If there was any lingering questions about the future of New York Giants linebacker Alec Ogletree, they have now been squashed.
The Giants had until 4:00 p.m. on Friday to make adjustments to Ogletree’s contract if they wanted to avoid paying him a $6 million bonus for remaining on the 90-man roster, but that deadline came and went without any movement or restructuring.
Instead, Giants general manager Dave Gettleman opted not to kick the can down the road and let Ogletree collect on his bonus.
By paying out the roster bonus, the Giants essentially commit to Ogletree and his contract for the 2019 season, which includes a base salary of $4 million and a total cap hit of $11.75 million.
Ogletree joined the Giants last offseason in a trade with the Los Angeles Rams, and he provided a solid veteran presence in the middle. And while his coverage skills are a bit suspect at times, Ogletree did bring a high football IQ and much-needed leadership to the team’s locker-room.
Given that the Giants just traded away wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and allowed safety Landon Collins to walk, having a veteran presence like Ogletree to help keep the locker-room together is paramount. After all, it’s hard to sell getting rid of the team’s best and most respected players.
In his first season with the Giants, Ogletree appeared in 13 games, recording 93 tackles, six stuffs, one sack, eight passes defensed and an impressive five interceptions.
