Sterling Shepard, the New York Giants’ longest-serving member, will return to the team under a restructured contract, according to NFL.com.
Shepard, due to an Achilles tendon rupture that ended his season, was due to receive a base salary of $8.475 million this season with a ceiling of $12.495 million. In 2023, these figures were to be $9.475 million and $13.495 million.
The terms of the restructuring of the deal have not yet been disclosed. Ralph Vacchiano of SNY reported that last year was erased from Shepard’s contractmeaning Shepard could move to free agency next offseason.
Shepard, a 2016 second-round pick, is the last remaining tie to the Giants’ 2016 playoff team, the last time they made the playoffs.
In 2021, he played seven games that were the lowest of his career. He had injuries to his hamstring, quadriceps, and calf before he tore his Achilles.
The 29-year-old Shepard has 349 receptions for 3,884 yards in his career, both tied for eighth on the franchise’s all-time list.
Shepard really had no choice but to accept a pay cut to stay with the Giants. A torn Achilles has called into question when he will be able to play in 2022, and with that in mind, he would probably have had a hard time finding a deal until the Giants released him during the season.
And, most likely, it would be less. He likely would have had a good chance of getting injury protection, which would have cost the team $2 million in cash and $1.2 million in the cap room on top of other dead money.
— Jason_OTC (@Jason_OTC) March 10, 2022