Report says some in NYG organization “do not have a high opinion” of Okereke
Inside linebacker and defensive captain Bobby Okereke did not have the same impact for the New York Giants in 2024 as he had in 2023. Now, there is a report that Okereke might not have full support from within the organization.
Pat Leonard of the Daily News wrote:
There have been rumblings this offseason, from January through the NFL Combine, that some members of the Giants’ brass do not have a high opinion of linebacker and captain Bobby Okereke’s value to the roster entering the 2025 NFL season.
Okereke had a terrific 2023 season after signing a four-year, $40 million free agent contract. He had 149 tackles and career highs in sacks (2.5), passes defenses (10), forced fumbles (4), tackles for loss (11) and quarterback hits (6).
Okereke was also outspoken in his support of then-defensive coordinator Wink Martindale.
With Shane Bowen, far different than Martindale schematically, taking over the defense in 2024 Okereke was not nearly as impactful. He also missed the final five games of the season due to a herniated disc in his back.
Okereke admitted during the season that Bowen’s scheme was an adjustment for him.
Per Over The Cap, Okereke is due a $3 million roster bonus on March 17. If the Giants were to cut or trade the 28-year-old it figures they would do so before having to pay that bonus.
The Giants would take a $10.9 million cap hit this year by making Okereke a pre-June 1 cut, with a cap savings of $3.5 million in 2025 and $9 million in 2026, again per Over The Cap.
How the Giants would plan to replace Okereke, a defensive captain, is unknown. It would seem logical to try and find a way to get more production out of a good player and good locker room presence who is in his prime, but if he doesn’t fit what Bowen and the Giants want then anything could happen.
