Will Olivier Vernon be a Giant next year?
Will Olivier Vernon be a Giant next year?
Olivier Vernon was signed by the Giants at the conclusion of the 2015 season after the Giants struggled to get to the quarterback. The giants were almost dead last in sacks before they signed Vernon and they still find themselves at the bottom of the league almost every year in that category. Olivier is currently on a 5 year 85 million dollar contract that the past regime of Marc Ross and Jerry Reese gave him. Injuries have bugged Vernon throughout his career with big blue. Whether it is him actually missing games like this year when he suffered a high ankle sprain during training camp and cost him the first 5 games of the year or playing injured as he did in 2016 and 2017. The production was there later on in the season but him missing the first 5 games really hurt the Giants as they were unable to get to the quarterback late in games which cost them a couple victories early on in the season. The Giants had hidden success this year with the pass rushers Dave Gettleman drafted so the Giants may want to move him and explore other options in free agency and the draft. Olivier Vernon is not necessarily a sure thing to be in blue next season and I’m going to explain their options.
Trade
There are a couple of contenders that could definitely use another pass rusher and would be willing to trade the giants a mid to high draft pick to acquire the pro bowler. Olivier is only 28 years old and has plenty of good years of football if he can stay on the field. If the Giants really wanted to part ways with Vernon this is the first option Dave Gettleman and his staff would explore. To get another second or a third-round pick in this draft is a win for the Giants, having a lot of holes to fill on that defense that was very brutal to watch last year. This would be great especially since the draft class is loaded on the defensive side of the football.
Restructure
This seems like the fairest option for both the Giants and Vernon. It is not like Olivier proved he shouldn’t be on the team, his play was pretty good but the problem has been the injuries which have affected both his speed rushing the passer and ability to set that edge and stop the run. This allows Vernon to get another chance to prove to the Giants that he is here and here to stay. If Vernon can get a couple more sacks and play a full season he may earn himself another big contract with big blue.
Cut
This seems like the worst option here, to cut a talent like Vernon doesn’t make much sense. The giants would be saving 11.5 million dollars but also wasting 4 million in dead cap. To cut a guy who has made two pro bowls out of his three years with big blue would not be a popular decision with Giants fans. I wouldn’t take this out of the equation because of the fact that the Reese and Mcadoo regime brought him in and Mr. Gettleman and James Bettcher may think other guys can fit the system better.
It is going to be hard to get Vernon to restructure his contract. This may be a bad sign for the giants. There are options in free agency but New York isn’t the most attractive spot to sign right now having an aging Quarterback and a bunch of young weapons that can come across as immature and not ready to win. The most likely scenario is the giants let Vernon finish out his contract with big blue. The Giants aren’t known for taking big risks and letting Olivier walk would be a huge one. Dave Gettleman loves to stress the importance of a pass rush and if Vernon stays on the field he can be a premiere one in the league.
-By: Sam Kirk