Giants cornerback Prince Amukamara says that he doesn’t expect to discuss a new contract with the Giants before hitting free agency in March (Twitter link via SiriusXM NFL Radio). Noting that his agent instructed him to “open-minded” through the free agency process, Amukamara says that he hopes to return to the G-Men in 2016 (link).
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Amukamara, 26, has had an up-and-down run with the Giants since his entry into the league in 2011, but some of his problems can be chalked up to injury. Of course, that’s a double-edged sword when evaluating a free agent. Amukamara’s only 16-game season came in 2013 and in the last two years, he has only taken the field for 19 contests. Still, in his 11 games in 2015, Amukamara was a difference maker, notching 63 total tackles, 10 pass deflections, one fumble recovery, and one interception.
When healthy, Amukamara has demonstrated the ability that made him the No. 19 overall pick in the 2011 draft. I’d expect the Giants to make an effort to re-sign Amukamara before free agency officially gets underway, but the team will only go so far to retain him given the options that are out there at cornerback. If the bidding for him gets into the neighborhood of $10MM annually, that’s a price that the Giants probably won’t pay.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
In a different year, Amukamara would probably be able to command $10MM/year easily (and he still might get it, given the premium for talented corners), but considering the depth in this year’s free agent cornerback class, his injury history could make him a little bit of a harder sell at that price.
I see him taking a hometown discount at 7-8MM/year
In assuming when he hits the open market he will get a couple 8-9 million dollar offers, I see him taking the home town price at 6