Giants To Use First-Round Tender On WR Victor Cruz

Giants co-owner John Mara told reporters Monday the team, as expected, will place a first-round tender on the dynamic slot receiver.

Mara also said the team has made Cruz "a very substantial offer," enough to make the 26-year-old pass-catcher a "very wealthy young man," according to Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News. Cruz's camp reportedly still wants a chance to test the open market, but the tender gives New York security, any team making a play for Cruz will be forced to hand over a first-round draft pick to the Giants.

Mara understands the risk, he told the media he wouldn't "be surprised" if Cruz is signed to an offer sheet, but reiterated the Giants hope and believe they will eventually agree to a long-term deal with Cruz.

The first-round tender (even a second-round tender) typically prevents restricted free agents from defecting, but Cruz is unique, NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reported that "a ton of interest" surrounds the three-year pro, with "plenty of teams just waiting for their opening" once free agency begins Tuesday.

"There is enough interest in Cruz to make me think this could be the year someone bites on an RFA," Rapoport noted.

Source: NFL.com

 

Someone should easily go after him hell Percy was worth a first plus some why not Cruz for a first?

 

A first rounder for him.....I'd be down with that.

 

a team with a late first rounder should look his way

 

Patriots or rams will pick him up.Giants are dumb.

 

I wouldn't say that. He is an undrafted free agent. It's a win win for them. He gets signed, BOOM. First round pick. If he stays, he's still one hell of a player.

That being said, he won't be half the player he is now if he leaves NY.

 

49ers should bite. LATE first and pairing Cruz with Crabtree sets him up to do what he did in NY. Odds of SF getting Cruz level production out of the 31st pick is slim

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think theyd give up on AJ Jenkins that quick?

 

not even freaking close.

Hes a prototype slot WR, he does well in his role in the giants option route offense, which is a pretty complex offense and he shows tremendous chemistry with manning. But giving up a first rounder and paying him like hes a #1 WR is insane.

Giants are frustrated with contract talks because he wants too much for the player he is when nicks is head and shoulders better and more valuable to the team.

I think he has a great role in the giants offense, but i cant see him putting up anywhere near the production he does anywhere else, especially as a #1 WR. Its kind of a knock on cruz, but its also kind of saying hes in the perfect situation in NY

I think cruz is a players whos fantasy football production has skewed the public's perception of the caliber of player he is. If the giants get a first rounder for him they are getting away with slight robbery, but hey good for them at least they'd get something for him

 

Wouldn't be giving up on him. How long do you think Bolden is going to stick around. And how much longer do they have Crabtree locked up. Jenkins can battle Boldin for the #3 WR slot, which Boldin winning at this stage in his career isn't a forgone conclusion

With Cruz, Crabtree, and Jenkins you have the possiblity to give SF the NFLs best WR set, and with Cruz's ability in the slot, oneg that works together well, as well as options in the event Crabtree asks for more the you are willing to pay

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worked out so well with manningham lol

If cruz is looking for bowe and soon to be harvin/wallace money hes insane. Hes literally a perfect fit for the giants and one candidate that should really consider a hometown discount

 

As a NFC East fan I can tell you Manningham is garbage. Always has been, always will be.

Cruz isn't anything like Manningham. Cruz can play any WR spot on the offense, and can play inside in 3 WR sets. The difference between Cruz and other slot WRs, even elite ones like Welker is that Cruz has the ability to destroy a team deep from the slot position as well as work underneith. When Cruz is in the slot, you aren't defending him over the middle, your defending him deep

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I can't believe you just compared Cruz to Manningham lol

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soooooo directly related with the complexity of their offense and his chemistry with manning.

i think the steelers overpaid for antonio brown with a 5 year extenstion for $42 million, i say that because they only did it to say **** you to wallace.

I use this because i think brown was a perfect compliment to wallace, but wallace needed brown too. Thats pretty much how i see Nicks/Cruz. Nicks is pretty close to wallace when it comes to production over their first 3-4 years, which is a rarity for a young WR to step in and be so productive, but i think brown and cruz benefited greatly from their production, especially when it came to down field throws and scoring TDs, cruz and brown ate up underneath stuff.

Cruz has brown in the TD department, which to me is mostly because of scheme, but imo they are pretty similar players. It pains me that the steelers pay brown that deal with hopes of him replacing wallace as the #1 , its the salary of an upper tier #2 but it was a premature deal just to piss wallace off.

Anyway, thats probably where cruz should be looking for a salary (from the giants at least), but since he has been so productive its natural for him to want more...i just think investing in him like hes bowe, or like how nicks deal is going to be coming up soon would be a huge mistake, but he MAY be able to get that kind of money from another team that wants that production, i just dont think hes going to go anywhere and put up numbers like he is in NY which is what teams that are going to trade for him and pay him are going to want. Hes literally in such a perfect situation, i think it would be wise for him to give a hometown discount and stay with the giants as long as he can...its just not the nature of the business

I guess the giants have made him a high offer but cruz is generating enough buzz to make it worthwhile for him to see what other offers he could get, which doesnt happen very often with RFAs. I think its pretty insane, but i kinda like cruz so good for him, hes playing it well. Should be interesting at least

fantasy football has hecked the giants, nicks is a far superior WR and they know it...he'll get paid big from them. Cruz has been very productive as a result of how good nicks is and how good manning runs that offense...not that cruz is a complete slouch, but a team thats gonna give up a first for him and pay him like a #1 is going to look dumb in a few years because they wont be running the same type of offense, or completely abandon the run like the giants did

 

I cant believe someone compared cruz to harvin and bowe

i wasnt really comparing them as players, just that they were both products of the system....so was steve smith.

Its the NFLs most complex offense, but in terms of numbers its very inflating with all things considered. I just think its insane to give up a first for cruz.

 

Disagree, as someone that's had to root against Cruz I can tell you Cruz has a diverse skillset, he can play anywhere on the field and is a big reason why Manning has been a more effective QB. He isn't a true #1 really, more like a better version of Percy Harvin (albeit two completly different players) as a player that can thrive in multiple spots on the field which offsets the fact he isn't a true #1 . Nicks is definitely the better WR, but he also benefited greatly from attention Cruz got. When you have to keep a safety up top to defend a slot WR, it makes the X WRs job alot easier ( to a lesser extent it works with us with Austin in the slot and Bryant outside).

You add Cruz and Crabtree is seeing one on ones on almost every third down

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I'd have no issue with 31 for Cruz but I doubt they go there. They have been talking like they expect Jenkins to be stepping into a starting role this year, and definitely tend towards cheaper vet options to spot fill while their own talent develops rather than big name high cost FA/trades. Boldin, Moss, Manningham, etc types.

 

I can't understand how people still deny Cruz his due. This guy can ball. Great routes, speed, good hands, paired with another good wideout that can ensure he doesn't see double teams, he can be a nightmare.

I would love someone to give up a first and take this guy from the Giants. I hate playing against this hecker.

 

this

 

No way id give up a 1st rounder for cruz. Thats only for a select few WRs.