Victor Cruz Gets First-Round Tender from New York Giants
By Josh Hill
As expected, the New York Giants are going to make it very hard and very costly for another team to swoop in and steal away restricted free agent Victor Cruz. The team has announced that a first-round tender has been placed on Cruz, meaning any team that signs him to a new contract will have to hand over a first round draft pick to do so.
John Mara tells reporters Victor Cruz will be tendered at the first-round level. #Giants
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) March 11, 2013
Sense I've gotten is that the Giants would like to take care of Nicks, the Cruz. High tender takes Cruz off the market, in essence.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 11, 2013
Cruz wasn’t the only Giant to be tendered on Monday. Mike Garafolo from USA Today reported that the Giants placed second round tenders on safety Stevie Brown and running back Andre Brown but mentioned that New York didn’t tender running back Ryan Torain. However, despite not receiving a tender, the Giants would like to have Torain back in 2013.
S Stevie Brown + RB Andre Brown both tendered at 2nd round level, Mara said. No tender on RB Ryan Torain but team wants him back.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 11, 2013
Cruz has already received a lot of attention, so much so that many are predicting a rare occurrence where a restricted free agent is actually picked up and signed but another team. But Cruz is creating a buzz and now multiple teams have two first round picks to play with as after the Percy Harvin trade the Minnesota Vikings and St. Louis Rams own two picks in the first round.
The Giants would like to hang onto Cruz but we could see him sign elsewhere for the 2013 season. Only time will tell but if someone comes after him, the Giants have made it known that the cost will be more than just whatever the amount on the contract Cruz signs.