back poor years.  I will be back if there is any breaking news, but otherwise will post our opinions of the draft.