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As the sports world is halted by the recent events in the world, the NFL still provides significant news on the free agent front. Here are a list of releases from Friday the 13th:
The Bengals: Cut 30-year -old offensive tackle Cordy Glenn
The Chargers: Cut 36-year-old linebacker Thomas Davis and 35-year-old defensive tackle Brandon Mebane
The Lions: Cut 30-year-old offensive tackle Ricky Wagner
The Titans: Cut 35-year-old tight end Delanie Walker and 33-year-old kicker Ryan Succop
The Vikings: Cut 29-year-old cornerback Xavier Rhodes and 31-year-old former New York Giants defensive tackle Linval Joseph
Could any of these players interest the Giants?
The Bengals saved $9.5 million on the cap by cutting Glenn, who missed the first 11 games of 2019, yet ranked 38th among tackles according to Pro Football Focus. The Bengals were attempting to trade the former Buffalo Bill, but there were no takers at the backend of his five-year $60 million deal. Glenn was set to be a free agent in 2021. If Glenn is up for a prove it deal, the Giants may be enticed to talk with his representatives depending on how the market views a 30-year-old, often injured, tackle.
The Chargers saved $13.4 million in cap by releasing veteran linebacker Thomas Davis and veteran defensive tackle Brandon Mebane. Davis’ release will cost the team $4 million in dead cap, which brings that total down to $9.4 million. I don’t see the Giants going in this direction, even if Davis can be had at a discounted price.
The Lions save $9 million in cap by releasing the veteran tackle, but will eat $5.8 million in dead cap. Wagner struggled in 2019, but has been solid over the years for the Lions and the Ravens.
The Titans save $6.4 million against the cap by releasing Walker, and $1.3 for the Succop release. Walker has struggled to stay healthy and was losing snaps to young tight end Jonnu Smith in Tennessee. The two players join running back Dion Lewis and Cameron Wake on the chopping block for the Titans; the latter may peak the Giants’ interest at a small price.
The Vikings save $10.5 million against the cap after cutting Rhodes, and $11.7 million for cutting Joseph, according to Ian Rapoport. The Vikings may look to bring back Rhodes, if he does not find a suitor that is willing to pay him, which he may not because his play fell off in 2019 as he gave up completions on 83.5 percent of the passes thrown in his direction.
Just a reminder that all of these players CAN sign with teams right now and don’t have to wait for the new league year.
Franchise Tag
- The Chargers also franchise tagged tight end Hunter Henry, who has dealt with injuries throughout his career, but has a lot of talent in both phases of the tight end position
- The Broncos placed the franchise tag on Justin Simmons; a potential Giants target on the backend of the defense is now locked up for the Broncos for the next season, which was expected.
- The Ravens slapped the franchise tag on EDGE rusher Matt Judon, who would have also been a target for the Giants. But like most of us predicted, he received the franchise tag, which is a smart move by Baltimore.