NFL

Giants’ Cruz expected to seek $8-10 million per season

BIG DEAL FOR BIG BLUE: Giants receiver Victor Cruz, who has scored 19 touchdowns the past two seasons, is a restricted free agent but hopes to sign a long-term deal with the team. (AP)

Victor Cruz has done enough to convince the Giants he deserves to be wearing his No. 80 jersey and doing his salsa in the end zone for a long time. It is going to cost the Giants dearly, though, to get him locked up with a multi-year deal.

Cruz is set to become a restricted free agent and he’s not going anywhere, as the Giants know they cannot operate their offense without his skills at receiver. They would likely tender him on a one-year deal if they cannot agree on a long-term contract.

After playing for the NFL minimums the past three years, Cruz won’t come cheap, not after two outstanding seasons by a 26-year-old on the upside of his career. His asking price is expected to be somewhere between $8 million and $10 million per year. Cruz made $540,000 this season and the last two years he has been the greatest bargain in the league.

“I think I feel comfortable where we’re at,’’ Cruz said yesterday on his weekly WFAN spot. “I think I’ve done enough to show them I’m a good guy on and off the field and I’ve done everything positive up until this point to prove that I’m somebody the organization will want to keep around for a long time. I’m positive things will come around and a positive outcome will come out of all this.’’

Cruz has previously said he wanted a new deal in place before the end of the season and revealed weeks ago that he believed the structure for such a deal was in place. Talks, he reported, “got tabled for a couple weeks mainly because the two sides agreeing to disagree at the same time. Now that the season is over and the statistics are what they are I think we’re gonna get back and pick up the pen again and see what we can do.’’

Cruz is one of 22 free agents for the Giants to sort through but he figures to be a top priority. Fellow receiver Hakeem Nicks was slowed all season with foot and ankle issues, allowing opposing defenses to swing the attention to Cruz. Still, he caught 86 passes for 1,092 yards and 10 touchdowns, all team highs. He hasn’t missed a game in two years.

A year ago, the free agent market produced some hefty salaries for receivers and Cruz will benefit from that spending spree. After all, he compares favorably to DeSean Jackson (five years, $47 million), Robert Meachem (four years, $25.9 million) and Pierre Garcon (five years, $42.5 million). Cruz’ two-year totals (168 catches, 2,628 yards, 19 touchdowns) are better than any two seasons put together by Vincent Jackson and he signed a five year, $55.6 million mega deal with the Buccaneers.

“I feel positive,’’ said Cruz, a Paterson, N.J., native. “Obviously you never know, it’s all negotiations but I feel positive that I’m gonna be in New York for a very long time and I feel positive myself and my agents will get something done with the management of the Giants.’’

Factoring into a new contract for Cruz is how the Giants view Nicks, who is entering the final year on his deal, scheduled to make $2.4 million. Nicks is coming off an injury-slowed season (53 receptions, 692 yards, three TDs) and will likely have to play out the 2013 season to re-establish his value.

“I feel good individually, I feel I’m finally getting settled into the NFL and what life’s all about when you’re here and what it’s like to be playing for the New York Giants,’’ Cruz said. “I feel like I’m just getting started. I just want to build my consistency. I got a great group of teammates, a great quarterback in Eli Manning and that’s just continuing to make me better each and every time I get out there on that field. Every time I get in that meeting room with him, his brilliance makes me better each and every day. I’m excited for the type of year I had and obviously now the key word for me is consistency.’’