6 Giants Defenders on Thin Ice After Shane Bowen Hiring

6. Rakeem Nunez-Roches

Rakeem Nunez-Roches' contract makes him a prime cut candidate this offseason. He stands to have a cap hit of $4.3 million next season, meaning the team could save $1.47 million cutting him (or $2.9 million by cutting him as a post-June 1 release).

Nunez-Roches started some games, sure. But we've already looked at how the depth options behind him at the defensive tackle position were playing.

At 30 years old with nine seasons of NFL experience under his belt, you'd really like to see Nunez-Roches look a lot less lost than he did all year in 2023.

After being a fine role player in Tampa (where he was carried by a lot of talent around him), Nunez-Roches was one of the weakest parts of the Giants' 2023 defense. Like many others, he struggled both as a pass rusher (50.5 PFF grade) and run defender (43.8 grade).

This isn't a young guy who might just need some time to reach his full potential. This is a long-time NFL vet.

Bowen may well decide he'd rather free up a couple million dollars to bring in a role player he's more familiar with (and confident in), and the Giants' front office would be wise to oblige.

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