The Giants have almost $22 million in cap space. Here’s how they may surpass $80 million.

The New York Giants had $44.4 million in salary cap space at this time a year ago. But that space evaporated quickly, with a four-year, $160 million extension for quarterback Daniel Jones and a $10.1 million franchise tag for running back Saquon Barkley before the start of free agency.

The Giants have about half as much cap space this year, but they don’t figure to make enormous internal commitments in the coming weeks, so they should have plenty of room to maneuver in free agency. Here’s an overview of the Giants’ salary cap situation five weeks before free agency begins on March 11:

• Cap space: $21.8 million (projected). The Giants have the 17th-most cap space in the league, according to Over the Cap’s projection.

Carryover cap space: $2.5 million. The Giants carried over $2.5 million from 2023 after being tight against the cap last year.

• Dead money: $17.5 million. The dead money charge comes from the Leonard Williams trade ($10.6 million) and the void years of Adoree’ Jackson ($3 million), A’Shawn Robinson ($2.1 million) and Tyrod Taylor ($1.4 million).

• Potential cap casualties: OL Mark Glowinski, TE Darren Waller. The Giants could create $12.4 million in cap savings while eating $8.9 million in dead money if they cut those two players. Cutting Glowinski ($5.7 million cap savings, $1.5 million in dead money) is a near-certainty.