NY Giants: How Kenny Golladay will help Daniel Jones
This off-season, general manager Dave Gettleman has been outspoken on the need to get play-makers for his quarterback, Daniel Jones. After a shaky start to free agency and an old fashioned free agent visit to New York, Gettleman made good on his promise – the premier wide receiver available is now a Giant.
Former Detroit Lions’ star receiver, Kenny Golladay, officially signed with the Giants today – according to multiple reports. Giants’ fans celebrated on social media, but the most elated should be Jones.
Golladay is the perfect fit for the Giants’ offense, and he’s the guy to help Jones get to the next level.
The Giants’ new quarterback-wide receiver duo have something in common – they love the deep ball. In 2019, Golladay made the most catches on targets 20+ yards downfield with 16. Last season, Jones had the highest passer rating on throws 20+ yards downfield with 132.5.
While the team didn’t take as many deep shots last season, expect Jason Garrett to change that – especially when he has that impressive downfield duo.
Aside from being their best deep threat since the days Odell Beckham Jr. wore #13 for the Giants, Golladay also brings something else New York didn’t have last season – an ability to make contested catches. Since 2018, Golladay has 53 contested catches and a contested catch rate of 63% – each good for second in the entire league.
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We’ve seen Jones trust his receivers and throw up a perfect ball only for it to slip through their fingers. It’ll be a revelation having somebody who doesn’t just make the easy catches, but is open even when he’s covered.
Being a receiver on the Detroit Lions, you’re always going to be compared to their greatest – first ballot hall of famer, Calvin Johnson. While he was never expected to be the next Megatron, the duo’s stats through the first 47 games of their career are eerily similar.
Golladay boasts a stat-line of 3,068 yards and 21 touchdowns, while Johnson had 3,166 yards and 22 touchdowns in that same timeframe. While Golladay’s ‘Babytron’ nickname never stuck, then stats tell their own story.
The Giants’ hope is for Jones to be their next Eli Manning – that makes Golladay their Plaxico Burress. When Burress signed with New York in 2005, he changed Manning’s career – the pair connecting for 33 touchdowns in 3.5 seasons to go along with a legendary Super Bowl winning grab.
Buress helped Manning evolve into the best quarterback in Giants’ history, and Golladay can help Jones reach the next level of his career. By bringing in a receiver who plays to their quarterbacks strengths, the team’s offense as a whole should reach greater heights.
Last season, the Giants struggled with deep passing, contested catches and their red zone scoring. Golladay brings all that and more – he’s the perfect wide receiver to join the team.
“At the end of the day, we need to find playmakers,’’ Gettleman said in January. “That’s all there is to it. I’m not sugarcoating it .. We have to be very conscious of it. We’re going to find the right guys to help Daniel get us over that hump.’’
Gettleman found his guy, and now Jones has what he needs to get them over the hump. If you listen closely, you can already hear it – Ace Frehely’s New York Groove playing at MetLife Stadium as Golladay and Jones connect for a touchdown.