Victor Cruz, New York Giants Agree To 6-Year, $46 Million Deal

Recently signing his one-year first round tender worth $2.879 million, Victor Cruz appeared close to finally inking a long-term deal with the New York Giants.

According to multiple sources, the 26-year-old Patterson, New Jersey native agreed to a five-year deal on top of the one-year tender worth $46 million. Cruz's early contract expectations were to receive between $10 and $11 million per season along with a large chunk of guaranteed money but after months of negotiating, it appears the star wideout will remain in New York for the foreseeable future at a rate the Giants are comfortable with. The deal is also said to include over $15 million in guaranteed money.

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After it was made known that the Giants organization was not going to pay their Pro Bowl and Super Bowl champion wide receiver a double figure salary per season, the New York Daily News indicated that general manager Jerry Reese and New York Giants co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch would base their financial figure based on what the top slot receivers in football were receiving.

The Giants preferred to base their offer to Cruz on the going rate for the top "slot" receivers in the NFL, which was between $6 and 8 million per season. Their final offer was largely unchanged from the one the Daily News reported back in mid-June, when Cruz was still hoping to get them to up the ante to $9 million per year.

Knowing the Giants had no plans to increase their offer, Cruz and his new agents eventually lowered their demands, putting the talks on a path to an inevitable deal before the opening of training camp on July 26.

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Finally wrapping up a long timeframe of contract talks, Cruz and the New York Giants can now focus on the upcoming training camp that begins for veterans and rookies on July 26th. Touching on the fact that he believed New York would be the best fit for No. 80, John Mara knew that signing the receiver to a long-term deal would be a lengthy process.

"This is the right place for him to play," Mara told NFL Network this past June. He's a star in this area, he's an important part of our team, and I think we'll eventually get a deal done, but it's just a process that you have to go through. And we're going through it right now. There's communication, and it's slow but steady, and I think at some point we'll reach a deal."

Since becoming an every-down player for the New York Giants in 2010, Victor Cruz has been one of the most productive receivers in the NFL. With 168 catches for 2,628 yards and 19 touchdowns, the former University of Massachusetts standout should be able to pad his numbers alongside quarterback Eli Manning.

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