ESPN NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler reports that the New York Giants are waiving veteran edge defender Boogie Basham prior to Week 8. As reported by ESPN’s Jordan Raanan on October 21, the cut seems to be consistent with the signing of Armon Watts to the active roster. “[The] team [is] giving [the] former Day 2 pick [a] chance to get [a] fresh start elsewhere,” Fowler continued while announcing the departure on October 22, “but [Basham is] welcome back on the practice squad.”
The Giants acquired Basham in August 2023, little over a year ago, as you may remember. News of the cut prompted Raanan to remind everyone of the updated tally in the Boogie Basham transaction. The Bills were given a 2025 sixth-round pick. 12 tackles, 0 sacks, and a 2025 seventh-round pick were given to the Giants. [Buffalo] The Bills were selected in the sixth round in 2025. Overall, it’s another poor choice for general manager Joe Schoen, even if Big Blue gave up relatively little for Basham, a former Bills second-round pick in 2021. And in the third year, those are beginning to mount up.
Giants Beat Responds to the Cut of Boogie Basham
Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post claims that “Joe Schoen was involved in drafting Basham to Bills.” According to Dunleavy, that earned him 194 defensive snaps in 2023; but, under new coordinator Shane Bowen, the leash was cut to just 16 snaps in 2024. Dan Duggan of The Athletic commented on X, offering his thoughts on the Week 8 move, saying, “Wasn’t it a great sign for Basham that the Giants twice elevated OLB Tomon Fox and made Basham a healthy scratch?” While Basham remained a healthy scratch, they also claimed OLB Patrick Johnson off waivers in Week 3 and he started right away. “It’s surprising Basham lasted this long given how cap conscious the Giants have been (down to $1.4M in cap space as of today),” Duggan continued. Fox’s cap impact would be approximately $500K less.
Art Stapleton, the beat writer for NorthJersey.com, concluded by echoing the others and pointing out that “Bashma could not work his way into the lineup even with Kayvon Thibodeaux on IR and Brian Burns hurting.” Are the Giants Taking Players’ Accountability Back?
There are two ways to view the Basham cut: as a waste of a late-round draft trade, or as a good thing. It’s possible that the Giants staff is starting to hold players accountable once more. Although head coach Brian Daboll has occasionally displayed this, particularly in the first season, he has also frequently spoken up for his players in front of the podium.
We have witnessed that with important players like cornerback Deonte Banks and his alleged lack of effort in the present day, or with Xavier McKinney in 2023, after the safety seemed to criticize former defensive coordinator Wink Martindale.
