Expensive contract could leave veteran tight end vulnerable"

/>Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesHorizontal - WhiteBig Blue Viewa New York Giants communityLog In or Sign UpLog InSign UpFanpostsFanshotsSectionsLibraryGiantsOddsAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 322 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections New York Giants NewsGiants Training Camp 2016Giants vs. Eagles 2015 New York Giants Jersey 2019 , Week 17Filed under:New York Giants NewsGiants’ 90-man roster: TE Rhett Ellison is steady, but could find himself on the roster bubbleNew,36commentsExpensive contract could leave veteran tight end vulnerableEDTShareTweetShareShareGiants’ 90-man roster: TE Rhett Ellison is steady, but could find himself on the roster bubbleRhett Ellison runs with the ball.Photo by Ed Mulholland/Getty ImagesHis two seasons with the New York Giants have been the most productive of Rhett Ellison’s seven-year NFL career. What is in store for the veteran tight end in 2019? Let’s discuss as we continue looking at the 90-man roster the Giants will bring to training camp.The basicsHeight: 6-foot-5Weight: 255Age: 30Position: Tight endExperience: 82018 season in reviewEllison set career highs in catches (25), yards receiving (272) and yards receiving per game (19.4). Those topped the previous career-bests of 24, 235 and 14.7 he established with the Giants in 2017. He has become a reliable underneath target for Eli Manning in the Giants’ passing attack.The Giants utilized 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends) 24 percent of the time in 2018, more than all but five other teams. Ellison was nearly always part of that package, with Evan Engram when Engram was healthy and with Scott Simonson the rest of the time. He played 557 snaps, the second straight year in which he was on the field for more than 500 snaps with the Giants’ offense.2019 outlook At first glance, Ellison’s role shouldn’t be much different than it has been the past two seasons. A reliable blocker and underneath option in the passing game. A solid, quiet presence in the locker room.But ...Ellison is in the third year of a four-year, $18 million contract. That is fairly exorbitant for his steady, but modest, production. Could Ellison actually be a player on the roster bubble entering training camp?Simonson, a similar but less experienced player, was re-signed to an inexpensive one-year 2019 Dexter Lawrence Jersey , $805K contract. What is they are really impressed during training camp or the preseason by second-year man Garrett Dickerson or undrafted free agent C.J. Conrad? Or if undrafted free agent Eric Dungey excels in the hybrid quarterback/tight end role in which the Giants have given him an opportunity.The Giants could save $4.5 million against the cap this season and $5 million in 2020 while taking on only $1.25 million in dead money each year by making Ellison a post-June 1 cut. That’s not a prediction, but it is something to keep in mind. Remember when it was called the NFC Beast? Now, it’s a pussy cat.Washington leads the division at 2-2, followed by Dallas and Philadelphia at 2-3, New York at 1-4. The Giants host the Eagles — the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles, who have looked anything but title worthy so far — on Thursday night.Eagles coach Doug Pederson has cited “self-inflicted wounds” as a major reason for injury-riddled Philly’s struggles. His offensive coordinator, Mike Groh, concurs.“We obviously don’t condone those kinds of mistakes,” Groh says. “The guys that are responsible for that, we’ve talked to those guys. Those things can’t happen. I mean, they just can’t happen. That’s simple football. We’ve got to get out of the huddle, we’ve got to get lined up, and we’ve got to know where we’re supposed to be and what our assignment is. We’ve got to do a better job collectively of teaching that, and then when we get out there, everybody has to know what to do and where to line up. Those things have to be eliminated.”The Giants eliminated a lot of those things at Carolina last Sunday and made an impressive comeback, only to fall on Graham Gano’s 63-yard field goal with 1 second remaining.“These guys love to play the game, it’s their livelihood Dexter Lawrence NFL Draft , but they certainly play it with great emotion and great passion and they just keep playing,” coach Pat Shurmur says.“As we get better — I think we played better last week — we need to find 63 more yards somewhere to get the win. But we played better and we’ve got to continue on that path. Then eventually it will crack.”Philadelphia, ranked 15th in the AP Pro32, is a 3-point favorite over the No. 28 Giants. The short week probably is more damaging to the Eagles.GIANTS, 22-20KNOCKOUT POOL: Thanks, New England. Very tough choice this week, will gamble on TEXANS.No. 6 Carolina (pick-em) at No. 18 WashingtonGetting Panthers at a bargain price.BEST BET: PANTHERS, 26-20No. 12 Pittsburgh (plus 2 1-2) at No. 5 CincinnatiReally like what Bengals are doing, but pick them here? Sorry.UPSET SPECIAL: STEELERS, 21-20No. 1 Los Angeles Rams (minus 7) at No. 25 DenverNFL’s most talented roster keeps unbeaten season going.RAMS, 30-20No. 2 Kansas City (plus 3) at No. 4 New EnglandExpect a load of points, and a victory for …PATRIOTS, 37-31No. 11 Los Angeles Chargers (minus 1) at No. 16 ClevelandChargers remember that 2016 loss to Browns, who went 1-15 that season.CHARGERS, 22-17No. 19 Seattle (minus 2 1-2) vs. No. 31 Oakland at LondonIs Jon Gruden wondering about going back to ESPN booth?SEAHAWKS, 25-20No. 8 Chicago (minus 3) at No. 17 MiamiBears favored on road? Dolphins should have won last week, will this week.DOLPHINS Color Rush Deandre Baker Jersey , 19-17No. 29 Indianapolis (plus 2) at No. 24 New York JetsIf only Colts were healthier, this would be upset special.JETS, 30-26No. 22 Tampa Bay (plus 3 1-2) at No. 27 AtlantaInjuries have ruined Atlanta’s season already.BUCCANEERS, 31-29No. 26 Buffalo (plus 7) at No. 21 HoustonBills are gutsy, Texans are gutsy and more talented.TEXANS, 21-10No. 10 Baltimore (minus 2 1-2) at No. 13 TennesseeTitans are gutsy, Ravens are more talented. But …TITANS, 20-16No. 7 Jacksonville (minus 3) at No. 23 DallasIs anyone more inconsistent than Jacksonville? Well, maybe Dallas is.JAGUARS, 19-17No. 30 Arizona (plus 10 1-2) at No. 9 MinnesotaSo the Cardinals got a win. Big deal.VIKINGS, 30-16No. 32 San Francisco (plus 10) at No. 14 Green Bay, Monday nightPackers make too many mistakes to be so heavily favored.PACKERS, 27-20