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New York Giants Rumors: Is Mathias Kiwanuka On The Way Out?

By Kenneth Teape

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The New York Giants made a number of roster moves this week, moving an unprecedented five players to IR this week. Robert Ayers tore his pectoral, Geoff Schwartz injured his ankle, Adam Snyder injured his knee and Terrell Manning hurt his ankle as well. Arguably the biggest name to be placed on IR is Mathias Kiwanuka. The nine-year veteran has been a warrior for the Giants, but has his time run its course with Big Blue?

Since being selected in the first round by the Giants in 2006 out of Boston College, Kiwanuka has been a consummate professional. He did whatever was asked of him, as he started out as a defensive end, transitioned to a hybrid role at end and linebacker, linebacker fulltime and now back to defensive end the past couple of seasons.

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Kiwanuka has played in 126 games for the Giants, including 85 starts with the playoffs included. He has missed games in only three of his nine seasons, further justifying the sacrifice he has given the team. Unfortunately for Kiwanuka, his performance has steadily dropped off the past couple of seasons, and no longer looks like a player that warrants large amounts of playing time, let alone a starting gig like he has with the Giants.

Kiwanuka is not the sole reason for the Giants’ struggles defensively last season or this season, but he has been as much of a liability on the defensive line as anyone this season on the team. He registered only 28 tackles and 2.5 sacks across 11 starts and 558 snaps.

Along with his deteriorating play, Kiwanuka also has age and his contract working against him. Already on the wrong side of 30, Kiwanuka will be 32 when the 2015 season starts and looks to be past his prime. He would count $7.45 million against the Giants’ salary cap next season; the Giants can save $4.825 million by releasing him. That is the most likely scenario as the Giants have plenty of holes to fill on the roster, and have younger players such as Damontre Moore and Kerry Wynn that will be evaluated the remainder of the season and could be in for an increased role in 2015. 

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Kiwanuka has spent his whole nine-year career with the Giants, but it could easily be coming to an end after this season. It would signal an end of an era, at least defensively for the Giants, as Kiwanuka is the last remaining player on that side of the ball that has two Super Bowls with the team; the only other people that are around still from both Super Bowl winning teams are Tom Coughlin, Eli Manning and Zak DeOssie. All good things must come to an end, and it is looking more and more likely that Kiwanuka will be given his walking papers as an overhaul on the defensive side of the ball, much like the offense saw this past offseason, looks to be on the horizon.

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