The New York Giants will need to clear salary cap space this offseason and general manager Joe Schoen has already placed that number at roughly $40 million.
That’s a significant amount of space to clear, so it likely means several big-name players will either be traded or released outright.
Giants Wire has already broken down several names who could receive the boot one way or another, but what about the under-the-radar players? Who else might get packaged up and shipped off?
That’s a question both posed and answered by Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, who broke down 20 under-the-radar trade candidates. And among them was Giants wide receiver Kadarius Toney.
Kadarius Toney, WR, New York Giants
Signed through: 2024
He’s cheap (entering second year of rookie deal) and incredibly talented, but new general manager Joe Schoen didn’t draft him. Dave Gettleman did. So assessing his value doesn’t hurt anything. “He’s either going to be the best receiver in the league, or it completely won’t work out, and I’m not sure there’s much in-between,” an NFC coach said. “He’s electric with the ball, but there are still some concerns about focus and availability.”
It’s hard to envision a scenario in which the Giants further deplete their roster to limited financial gain. Trading Toney wouldn’t clear much space, but it would create an additional void at wide receiver. And why not see what head coach Brian Daboll & Co. can get out of him?
But the Giants do have other players who are more realistic trade options. Case in point: running back Saquon Barkley.
Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants
Signed through: 2022
It might be time. It has been four years. Barkley has high-quality traits, but the Giants need to exhaust all options for their rebuild. Enough teams are still enamored by his skill set that they could be interested in a potential deal. Many still view Barkley as a top-shelf tailback when healthy. He’s due $7.2 million on a fifth-year option, and doing a long-term deal in New York for the 2023 free agent just doesn’t make sense for either side. Barkley in San Francisco’s offense would be fun, and Tampa Bay could have an opening if free agent Leonard Fournette signs elsewhere.
How much would teams be willing to part with for a highly paid, oft-injured running back? Probably not much, but this is a scenario we could certainly see playing out.
Finally, Fowler listed one more Giant on his list: cornerback James Bradberry.
James Bradberry, CB, New York Giants
Signed through: 2022
Yes, another Giant on the list. Bradberry has battled in his two years in New York, producing four interceptions during a tough 2021 season for the whole franchise. He’s a solid starting option for several defenses. But at $13.4 million in 2022 salary with a $21.8 million cap hit, Bradberry is an easy target if the Giants need cap relief.
Losing Bradberry would be a hit to the team’s defense, but Schoen is full-steam ahead with this rebuild. Some quality players are going to be displaced and that’s just the way it’s going to be. Bradberry might be one.
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