The Giants have exercised their fifth-year option on Prince Amukamara‘s rookie deal, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). The move ensures that the cornerback remains under contract with the team through the 2015 season.
Amukamara, 24, has steadily assumed a larger role in the Giants’ secondary in recent years, starting all 16 games for the club in 2013 and playing over 1,100 defensive snaps. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), the 2011 first-rounder played well as a full-time starter last season, ranking 34th among 110 qualified cornerbacks, with excellent grades against the run.
Still, the Giants’ decision on Amukamara wasn’t viewed as a slam dunk. The team added Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Walter Thurmond to shore up the cornerback position this offseason, and there are some lingering questions about Amukamara’s durability. When Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com broke down the 32 decisions in April, he predicted that the Giants wouldn’t exercise their option on the former 19th overall pick.
Now that it has been picked up though, that 2015 option will be worth $6.898MM. For now, it’s guaranteed for injury only, though it will become fully guaranteed on the first day of the 2015 league year. You can keep tabs on all of this year’s fifth-year option decisions with our tracker.