Victor Cruz was released by the Giants earlier today. The Legacy of Cruz in New York will be for the Giants second Manning Superbowl, when Hakeem Nicks and Cruz dominated the Patriots. The latter part of his flash in the pan career in New York would be spent dealing with injuries and making limited plays for the Giants offense. Cruz finished the season with 39 catches 586 yards and one touchdown. So what does that mean for the Giants and their quest to get back to the playoffs? It all starts at running back with the Cruz contract voided the Giants now have more space to chase an RB but who?
Adrian Peterson is a tempting name for the Giants to chase but he may not be the answer. The NFL has moved on from the one dimensional back. Peterson is just that a fantastic cutting power back but a net loss in the passing game. This is a problem if Ben McAdoo wants to incorporate a passing back into his system. Other problems with Peterson are more glaring. Injury has hit the 31 year old back twice and a decline seems likely soon.
The movement of Peterson will be largely based on the moves of upper mid-tier RBs like Eddie Lacy. Peterson would most likely not go to Green Bay but that would certainly be an option. So where do the Giants go from the release of Cruz? First off you try to lure big name Free Agent receiver Alshon Jeffery to pair up with young receiver’s Sterling Sheppard and Odell Beckham Junior. As for the running back situation a deep draft in that position benefits the Giants drafting Dalvin Cook, Christian Mccaffrey, or Leonard Fournette would be a good direction to go in for the Giants.
