There is no question Victor Cruz is one of the best receivers the New York Giants have ever had. However, his time with the Giants could be coming to an end if he doesn’t restructure his deal.
Cruz has missed one and half seasons, last hitting the field in an October 12, 2014 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles where he tore his patellar tendon. He was cleared to play in Week 10 of this past season against the New England Patriots but would not be active and would later undergo surgery on his calf.
There is no question Cruz is a hard worker who loves the Giants, and there’s no doubt he has the drive to get back on the field. The question is what he has left after missing the last 26 games. He is also very expensive, having signed a five-year, $45.879 million contract extension in 2013. Even though the Giants are entering the offseason with a lot of cap space, they will need all the help they can get to fill major holes in their roster and getting Cruz to restructure his contract might be best for both parties.
It isn’t like a wide receiver who has missed almost two years of football will be a highly sought-after commodity on the free agent market. The Giants still need Cruz, and he can still offer the Giants something in the slot, as long as he is healthy. It would be a risk, but it’s one the Giants should take so long as he restructures to a more team-friendly contract.
The Giants can’t afford to keep Cruz on the roster with his cap hit. Not when they have major holes to fill on the defensive line, wide receiver and the defensive backfield. Those are expensive areas to upgrade, and with Rueben Randle likely to not be re-signed, the Giants could use some help and insurance in case Cruz isn’t the players fans have come to know.
Taking a pay cut might not be best for Cruz, but it ensures he stays in the NFL with the only team he has known where he has a bit of celebrity as a hometown hero. It would allow him to rebuild his value and possibly garner a larger paycheck down the road.
