Giants news, 2/1: Salary cap, Xavier McKinney, Wink finalist in Indy, more headlines

Feb 1, 2023 - 11:00 AM

Good morning, New York Giants fans!

NFL officially sets 2023 salary cap at $224.8 million: What it means for Giants

The NFL officially set the 2023 salary cap at $224.8 million on Monday, a record amount up from $208.2 million in 2022. What does that mean for the New York Giants?

The Giants currently have $44.3 million in cap space, third-most in the league, which is actually $41.2 million in effective cap space, which is the amount of cap space a team will have after signing at least 51 players and its projected rookie class to its roster.

From a Giants perspective, the important franchise numbers are $32.4 million for the quarterback franchise tag and $10.9 million for the running franchise tag, which are basically baselines for free agent negotiations with have quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Saquon Barkley.

There are two moves the front office are expected to make to clear ore cap space. The expected release wide receiver Kenny Golladay will create $6.7 million and leave $14.7 million in dead cap money as a pre-June 1 cut; a post-June 1 cut would clear $13.5 million in cap space and leave $7.9 million in dead money on the 2023 books.

Then there is the matter of the contract of defensive tackle Leonard Williams, who carries an untenable $32.26 million cap hit in 2023, 14.3 percent of the team’s cap space. The teams hope is to extend the deal while lowering his yearly salary and cap number.

Other Giant observations

New York Giants safety Xavier McKinney switches agents | USAToday.com

New York Giants safety Xavier McKinney has announced that he is switching agents from Stellar USA to Athletes First. He will now be represented by agents who manage some of the highest-paid safeties in the league. McKinney, a second-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft out of Alabama, will be entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2023.

2023 NFL free agency: Biggest re-signing decisions for all 32 teams | ESPN.com

We’re going with Barkley here only because general manager Joe Schoen made it abundantly clear the team plans to bring back quarterback Daniel Jones one way or another. Barkley’s future in New York appears more uncertain. Schoen called him a “good” player and mentioned that there were other factors, including fitting everyone under the salary cap. If the Giants get a long-term deal done with Jones, using the franchise tag on Barkley at $10 million seems like an enticing option for the team.

Carl Banks takes a look back at the season of rookie TE Daniel Bellinger

.@BobPapa_NFL & @CarlBanksGIII break down Daniel Bellinger's top plays from his rookie season

Watch: https://t.co/x4My5P8etv pic.twitter.com/SXO223ucYq
— GiantsTV (@GiantsTV) January 31, 2023

Eli Manning: Giants QB Daniel Jones deserves long-term deal | ESPN.com

“I was proud of Daniel, the way he played, to learn another offense and pick it up,” Manning told ESPN. “Just the way he played in the fourth quarter of a number of games and leading the team back to victory, which was awesome; that’s what you want from your quarterback. To do it so quickly with the brand-new offense, the way they were able to compete, make it to the playoffs, win a playoff game, that is awesome. I hope he gets rewarded for that. I hope he is the quarterback for the Giants for a long time.”

Martindale finalist for Colts head coaching interviews | SNY.tv

While Giants coordinators Mike Kafka and Wink Martindale have both interviewed with the Indianapolis Colts for their vacant head coaching position, it sounds like the Colts have narrowed their search.

According to Zak Keefer of The Athletic, the Colts are currently considering seven finalists, with Martindale included and Kafka left off the list. Besides Martindale, interim coach Jeff Saturday, Broncos DC Ejiro Evero, Rams DC Raheem Morris, Packers ST coordinator Rich Bisaccia, Eagles OC Shane Steichen, and Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan have made the cut.

OBJ on the comeback trail....again

I swear I’m loadin…. No where near I wanna be but exactly where I need to be https://t.co/aphORmaTGb
— Odell Beckham Jr (@obj) January 31, 2023

Q&A: Eli Manning talks Daniel Jones’ Giants future, boo birds in Philadelphia and more | The Athletic

Q: You said last year President Barack Obama was a dream guest for the Manning Cast. Since you got him this season, who’s next on your wish list?

A: I was excited about that. I didn’t think it would actually happen. I was trying to put someone out there, and I was like, “We’ll never get a former president.” But sure enough we did. I’m a huge “Seinfeld” fan, so I think Jerry Seinfeld or Larry David would be a good guest next year. That’s my trophy guest right now.