Victor Cruz is looking for a raise this off-season, and if the New York Giants wish to be back in the Super Bowl any time soon, they will get the play-making receiver locked up as quickly as possible.
Unfortunately, it appears the Cruz and his team may be on different ends of the spectrum at this time. Owner John Mara told the Newark Star-Ledger’s Jenny Vrentas that the wide out is asking for too much. Meanwhile, ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting that fellow receiver Hakeem Nicks is being favored over the salsa-dancing superstar in contract negotiations.
Prioritizing Nicks over Cruz could appear to be a questionable call as the former has struggled mightily with injuries over the last two seasons. The 25-year-old had his worst season to date in his four-year NFL career with just 692 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
With one year remaining on his current contract, it may seem smarter to work on a deal for Cruz and see if Nicks can stay healthy in 2013. But if the Giants can lock up Nicks, they would likely have a better idea of what kind of contract they can give Cruz.
The one-time Pro Bowler is a restricted free agent meaning, if the Giants choose to, they can slap a first-round tender on him (approximately equal to $2.742 millon). By doing so, any team willing to sign him would have to give New York a first-round draft pick in return.
There will be teams in the back end of that first round willing to trade for the 26-year-old receiver as Cruz is coming off his second consecutive season with more than 1,000 receiving yards. He was the Giants’ most dependable scoring threat, leading the team with 10 touchdowns. Capable of making the big play at any moment, he has proven to be a valuable commodity.
However, the Giants view Nicks as a legitimate No. 1 receiver for their offense and Cruz has certainly fared better out of the slot when Nicks is on the field. The threat of Nicks on the outside opens up all kind of opportunities for Cruz, who almost always makes the most of them — consider his 99-yard touchdown reception against the New York Jets in 2011.
Cruz had 86 receptions this season (four more than in 2011), but his yardage saw a dramatic drop. With Nicks hurt for most of the season, his fellow receiver averaged five yards less per catch and was limited in the big plays.
For No. 80 to excel, he’s going to need Nicks on the field along with him. The two combined for 158 receptions, 2,728 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2011 and the season culminated in a Super Bowl victory. The Giants would love to keep the dynamic duo together and it appears that they believe signing Nicks to a long-term deal first will help ensure that they do.
It’s clear that Victor Cruz wants to be with the New York Giants for the foreseeable future. The team would prefer to avoid risking his departure but right now, he may just have to be patient and see what comes his way.
Louis Musto is a contributor to the Sports Journey Broadcast Network. You can follow him on Twitter @LouisMusto.