The New York Giants are experiencing a bit of a salary cap crunch here in 2022, so their activity in free agency is likely to be limited. That means no big-ticket signings and no bidding wars for players.
That also likely means they’re out of the Mitchell Trubisky hunt despite the persistent rumors. Many anticipate Trubisky will command upwards of $10 million annually, and potentially even more.
That seems a bit excessive for Trubisky and is precisely why Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz of USA TODAY listed the quarterback among the 10 impending free agents who could be vastly overpaid.
Is this really happening? One year after being relegated to backup status in Buffalo following his disappointing run in Chicago reaching its end, the former No. 2 pick is surrounded by buzz of his potential ascension back to a starting role. Beyond the rave reviews he’s drawn from Bills coaches while sitting behind Josh Allen, it’s unclear exactly what got Trubisky back to this point. A weak draft crop of quarterbacks? Collective amnesia? Given his erratic decision-making and accuracy, Trubisky has proven only tenable as a starter when everything around him is clicking. That’s a setup unlikely to be offered by any team looking for a quick-fix behind center this offseason. Even for bridge starters, quarterback contracts can get unwieldy, so expect Trubisky to get a hefty sum.
There are some in love with the notion of the Giants signing Trubisky for reasons we can’t quite grasp. But with the way his market is shaping up, we won’t have to think about it much longer.
Another player who could be overpaid in free agency is Giants tight end Evan Engram. And although the team has told his representation they’d like to have him back under head coach Brian Daboll, it would have to come at a team-friendly price.
That’s not going to happen. Engram is now at or near the top of the tight end market.
The 6-3, 240-pound former first-rounder still demonstrates the kind of athleticism that will earn him additional chances, especially for those convinced his skill set was doomed in the Giants’ languishing offense. But with Engram now having five seasons under his belt, still struggling with drops and coming off career worsts in yards per game (27.2) and yards per catch (8.9), his appeal is more and more based in fantasy than reality. Still, it’s a good bet that some team will believe it can fix him. A lackluster draft class at tight end would seem to boost his bottom line, but Engram is essentially a big slot now. There are better, more efficient options elsewhere.
In addition to Engram and Trubisky, Middlehurst-Schwartz also listed Baltimore Ravens center Bradley Bozeman as a player likely to be overpaid. He, too, has been connected to the Giants through speculation.
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