Will Tye finished the 2016 season as the Giants’ starting tight end. He’ll be back to try to keep that job next season.
The Giants have re-signed Tye, according to ESPN. Re-signing Tye was simply a formality because he was an exclusive rights free agent (ERFA).
ERFAs are players with two or less seasons in the league. Once an ERFA player is tendered, he can only negotiate with his current team. The tender is a one-year minimum salary contract, which means Tye will earn $615,000 in 2017.
The Giants got good value on Tye last season, as he took over as the starting tight end after seven games and played 65 percent of the offensive snaps. Tye had 48 catches for 395 yards and one touchdown last season. The undrafted free agent out of Stony Brook emerged with 42 catches for 464 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie in 2015.
Tye is the third ERFA to re-sign with the Giants this week, joining fellow tight end Matt LaCosse and defensive tackle Robert Thomas. The Giants’ only remaining ERFA is fullback Nikita Whitlock. SNY reported that the Giants will not re-sign ERFA wide receiver Ben Edwards, who spent last season on injured reserve.
Tye, LaCosse, 2016 sixth-round pick Jerell Adams and fullback/tight end Will Johnson are the only returning tight ends. The Giants reportedly will not re-sign Larry Donnell, who was benched midway through last season. The Giants are expected to seek an upgrade at tight end in free agency or the draft.
Dan Duggan may be reached at dduggan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DDuggan21. Find our Giants coverage on Facebook.
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