The Giants released a pair of veteran linebackers Wednesday and freed up $13 million in salary-cap space in the process.
The team announced that Alec Ogletree and Kareem Martin have been let go.
The Giants acquired Ogletree in March 2018 in a trade with the Los Angeles Rams. The 28-year-old inside linebacker played in 26 games (all starts) over two seasons with Big Blue, contributing 173 tackles, two sacks, six interceptions -- two returned for touchdowns.
By cutting Ogletree, Big Blue will absord $3.5 million in dead cap space in 2020 but have an additional $8.25 million to spend.
Martin, 28, signed a three-year, $15 million contract with the Giants in March 2018, following his former defensive coordinator with the Arizona Cardinals, James Bettcher, to New York. Bettcher was not retained after head coach Pat Shurmur was fired in December.
In his two years with the Giants, Martin, an outside linebacker, played in 21 games (seven starts) and registered 54 tackles and 1 1/2 sacks. He was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury last season in September and returned in December, playing in just five games on the year.
The Giants will eat $1.17 in dead money for releasing Martin but free up $4.8 million in cap space.
Before the moves, the Giants were $62 million under the salary cap, according to OverTheCap.com. But general manager Dave Gettleman has said he plans to use a conservative approach to free agency this year.
