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New York Giants: Receiving corps ranked No. 1 in the NFL

By Maxwell Ogden

LANDOVER, MD - JANUARY 01: Wide receiver Odell Beckham #13 of the New York Giants walks off of the field after the New York Giants defeated the Washington Redskins 19-10 at FedExField on January 1, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - JANUARY 01: Wide receiver Odell Beckham #13 of the New York Giants walks off of the field after the New York Giants defeated the Washington Redskins 19-10 at FedExField on January 1, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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The New York Giants have accumulated a dynamic collection of talent on offense. USA TODAY believes that New York has the best receiving corps in the NFL.

The New York Giants were one of the worst offensive teams in the NFL during the 2016 regular season. With a painfully inconsistent offensive line and a run game that offered minimal support to the erratic passing attack, Ben McAdoo placed quite the burden on the defense.

New York managed to record an 11-5 campaign behind the strength of that unit, but it proved anything but complacent during the offseason.

Quarterback Eli Manning is coming off of one of the more polarizing seasons of his 13-year NFL career. In order to combat his woeful season in 2016, Jerry Reese added potential Hall of Fame wide receiver Brandon Marshall and rookie tight end Evan Engram to the roster.

In light of the improvements that have been made, Nate Davis of USA TODAY Sports ranked the Giants’ receiving corps as the No. 1 unit in the NFL. His reasoning was as follows:

"Odell Beckham Jr. has never had fewer than 90 catches, 1,300 yards or 10 TDs in a season. The hype is more than justified. Fellow WR Sterling Shepard caught 65 passes and scored eight times as a rookie. Now mix in WR Brandon Marshall, a red zone force who’s basically a tight end, along with first-round TE Evan Engram, who’s basically a wideout given 4.4 speed that probably makes him the fastest guy in the bunch. This aerial assault could be unrelenting."

It’s only a paper roster at this current juncture, but as far as the talent pool is concerned, Davis’ praise is founded in rationale.

Odell Beckham Jr., the No. 1 receiving option, is one of three players in NFL history to begin his career with at least 1,000 receiving yards and 10 receiving touchdowns in each of his first three seasons. The only other players who have achieved that feat are John Jefferson and Randy Moss.

Beckham Jr. is the only player in NFL history to begin his career with at least 90 receptions, 100 receiving yards, and 10 receiving touchdowns in each of his first three seasons.

Beckham Jr. alone elevates the quality of the receiving corps, but he isn’t alone in his ability to torment opposing defenses.

As for Marshall, he’s recorded at least 1,000 receiving yards in eight different seasons, including the 1,502 yards and 14 touchdowns he caught in 2015. Slot receiver Sterling Shepard recorded 65 receptions for 683 yards and eight touchdowns during his rookie season in 2016.

Rookie tight end Evan Engram ranked No. 1 amongst FBS tight ends in yards per reception in 2014, and tallied 65 receptions, 926 yards, and eight touchdowns in 2016.

It may all be on paper, but the Giants have the talent level to be one of the best offensive teams in the NFL. Beckham Jr. and Marshall offer elite production at wide receiver, Shepard is a force in the slot, and Engram is a 6’3″ tight end who ran a faster 40 than OBJ.

Whether or not you’re ready to jump aboard the hype train, there’s no denying how prolific this unit has the potential to become.

Must Read: Evan Engram is built for this NFL

One can only hope that Eli Manning, Odell Beckham Jr., Brandon Marshall, Sterling Shepard, and Evan Engram remain healthy and productive for the New York Giants.

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