Report: Giants asking former Oklahoma star to take significant pay-cut

The Giants are reportedly asking star wide receiver Sterling Shepard to take a significant pay-cut to stay in New York. According to Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post, the former Oklahoma star will only remain with the franchise at a discount.

“The Giants asked receiver Sterling Shepard to take a significant pay cut in order to return on a shortened one-year contract next season, according to a league source,” revealed Dunleavy. “As he recovers from a torn Achilles suffered in December, Shepard is scheduled to count an unmanageable $12.495 million against the salary cap.

“The Giants could save $4.505 million by cutting him and adding $7.99 million in dead cap.”

As Giants general manager Joe Schoen looks to fix the Giants’ salary cap problems, Shepard could be a casualty. Still, it looks like there’s a chance his story in New York isn’t over.

According to Dunleavy, the former Sooners star wide receiver is considering remaining with the Giants.

“Shepard is said to be considering the pay cut as he ponders his options,” wrote Dunleavy. “It is possible he could be ready to go for the start of the regular season, but he is unlikely to be available for spring camp.”

At the moment, Sterling Shepard is the longest-tenured player on the Giants. Still, New York is entering a new era under a new regime. Usually, that includes a bevy of changes.

Unless the former Oklahoma star is willing to be paid less to stay in New York, his time with the only team he’s known in the NFL could come to an end.

Giants GM Joe Schoen: ‘I’m open to everything.’

New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen isn’t ruling out the possibility of a Saquon Barkley trade. With the star running back having missed several games over the past two seasons because of injury, the new GM is willing to listen to offers.

“We’re still working through that, but I’m open to everything,” Schoen said, via Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com. “Like whether it’s trading player for player; I’ll listen to anybody. If it’s trading a couple players — I’m not going to say the entire roster, [that] we’re open for business on the entire roster. But if anyone is going to call and they’re interested in any of our players. I’m certainly going to listen.”

Schoen was hired this offseason after spending the past five years as the assistant general manager of the Buffalo Bills. He brought Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll along with him to be the team’s next head coach.

The young GM inherits a difficult salary cap situation, which could be a key factor in a potential trade of Saquon Barkley. The Giants are currently estimated at more than $11 million over the cap, according to ESPN’s roster management system. They will have to shed excess weight by cutting or trading some quality players.

Barkley, currently in the final year of his rookie contract, could be one of those pieces. The running back is set to enter is fifth NFL season, with a guaranteed salary of $7.2 million in 2022.

“We’re in a situation where unfortunately we have to get under the salary cap,” Schoen said. “We’re not in very good salary-cap health. Again, I’m not going to say yes to every deal, but I’m definitely going to listen and be open to the situations that are best for the New York Giants.”