The New York Giants created significant additional cap space for the rest of this offseason, by restructuring All-Pro defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence’s contract.
According to ESPN’s Field Yates, who first reported Dexter Lawrence’s restructuring, the Giants added $7.5 million in spending flexibility by converting $10 million of Lawrence’s base salary into a signing bonus.
Lawrence, originally chosen by the New York Giants in the first-round of the 2019 NFL Draft, has quickly ascended into one of the premier defensive linemen in the league.
Last season, Dexter Lawrence posted 74 total tackles with 4.5 sacks, as a matchup nightmare for opposing interior offensive lineman.
Through his first five seasons, Lawrence has produced 266 total tackles with 21 sacks.
How Much Cap Space Do The Giants Have After Dexter Lawrence Restructure?
General manager Joe Schoen and the New York Giants needed to do something to create cap space, following an aggressive first wave of free agency.
After trading for dynamic edge rusher Brian Burns , replacing running back Saquon Barkley with Devin Singletary, and fortifying the offensive line in front of quarterback Daniel Jones, the New York Giants were $4.64 million over the cap.
Now, after restructuring Dexter Lawrence’s contract, Schoen and the Giants have approximately $2.86 million in cap space. this likely won’t be the last cost-cutting move the Giants make, especially because Schoen must allocate cap space to signing the team’s incoming draft class next month.
More must-reads: