If the objective for the NY Giants was to add speed on offense in the first-round of the NFL Draft, mission accomplished.
The NY Giants added to quarterback Daniel Jones’ arsenal in the vertical passing game, tabbing former Florida wide receiver Kadarius Toney with the No. 20 overall pick, after trading back in a deal with the Chicago Bears Thursday night.
Toney, 6 feet and 193 pounds, ran the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds during the Gators’ pro day, showing off the kind of speed that helped him average 14.1 yards per reception as a senior in 2020.
The Eight Mile, Ala. native said during a conference call with reporters shortly after being drafted that he models his game after some of the NFL’s premier wide receivers.
“I’d say my game is kind of like Devante Adams,” Toney said. “Alvin Kamara, just quick, dynamic, explosive.”
Those adjectives would certainly fit the mission statement that the NY Giants set out with this offseason, aiming to construct an offense built around explosive playmakers surrounding Daniel Jones as the quarterback enters what could be a make-or-break season in terms of the organization’s evaluation of him.
"“One of the off-season goals was to add weapons on offense and Kadarius,” NY Giants GM Dave Gettleman said. “Certainly he’s a good-size kid. He’s strong. He can run. He catches the ball well and he’s a very tough kid and he’s got return skills. So we were thrilled that he was there for us at that spot.”"
Toney has shown that he’s able to be a high-end contributor lined up outside or in the slot, but his best attribute is his ability to make defenders miss in the open field … particularly after the catch.
That’s no accident.
“Kamara’s really explosive,” Toney said. “And he’s really elusive.”
To pair a player who offers a skill-set similar to Kamara’s into an offense that already includes Saquon Barkley, Kenny Golladay, John Ross, Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton just might set Jones up to make significant strides next season.
Toney hopes to be able to do his part.
“Really coming into an offense that’s already full or packed,” Toney says. “I want to just play my roe, whatever my job is, just do it to the best of my ability.”
Matt Lombardo is the site expert for GMenHQ, and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday for FanSided. Follow Matt on Twitter: @MattLombardoNFL