The New York Giants have $7.88 million in salary cap space after processing two contract extensions and the release of wide receiver Darius Slayton, enough room to operate through the 2026 season without forced restructures.
The figure took effect as top-51 accounting ended. General manager Joe Schoen and head coach John Harbaugh used the final days before Sunday night's opener against the Dallas Cowboys to settle the books rather than push money into later years.
With top 51 accounting ending today, the Giants have $7.88M in cap space after the extensions and Darius Slayton release were processed. That should give them enough space to get through the season without any restructures.
— Dan Duggan (@DDuggan21) September 9, 2026
Slayton was released on Monday after seven seasons in New York.
The 2019 fifth-round pick was in Year 2 of a three-year, $36 million deal that carried a 2026 cap charge near $15.9 million. As a post-June 1 cut, the Giants save about $3.16 million this year while absorbing $12.75 million in dead money now and $3 million in 2027.
Surgery in April and a quiet preseason left Slayton behind Malik Nabers, Malachi Fields, Darnell Mooney and Odell Beckham Jr.
A day earlier, New York agreed to a two-year extension with backup quarterback Jameis Winston worth up to $13 million and a two-year, $22 million deal with starting left guard Jon Runyan that includes $21.5 million guaranteed. Winston remains insurance for second-year starter Jaxson Dart.
Runyan returns between left tackle Andrew Thomas and center John Michael Schmitz.
The moves leave the Giants with workable cap flexibility heading into Week 1.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants create enough cap room to avoid restructures in 2026
