Here's how Giants can clear salary cap space for 2021 season

Giants GM Dave Gettleman heads into another NFL offseason looking to upgrade his rebuilding roster, especially on the offensive side of the ball -- as he pointed out during his end-of-season address.

Under new head coach Joe Judge, improvements were made on the field in 2020, but six wins obviously isn’t enough to get the job done. The culture might be set and there’s a good mix of young talent, but it wasn’t enough to reach the playoffs – even in an NFC East that was woeful.

The one problem right now is that the NFL doesn’t yet know what its cap number will be for the 2021 season. And the Giants, like many other teams, are stuck waiting to see what it is. But Gettleman and his team can still look over the current roster to see what changes can be made there before it’s time for free agency and the NFL Draft.

Let’s start at the top with the current cap space. You’ll see that the Giants are “over” about $3 million, according to OverTheCap.com, but that is bound to change. Rollover cap room from 2020 will hit the accounts followed by roster moves that Gettleman can finesse to free up as much space as he needs depending on what markets he wants to dabble in come March. 

On top of the offensive moves that are desired, players like Leonard Williams and Dalvin Tomlinson are also on the open market and are expected to have suitors.

Here’s where Gettleman can maneuver to create more cap room in 2021...

POTENTIAL CUTS

Nate Solder: He opted out due to coronavirus concerns in 2020, but the Giants were already moving forward at left tackle with rookie Andrew Thomas drafted No. 4 overall. Gettleman must realize by now that the massive contract Solder signed two years ago was not worth it and that it’s time to let the veteran move on. He will likely be made a post-June 1 cut so the dead cap is $6.5 million instead of $10.5 million. That would leave $10 million to work with.

Golden Tate: The veteran wideout may have said on Instagram that he’s ready for what’s to come in 2021, but it’s hard to see him in the plans for the Giants considering they have young, more-cost effective options to work with. The Giants should also be in the WR market before looking into the NFL Draft for pass-catching options for Daniel Jones. Tate is only a $4.705 dead cap hit if he’s a pre-June 1 cut, saving Big Blue about $6.1 million. A post-June 1 cut would be $8.5 million in savings.

Kevin Zeitler: Let me start this off by saying Zeitler may actually receive an extension from the Giants to restructure his $14.5 million cap hit in 2021. Given the rookie status of Shane Lemieux and Will Hernandez’s 2020 struggles, having Zeitler back at a cheaper, long-term deal might be a better move in their eyes. But if they want to outright cut Zeitler, he’s only a $2.5 million dead cap hit, saving the Giants a whopping $12 million.

Levine Toilolo: The big blocking tight end is due almost $3 million next season, and the Giants don’t necessarily need to keep him on the roster. They still have Evan Engram and Kaden Smith and can even add depth in the draft. With no dead cap hit, this seems like a probable one.

POTENTIAL EXTENSIONS

It doesn’t sound like something a team that is in need of cap space would want to do, but extensions actually free up space because of the restructuring that happens. It’s a win-win for both sides.

Jabrill Peppers: A clear leader at the safety position, Peppers has provided the Giants with hard-hitting, solid play since he was part of the Odell Beckham Jr. trade two seasons ago. He’s making $6.77 million next season before becoming a free agent off his rookie deal, so the Giants may want to extend him before that happens. In doing so, they could free up some money and pay him more on the back end later.

James Bradberry: You might be thinking, "He just got a deal!" But it was a short-term one and Bradberry proved to be the No. 1 corner they expected. If Gettleman is willing, he could further extend Bradberry to be a mainstay at cornerback, thus freeing up some cap space in the process. It’s a bit of a stretch, but he is the biggest cap hit on the roster right now ($17.25 million).

***

These are just some of the moves the Giants could (and should) make down the road, but they will come in due time. 

This isn’t Gettleman’s first rodeo, and creating some flexibility for free agency and beyond is a clear priority – one he knows must happen if he wishes to fulfill his offseason plans.