According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Media, the Giants are expected to make a “legitimate run” at re-signing free agent DE Jason Pierre-Paul to a long-term contract in the days or weeks.
“I do expect them to make a legitimate run in the coming days and weeks,” Garafolo said. “They will try and get a deal done before he can potentially hit the free agent market.”
This comes shortly after the team picked up $10 million of available cap space by releasing veteran WR Victor Cruz (NFLTR) and RB Rashad Jennings (NFLTR).
Locking up Pierre-Paul long-term will obviously be expensive, as he’s in line to be among the best available free agents and plays a premium position.
Ralph Vacchiano of SNY previously reported that Pierre-Paul has his sights set on “at least” the five-year, $85 million contract signed by fellow Giants’ DE Olivier Vernon last year.
According to Vacchiano, it’s possible that Pierre-Paul could target even more money than Vernon got when you consider the amount of available cap space for teams to work with this offseason.
Last month, Pierre-Paul made it clear that he has no intention of signing another one-year contract this offeason.
“I’ve done proved it,” Pierre-Paul said, per Garafolo. “There’s not a guy like me doing it with seven and a half fingers.”
It would cost the Giants 20 percent more to use their franchise on him again in 2017.
Pierre-Paul, 28, is a former first-round pick of the Giants back in 2010. He received the team’s franchise tag last year but later had it rescinded after he suffered a serious injury to his hand.
The two parties later renegotiated a one-year deal worth up to $8.71 million based on incentives and Giants elected to bring him back this past offseason on a one-year, $10 million contract that included $4.25 million guaranteed.
In 2016, Pierre-Paul has appeared in 12 games and recorded 54 tackles, seven sacks, three forced fumbles, a recovery returned for a touchdown and eight pass defenses.
We have him featured in our Top 100 – 2017 Free Agents list.
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