As the New York Giants continue to rework contracts and figure out the future of the franchise under new head coach Brian Daboll, veteran running back Devontae Booker and tight end Kyle Rudolph will not be part of those plans.
The Giants cut Booker on Wednesday, freeing up $2.12 million in cap space and triggering a $1 million dead-money charge, according to NFL insider Matt Lombardo.
The #Giants have cut RB Devontae Booker, league source confirms (@DDuggan21 first). The move creates $2.12 Million in cap space, and triggers a $1 million dead-money charge.
Booker rushed for 593 yards and two touchdowns last season.
— Matt Lombardo 🏈 (@MattLombardoNFL) March 2, 2022
Booker, who was in his first season with New York, rushed for 593 yards and two touchdowns. Incidentally, that’s not that far off from the numbers that starting running back Saquon Barkley put up as well, though he missed four games with an ankle injury. Booker spent four seasons with the Denver Broncos and one with the Las Vegas Raiders before joining the Giants.
Rudolph was also cut on Wednesday in a move that cleared $5 million in cap saving for the franchise.
Kyle Rudolph’s release (if that is why he is saying farewell) includes $5 million cap savings with $2.45 million dead money #Giants
— Ryan Dunleavy (@rydunleavy) March 2, 2022
The 32-year-old had 26 catches for 257 yards with one touchdown in his lone year with the Giants, which were career lows for the longtime Minnesota Vikings tight end.
Thanks to everyone in the building who took in and helped this old guy who needed to relearn everything about a new organization.. Finally my teammates, in my 11 years in this league I'm not sure I've been around a closer group of guys!
— Kyle Rudolph (@KyleRudolph) March 2, 2022
Rudolph told Adam Schefter that he is not retiring and intends to keep playing if he can find a new team. In his career, he has 4,745 yards and 49 touchdowns.
The move clears the deck for the Giants at the tight end position. Current starter Evan Engram also is scheduled to be a free agent and the team will likely look to fill the spot in the NFL Draft. The team currently has the No. 5 and No. 7 overall picks in the 2022 draft.
Their plans at the running back position are a bit murkier as there has been a lot of chatter around Barkley’s future with the franchise but there are no decisions just yet.
[ESPN]
