The New York Giants must add depth and talent at wide receiver this offseason. Since Odell Beckham Jr. was traded in March 2019, the Giants’ wide receiver room has not been the same. This position group once included Beckham, Victor Cruz, and Hakeem Nicks. Even before that, another successful receiving core for the Giants was Plaxico Buress and Amani Toomer, who are Super Bowl Champions.
The Giants’ wide receiver position once featured dynamic playmaking, but it quickly lost its explosiveness. Despite flashes of strong individual performances and a hot start from rookie Malik Nabers this season, the Giants’ wide receiver room can use some upgrading going forward.
The offense has consistently struggled to score, ranking dead last in touchdowns per game. As well as the team that has scored the fewest points by a team this season, with 194 points. The need for talent and depth at receiver shows another roster spot that needs upgrading. Once the season ends, the Giants must address this position through free agency and the draft to give their next quarterback the weapons he needs to be successful.
The Current Receivers Aren’t Producing At a High Level. This Offseason, the Wide Receiver Room Needs Upgrading.
The State of the Giants’ Wide Receiver Room
The Giants’ leading receiver is rookie Malik Nabers from LSU. He has 819 receiving yards and three touchdowns, but that still only ranks him 18th in the league for total receiving yards. The next receiver on the team following Nabers in production is Darius Slayton, who has 504 yards and one touchdown. He has been a dependable receiver for the Giants over the past few years, but he is not precisely that player who will be a game-changer down the stretch. Behind Slayton is Wandale Robinson, another receiver who has shown flashes of his abilities in the slot, having 495 yards and two touchdowns this season.
Nabers, Slayton, and Robinson have combined for only six receiving touchdowns through 13 games this season, a total that needs to be better for any NFL team in hopes of being competitive or making a playoff push. The Giants have scored only 19 touchdowns this far into the season, eight passing and 11 on the ground. For comparison, the Cincinnati Bengals and their high-powered offense has had 30 receiving touchdowns this season, nearly quadrupling the Giants’ in receiving touchdowns.
Recent Wideout Draft Picks
The Giants have drafted only five wideouts in the past seven drafts. From drafting Darius Slayton in 2019, Kadarius Toney in 2021, Wandale Robinson in 2022, Jalin Hyatt in 2023, and Malik Nabers this year. Slayton and Robinson have been the most successful of the bunch, not including Nabers yet. Slayton has been sufficient and has provided consistency, as has Robinson, who has been used a lot in the slot or quick checkdowns. But their production needs to be more. When you think of the Giant’s offense, you aren’t thinking of a dominant passing attack team anymore.
On the other hand, Toney and Hyatt have been disastrous picks that haven’t worked out. Toney has bounced around after leaving the Giants, playing in Kansas City and, most recently, the Browns, before being waived on Tuesday. But most disappointing has been Hyatt, who, when drafted in the third round of the 2023 draft, looked like the Giants were getting an elite playmaker. Hyatt played three college football seasons at Tennessee, posting career highs his junior season. He had 1,267 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns. Though he did not record a touchdown in his rookie season with the Giants, he did manage 23 receptions for 373 yards. After many predicted Hyatt to have a breakout season this year, he has only managed seven catches for 53 yards while still searching for his first career touchdown.
Free Agency: Tee Higgins and Other Possible Options
Next year’s free-agent class could be a chance for the Giants to sign a meaningful playmaker at wide receiver. Tee Higgins is considered one of the best available free agents this coming spring if he hits the market. The Bengals could offer Higgins a long-term contract. However, if that doesn’t happen, he would be a significant upgrade in the Giants receiver room as an outside receiver with both skill and size.
There are some concerns about Higgins. He’s had injury issues, including not playing full seasons. This may be a red flag for many teams interested in him. If the Giants sign Higgins, he will undoubtedly require a significant contract. With it, though, the Giants will have added a No. 1 receiver to the roster.
Other names to watch for as free agent WRs are Amari Cooper, Chris Godwin, DeAndre Hopkins, and Dionte Johnson. Godwin is a reliable catcher; he has dropped fewer than 6% of catchable passes in six of his first seven NFL seasons. He will be entering free agency coming off of a season-ending left ankle injury. Then there is Hopkins, who was traded at the deadline to the Super Bowl contending Chiefs. He has already found the endzone five times this season, as he adds a veteran yet dynamic option to teams looking to upgrade their receiving core.
Then Cooper, even at 30 years old, will be another option for teams looking to improve at wide receiver next season. He has earned a PFF receiving grade over 70.0 in every full season since being drafted in 2015. Johnson could also be available after his trade to Baltimore, where he’s had to compete with Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman for targets.
Main Image: Vincent Carchietta – USA Today Sports
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