A day after trading CB Eli Apple to the Saints, the Giants have traded DT Damon Harrison to the Lions for a fifth-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, SNY's Ralph Vacchiano confirmed.
According to Vacchiano, the move will clear roughly $4.5 million off the salary cap.
Vacchiano notes that while the return for Harrison seems light, it's actually about right given his age (29) and amount of money remaining on his contract. The 24-year-old Apple netted the Giants a fourth-round pick in 2019 and seventh-round pick in 2020.
Harrison is in the third year of a five-year, $46.25 million deal he signed before the 2016 season.
He is earning $7.75 million this season, and will make $6.75 million in 2019 ($8.6 million cap hit) and $9 million in 2020 ($10.85 million cap hit) before being eligible for unrestricted free agency.
Goodbye New Jersey...I gave everything I had. Y'all be good https://t.co/7yeR5hsgTn
- Damon Harrison Sr. (@snacks) October 24, 2018
Much love to my teammates, the amazing staffs, coaches, and all the fans. This is my second home because of you...✌ pic.twitter.com/4VUAjkIHlu
- Damon Harrison Sr. (@snacks) October 24, 2018
Shortly after news of the trade broke, Harrison's now-former teammate Landon Collins seemed to react on Twitter...
- LANDON COLLINS (@TheHumble_21) October 24, 2018
According to Nick Korte of overthecap.com, if the Giants' intent is to rebuild and load up on draft picks, they can guarantee themselves a fourth-round compensatory pick in the 2019 Draft by cutting Cody Latimer and Michael Thomas before Week 10.
The Giants are an absolute mess at 1-6, and the feeling after the trade of Apple on Tuesday was that it was just the tip of the iceberg. With Harrison now gone as well, it's fair to wonder just how big the iceberg is.