New York Giants: Examining impact of recent releases

The New York Giants trimmed some of the fat of the roster, cutting ties with veterans Jon Beason, Geoff Schwartz and Will Beatty. What impact will these moves have moving forward?

In a move made to increase cap room, the New York Giants parted ways with three veteran starters. Inside linebacker Jon Beason, guard Geoff Schwartz and left tackle Will Beatty were all released by the team, according to NFL.com’s Connor Orr.

By cutting ties with Beason, Beatty and Schwartz, the Giants freed around $12 million in cap room.

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Although it’s currently unknown exactly what the team will do with the freed cap space, a certainty is that the 2016 New York Giants will be a very different team.

Say what you will about the recently-released trio, but losing three starters is not ideal for any team. With that being said, I think the Giants will suffice without Beatty and Schwartz, mainly because the offensive line doesn’t run through them.

The nucleus of the offensive line is made up of Justin Pugh, Weston Richburg, Ereck Flowers, and even Bobby Hart, to some extent. Beatty’s and Schwartz’s time in New York was running out, so these moves are neither overly surprising nor devastating to the team.

Beatty missed the entire 2015 season with a pectoral injury, but he was never great to begin with. Beatty was frequently penalized, and he was a good, but not great left tackle.

He probably didn’t want to take a substantial pay cut, even though he’s not worth what he was due to make. Beatty’s release likely signifies how much the team values Flowers.

Schwartz was signed prior to the 2014 season, but only played in 13 games during two seasons with the Giants. He was good when he was in, but he was in so infrequently that it was tough to justify paying him what he was due.

Essentially, neither player was worth the large sum of money they were set to make. Although losing two theoretical starters on the offensive line is always rough, the blow becomes easier when you realize the Giants’ offense succeeded in 2015 sans Beatty, as well as Schwartz for five games.

In regard to Beason, I think the Giants will struggle to find a replacement. Say what you will about Beason’s injury history, but he almost single-handedly fixed the Giants’ defense in 2013. That was a team with a bad secondary and average pass rush, but Beason’s presence immensely improved the unit. Obviously, Beason’s had lower body injury after lower body injury, and he’s likely headed to retirement.

The problem with Beason’s departure — it had to be done. I’m not saying they should’ve kept him, but his release creates an enormous hole — is the fact that the Giants currently have no alternative plan. ‘Uani Unga proved he cannot be a starting Mike linebacker in this league, and Mark Herzlich isn’t capable of doing so either.

Strong, efficient inside linebackers don’t just fall out of the sky.

The team could try to move injury-prone Devon Kennard inside. A more likely scenario, in my opinion, is making linebacker even more of a priority in free agency. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the team make a big, big offer to Denver’s Danny Trevathan.

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Beason was a class act and a team captain whom the Giants loved, so I think his departure will be the most damaging. It’s tough to replace a guy who was a good player, and a tremendous leader. The big reason for concern is the fact that the Giants will either have to lure a free agent, or draft a linebacker. Both are risky options.

Overall, these moves were moves that had to be made, and they reinforce what we already knew, that being New York is going to be big spenders in free agency. The Giants don’t really have a choice, though. With close to $55 million in cap room to work with — before contract restructures, etc. — the Giants absolutely have to try to improve the barren defense through free agency.