Giants Want Veteran to Take Huge Pay Cut

The New York Giants are in a tricky spot this offseason. Though they have attractive NFL Draft capital, the previous regime leaves behind a bloated payroll and roster that finished 4-13 in 2021.

Getting some financial flexibility would certainly help new GM Joe Schoen as he looks to turn this team around, and he's done just that by asking a veteran to take a pay cut.

Sterling Shepard Contract

New York has approached wide receiver Sterling Shepard about a "significant" pay cut, per Ryan Dunleavy of The New York Post. Dunleavy suggests that the pay cut could whittle Shepard's base salary down from $8.475 million to near the league minimum ($1.035 million for a player with six years of experience).

This adjustment would also shorten Shepard's deal, becoming a free agent after this upcoming season rather than in 2024.

It's certainly a big ask by Schoen, but it could make a difference this offseason. If the Giants cut Shepard now, they'd face a dead cap hit of $7.99 million. Reducing his salary would free up money for New York to address one of several holes on the roster in the draft or free agency.

Shepard was limited by injures once again in 2021, playing sporadically throughout the year before suffering a season-ending torn Achilles in Week 15. He managed to record 36 receptions for 366 yards and 1 TD in seven games before his injury.

The potential to overperform and hit the open market in 2023 will certainly entice Shepard as he looks for his next big pay day.

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Isaiah De Los Santos is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Isaiah De Los Santos also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username zayyy05328. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.