The Giants are leaning toward keeping linebacker Olivier Vernon, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Previously, it was believed that Vernon would either be traded or released outright. 
Vernon inked a massive five-year, $85MM deal with the Giants in 2016, under their old regime. The new regime explored the notion of moving Vernon in exchange for draft capital, but his contract is likely a barrier to getting a deal done.
Vernon, 28, gave the Giants a career-high 8.5 sacks in his first season with the club. He’s continued to get to the QB with 22 sacks over the course of three years, but injuries have cost him nine games over the last two campaigns. Last year, he averages four pressures per contest in eleven games.
Vernon is set to carry cap hits of $15.5MM in each of the next two seasons. Vernon would result in $11.5MM in cap savings, but would also saddle the team with $8MM in dead money. Meanwhile, productive edge rushers are hard to find, so moving on from Vernon doesn’t make a ton of sense on the whole.
Keeping Vernon will also give the Giants some consistency on defense, which they’ll need after moving on from star safety Landon Collins.