Giants

Report: Giants & Victor Cruz $3M Apart In Guaranteed Money

June 18, 2013

Update:

Paul Schwartz of the New York Post reports that WR Victor Cruz is seeking $15-18 million in guaranteed money while the Giants are reportedly offering him $12-15 million in guarantees.

According to a “prominent” NFL agent, Cruz’s best move is to sign the contract that the Giants currently have on the table.

“I don’t see how he can’t [sign the deal] now, I don’t understand it, it’s just logic,’’ said the agent. “… I don’t see any scenario where he gets any more money than they have on the table right now, unless out of the goodness of their heart they decide to throw him a couple extra million.”

The agent goes on to point out that the Giants have never paid a wide receiver $11 million annually and doesn’t expect them to cave in and meet his asking price.

A recent report suggested that New York is offering Cruz close to $8 million annually, so there’s still some work to be done in the coming months if the Giants are going to prevent him from reaching the open market next season. Then again, they still have the franchise tag in their back pocket. For what it’s worth, the franchise tag for receivers was $10.53 million in 2013.

We have Cruz listed as the No. 4 player in our Top 50 – 2014 Free Agents list.

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Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News reports that Giants WR Victor Cruz will settle for no less than $9 million annually in his next contract.

Cruz continues to drop his asking as he was reportedly seeking as much as $11 million per year a few months ago. The Giants most recent offer is believed to be more than $8 million annually, so there’s a chance the two sides could get something worked out before he becomes a free agent.

Cruz finally gave in and signed his one-year restricted free agent tender, worth $2.879 million, which could have been reduced down to $630,000 had he not beaten the Monday deadline.

He’ll still need another accrued year of service to qualify for unrestricted free agency, so he’ll have only a small amount of leverage to work with once the season rolls around. The Giants also need to address the contract of fellow wide receiver Hakeem Nicks at some point as well.