New York Giants sign Calvin Austin III

The Giants' signing of Calvin Austin III earns a B- Contract Value Index (CVI), reflecting efficient depth acquisition at a replacement-level salary in an offseason when the team is clearly rebuilding after a catastrophic 4-13 campaign. At $1.5M annually, this is a floor-price deal that carries minimal cap burden and no long-term commitment risk—exactly the kind of low-stakes roster addition a franchise in reset mode should be making. Austin III projects as a depth receiver with limited upside, the type of developmental or complementary piece you add to a rebuilding roster without expecting immediate production, and the financial terms align perfectly with that profile. The B- grade reflects a clean transaction where cost meets realistic expectation: the Giants aren't overpaying for a depth slot, and they're not pretending this signing solves any structural offensive problems. In the context of New York's 91-day runway to the regular season, this is the kind of low-risk, low-reward move that allows a front office to cast a wider net without financial consequence—solid execution on a non-critical addition, but nothing that shifts the needle on a team still operating in full rebuild mode.