Coming off yet another last-place finish in the NFC East, the New York Giants are going to be attempting to cut some fat off their roster. That includes the likes of cornerback Janoris Jenkins and pass rusher Olivier Vernon.
While not fully in rebuild mode, aging veterans really don’t have a future in New Jersey.
Now, according to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo, the Giants have put the above-mentioned Vernon on the trade block.
The #Giants have discussed the possibility of trading LB Olivier Vernon, sources tell me and @RapSheet. The big score of free agency a few years ago, Vernon might have played his last down as a Giant.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 1, 2019
This is likely the Giants’ way of gauging trade interest in Vernon before they are ultimately forced to release him.
Vernon, 28, signed a five-year, $85 million deal with New York back in March of 2016. He’s slated to count a whopping $19.5 million against the cap in 2019. If the Giants were to trade or release Vernon, they’d save a cool $11.5 million in cash.
A former third-round pick of the Dolphins back in 2012, Vernon put up 21 quarterback hits and seven sacks in 11 games this past season — earning his first Pro Bowl nod in the process.
Though, the veteran’s contract will make it hard for New York to find a legitimate trade partner unless Vernon is willing to restructure.