The New York Giants surprisingly released Logan Ryan this offseason one year after resigning him on a three-year, $31-million contract. Ryan was a defensive team captain and a key asset to former defensive coordinator Patrick Graham’s secondary.
The new regime found Ryan expendable despite the $11.45 million incurred in dead money. Wink Martindale will look at third-year safety Xavier McKinney as the backend leader of the aggressive defense.
The loss of Ryan was compounded by Jabrill Peppers’ decision to follow Joe Judge to New England; retaining Peppers in the Giants’ current cap situation seemed highly unlikely.