Mathias

Kiwanuka

Recall that Kiwanuka was rated as the No. 1 overall prospect before last season. Not a lot of fantasy impact here yet, but Kiwi has 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble in two preseason games.

Without the new deal, Kiwanuka would have entered a contract year in 2012. The 29-year-old pass rusher has settled in as largely a strong-side linebacker in the Giants’ 3-4. Per Rotoworld offseason acquisition Mike Clay, Kiwi played 69 percent of his 2011 snaps at linebacker, 21 percent at end, and 8 percent as an interior tackle. Kiwanuka finished with a career high 84 tackles, 3.5 of them good for sacks. He’s now under contract through his age-32 season.

Kiwanuka received an $8.5 million signing bonus. His 2012 salary is guaranteed, as is over half of Kiwi’s $2.95 million salary in 2013. Kiwanuka is assured of being a Giant through his age-30 season, and is under control through his age-32 campaign. The Kiwanuka deal can’t be sitting well with Osi Umenyiora, who has been begging for a new contract several years running.

Kiwanuka has 12 days to get ready for Week 1, but groin injuries have a tendency to linger, so it’s not a given he’ll be ready for Opening Night against Dallas. Kiwanuka was having a big game before going down, abusing the Bears’ shaky line and routinely pressuring Jay Cutler.

“I’ll be ready,” Kiwanuka said after Friday’s preseason game. The Giants and Cowboys are squaring off four days before anyone else in Week 1, but Kiwi’s injury doesn’t sound like a threat to his Wednesday Night Football status.

And JPP may not be back anytime soon; his Week 1 readiness is in question. After playing linebacker the past two seasons, Kiwi is loving his position re-switch. “To be able to slap your hand in the ground and not have to worry about going from one position to the other, it makes it more comfortable when you’re out there,” Kiwanuka said. "... It was a move I was looking forward to.”

The $1.5 million was already a guaranteed portion of Kiwanuka’s $2.95 million salary. So he’s not losing any money. The simple restructure will give the G-Men a better chance to re-sign key free agents Martellus Bennett and Will Beatty. Kiwanuka, 30, managed just 37 tackles and three sacks as a 2012 role player.

Kiwanuka struggled at linebacker last season, and may be able to rejuvenate his career at his natural position. With Osi Umenyiora ticketed for Atlanta, Kiwanuka could push LE Justin Tuck across from RE Jason Pierre-Paul. The Giants figure to upgrade their linebackers in the draft, but for now have Keith Rivers on the strong side, Jacquian Williams at weak side, and Mark Herzlich in the middle.

Kiwanuka played out of position at strong-side linebacker last year and ended up with just 37 tackles and three sacks. The Giants currently have holes at both defensive end and linebacker, but moving Kiwi back to his natural spot seems like a no-brainer. Even at 30 years old, he’d be a reasonable third end behind Jason Pierre-Paul and Justin Tuck.

In a surprise, he’s already ahead of Osi Umenyiora. Coordinator Bill Sheridan’s plan is to use a three-man rotation at defensive end, also involving left end Justin Tuck. Tuck will easily be the best bet for tackles and sacks.