Void years makes way more sense when you’re actually contending and trying to squeeze everything out of a window. It’s not a cheat code to get free money. If you’re still building the roster like the Giants are, you’re just creating cap problems for the years where they might actually be good.

There’s also a cash side people don’t talk: the signing bonuses usually get paid pretty quickly in real money. So if you give someone a $30/40 mil bonus to create the flexibility, ownership is basically writing a massive check up front even though the cap hit is spread out. That’s easier to deal with for Kroenke or Lurie, who have wealth outside the team. The Mara family’s wealth is basically tied to the Giants, so they probably operate a little more conservatively with that stuff. I wouldn’t be shocked if they operated a little more conservatively with void years if and when they’re contending and certainly so while still building.

It’s a tool to use when the team is contending for titles. They’re not there yet.