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The New York Giants Need Victor Cruz Insurance – Jerry Reese Should Sign Brian Hartline

By Christopher Schwarz

Nov 30, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Brian Hartline (83) against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Ravens won 33-27. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 30, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Brian Hartline (83) against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Ravens won 33-27. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New York Giants have their top three receivers set for the summer: Superstar Odell Beckham Jr., rookie Sterling Shepard and the enigmatic Victor Cruz. Cruz was once the Giants’ young deep threat with unlimited yards after catch potential. But now, the Giants don’t know what to expect. He hasn’t seen the field since October 2014 and is limited until training camp.

It’s a lot like last summer. Cruz is on a pitch count, but he should be ready for a full season. Even though Cruz declares himself “100 percent healthy,” Giants fans will believe it when they see it.

The Giants need some insurance in case Cruz’s history repeats itself. The depth after Shepard is a bit suspect if you’re talking about sliding into the starting role. In 2015, Rueben Randle took over opposite OBJ and, for all of his faults, he ended the season with decent numbers. If Cruz never hits the field, is Jerry Reese confident that whoever takes his place can notch nearly 800 yards receiving and eight touchdowns?

The Cleveland Browns released 29-year old Brian Hartline last week after selecting four wide receivers in the NFL Draft. Hartline lasted only one season with the Browns and caught 46 passes for 523 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games. It’s not that Hartline can’t play, he just isn’t part of Cleveland’s long-term plans.

If Jerry Reese considers signing him, he may not be a part of the Giants’ long-term plans either, but for 2016, he could end up being a pivotal player. If Cruz can’t get healthy, the Giants will likely turn to Dwayne Harris or Geremy Davis to start on the outside with Shepard in the slot. Davis is playing on the first team at OTAs and, while he has all the physical tools, the 2015 fifth-rounder had just two catches in his rookie campaign.

Hartline by comparison had back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons with the Dolphins in 2012 and 2013 and he’s never had a quarterback like Eli Manning. ESPN has him rated as one of the top 15 free agents on the market right now. “At 29 years old, Hartline still has 70-catch potential. He’s a decent option for a team looking for a dependable 6-foot-2, 200-pound pass-catcher.”

If Cruz ends up healthy for all of 2016, Hartline is still an upgrade on what the Giants have at fourth receiver. But it’s the nightmare scenario where Cruz never hits the field, or if Shepard doesn’t pan out, where Hartline could come in handy.

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