Giants cut linebacker Bobby Okereke ahead of NFL free agency to free up cap space
Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke after making an interception against the Cowboys at MetLife Stadium on Jan. 5. Credit: Ed Murray
Bobby Okereke was one of the Giants’ key free signings in 2023. After three seaosns, the inside linebacker’s tenure with the team is over.
Okereke was informed Tuesday that he’ll be waived, a league source confirmed to Newsday. It was an expected move since the Giants would free up $9 million in cap space by releasing him.
Okereke, a team captain in each of his three Giants seasons, led the Giants with 143 tackles last season. He was also the team’s nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award. However, his play declined after the 2023 season. In 2024, Okereke suffered a season-ending back injury after 12 games.
“There’s always a lot of outside noise, a lot of outside distraction but for me, as a player, I keep a growth mindset. I’m always trying to improve,” Okereke said after the Giants’ season finale win over the Cowboys.
It’s one of the first dominoes of coach John Harbaugh re-shaping the roster. The Giants could make more cuts ahead of free agency beginning next Wednesday since prior to Okereke’s release, they had just $1.8 million in cap space, according to OverTheCap.
Okereke, who turns 30 in July, was due a $3 million roster bonus later this month and was entering the last year of his contract..
The Giants will now be aggressive replacing Okereke in free agency. During Harbaugh’s time with the Ravens, he had standout middle linebackers with Hall of Famer Ray Lewis and All-Pro selections Patrick Queen, C.J. Mosley and Roquan Smith.
The Giants might also address the position in next month’s draft with the No. 5 pick. Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles could be a target after Styles had an impressive showing last week at the NFL combine.
As for more potential roster cuts, the team could add $15.2 million in cap space by releasing offensive lineman James Hudson, running back Devin Singletary and kicker Graham Gano.
Hudson signed a two-year contract last spring and started the first two games at left tackle with Andrew Thomas hurt. In Week 2, however, Hudson was benched after a historic penalty meltdown on the Giants’ opening drive.
He became the first player since at least 2000 to commit four penalties on the same drive. Hudson played just one additional offensive snap the rest of the season.
Singletary fell to third in the pecking order after Cam Skattebo was drafted last season. He and Tyrone Tracy handled the load after Skattebo’s season-ending ankle injury but now Tracy and Skattebo are established as the team’s lead backs.
Gano played just five games last season, his fewest since 2012. In the last three seasons, he’s played just 23 of a possible 51 games because of various injuries.
Gano also turns 39 in April so the Giants could look for a younger, healthier alternative at kicker.
Harbaugh will have tough decisions to make with current players and in free agency. The Giants are trusting his judgement after giving him a reported $20 million per year contract and more power within the organization since he was hired in January.
With the Giants going 7-27 the last two seasons, there’s urgency to turn things around quickly.
“What we’re trying to do together as a group is just build the best football operation that we possibly can,” Harbaugh said at the combine. “And out of that, create the best football team that we can.”
How that team looks by training camp will be different without Okereke in the middle of the defense. But it’s just another step of roster moves to come as Harbaugh tries to mold the Giants into an improved unit.
Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
More Giants
