3 surprise cuts NY Giants could make this offseason

3 surprise cuts the NY Giants could make this offseason

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - SEPTEMBER 14: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Evan Engram #88 of the New York Giants in action against Steven Nelson #22 of the Pittsburgh Steelers at MetLife Stadium on September 14, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Steelers defeated the Giants 26-16. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

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New York Giants strong safety Jabrill Peppers (Image via The Enquirer) /

1) S Jabrill Peppers

Jabrill Peppers is coming off his finest season as a professional, producing a career-high 91 total tackles with a career-high 2.5 sacks and one interception, but the cap-strapped Giants could move on from the 25-year-old to create spending flexibility in an offseason where resources will be tight.

In his fourth NFL season, and second in a Giants uniform after arriving as part of the Odell Beckham Jr. blockbuster trade in March, 2019, Peppers produced a 64.7 overall grade from Pro Football Focus as quarterbacks produced a 94.1 passer rating when targeting him.

Peppers is set to play under his fifth-year option in 2021, which is not yet fully vested. If the Giants release him prior to March 17 would clear upwards of $6.77 million in cap space off the books. Since the Giants currently have approximately just $1.33 million in cap space, per OverTheCap, moving on from Peppers makes some sense.

Given that the Giants signed veteran defensive back Logan Ryan to a three-year contract worth $31 million, including upwards of $6 million fully guaranteed, on Christmas Day, and believe 2020 second-round pick Xavier McKinney has significant upside, the spending flexibility created by moving on from Peppers might prove more valuable than what he would contribute on the field in 2021 and beyond.

Matt Lombardo is the site expert for GMenHQ, and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday for FanSided. Follow Matt on Twitter: @MattLombardoNFL.

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