Shortly after the New York Giants traded wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to the Cleveland Browns and signed veteran Golden Tate to replace him, speculation arose that the team could explore trading Sterling Shepard as well.
The New England Patriots seemed like an obvious potential destination, and as recently as Wednesday morning, NFL experts debated the likelihood of that end.
That speculation can now cease.
Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports that the Giants and Shepard are finalizing a four-year, $41 million extension that includes $21.3 million in guarantees.
The 26-year-old Shepard, who was entering the final year of his rookie deal, will now be with the Giants through the 2023 season. And not only is it a rarity for the team to lock up their young players following their rookie deal, it’s almost unheard of in recent years.
A second-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, Shepard has appeared in 43 games (42 starts), hauling in 190 receptions for 2,286 yards and 14 touchdowns. He’s also rushed for 68 yards on 10 carries.
Initially slated to earn just $1.261 million with a cap hit of $1.891 million in 2019, Shepard’s cost will likely increase and possibly by a large margin.
