After missing all of last season and facing what is likely to be a reduced role, wide receiver Victor Cruz will stay with the New York Giants after restructuring his contract. The Giants announced that they had lowered the wide receiver's salary from $7.9 million to $1.3 million for 2016.
However, the team did include performance-based incentives that could bring Cruz's salary up to $5.5 million. The Giants have already pledged north of $200 million to free agents signed on the first day of free agency: cornerback Janoris Jenkins and a defensive line trio of Jason Pierre-Paul, Damon Harrison and Olivier Vernon.
I'm told WR Victor Cruz has agreed to a restructure with the #Giants. Involves moving some of his money from next year to incentives.
— Rand Getlin (@Rand_Getlin) March 10, 2016
Victor Cruz's 2016 contract: base of $1.3M, playing time incentives up to $5.5M plus production incentives to recoup rest, per source. #NYG — Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) March 10, 2016
With Odell Beckham Jr. quickly emerging as one of the NFL's top wide receivers, Cruz was likely to get less targets even if he did stay healthy over the last two seasons. It is unclear where Cruz will fall on the Giants' wide receiver depth chart, but it is obvious the team still thinks he has plenty to offer.
Outside of his injury-shortened 2014 season, Cruz managed 241 catches in his first three professional seasons for 3,626 yards and 23 touchdowns. But given Cruz's recent injury issues the Giants are likely to use the money they saved on his new deal to add wide receiver depth in free agency.
It seemed possible that Cruz would opt for free agency himself, as the team reportedly told him they would cut him if he was unwilling to take less money. Cruz maintained he did not want to play anywhere else though, and confirmed his new contract on Instagram.
Once a Giant always a Giant. See you in September.
A photo posted by Victor Cruz (@teamvic) on Mar 9, 2016 at 5:27pm PST
The Giants are coming off a 6-10 season in which they went 2-4 within the NFC East division. With their massive haul Wednesday, the Giants can now move on to other pressing defensive needs, such as linebacker and safety. With the Jenkins, Pierre-Paul, Harrison and Vernon signings considered, the Giants may look to do so via the 2016 NFL Draft.
Despite the free agency splurge, the team very well could opt for a defensive lineman since this year's class is rich at that position. Another possibility is to add a defensive back like Vernon Hargreaves or Mackensie Alexander. But if they opt to take an offensive player, running back Ezekiel Elliott and his well-rounded skill set would be a nice fit, assuming he is available with the 10th overall selection.
