The New York Giants will be releasing linebacker Connor Barwin after one disappointing season with Big Blue.
Sometimes free agent signings just don’t work out for the team nor the player. It seems that is the case here with the New York Giants and linebacker Connor Barwin.
On Tuesday, Barwin posted on Instagram that he won’t be playing for Big Blue next season. Although not an official release just yet, this marks the beginning of the end for Barwin’s short-lived tenure in New York.
The Giants signed Barwin to a two-year, $3.5 million contract last offseason. The now-10-year veteran had previously been drafted in the second round by the Texans in 2009 out of Cincinnati. Barwin played for the Texans, the Eagles, and the Rams before the Giants. He made the Pro Bowl and was a second-team All-Pro in 2014.
Big Blue hoped Barwin could come in and add depth to the pass-rushing core at linebacker. However, he only racked up one sack and 12 tackles through 15 games. This put him as one of the lower-producing linebackers on that entire defense.
Barwin was slated to make $1.25 million in 2019 and by releasing him, the Giants would still take a $365,000 hit in dead money next year. However, it would clear a roster spot for a possible rookie or free agent linebacker for the Giants.
Again, sometimes it just doesn’t work out for the team and for the player. In 2018, the Giants and Barwin just didn’t mesh well together. As a linebacker brought in to specifically help improve the pass rush, you need to produce more than just one sack on the year.
With Giants LB Olivier Vernon on the hot seat as well this offseason, linebackers Lorenzo Carter and Kareem Martin are expected to bring more to the table in 2019.
Here’s hoping Barwin finds more success in the NFL in future years.
