Big Blue View
Good morning and Merry Christmas, New York Giants fans!
While the black-and-white numbers today might not indicate that the Giants are swimming in 2026 projected space ($17.4 million, 19th-most in the NFL per OTC), the salary cap is healthier than it has been throughout most of the past decade of losing, and the ability to create more flexibility through a variety of means is unhindered by past mistakes. The Giants’ relatively blank slate from a salary-cap standpoint — their space jumps to $112 million in 2027 and $238 million in 2028, according to OverTheCap — and ability to navigate free agency or trades without financial limitation is one of the reasons the head coach vacancy is expected to be attractive to top candidates.
The Giants can free up $25.7 million by adding $10.5 million in dead money if they cut linebacker Bobby Okereke, kicker Graham Gano, running back Devin Singletary, swing tackle James Hudson and receiver Jalin Hyatt — none of whom are playing at a level commensurate with their cap charge.
On the back end, last year’s second-round pick Tyler Nubin has struggled. He’s second on the team with 10 missed tackles against the run and has just two passes defended. Offseason free agent acquisition Jevon Holland hasn’t been a difference-maker (58 tackles and one interception) for $15 million per year.
It made the executives and coaches wonder how Xavier McKinney and Julian Love from Schoen’s original roster in 2022 could have turned into Holland and Nubin, especially with Holland making similar money to McKinney.”Couldn’t have a bigger drop-off,” another NFC executive said.
To the several executives and coaches, it highlighted a “bad process” that has contributed greatly to a 2-13 team in Year 4 of Schoen’s roster build.
Best Rookie Pass Rusher: Abdul Carter, New York Giants. Carter is the league’s highest-graded rookie pass rusher for the second straight week. The third overall pick in this year’s draft earned an 81.3 PFF pass-rush grade after generating six pressures (one sack) and a 20.7% win rate against the Vikings in Week 16.
Carter has been in a tier of his own this...
