The NY Giants’ wide receivers are likely their most upgraded unit heading into 2021.
The NY Giants have upgraded their offensive passing arsenal immensely. The front office targeted and signed some much-needed talent, size, and speed to line up new faces at wide receiver this season.
The Giants‘ receivers will be challenged with fixing what was a broken offense in 2020. The whole unit struggled with creating separation, running crisp routes, staying healthy, catching passes in contested situations, creating yards after the catch, and making big plays deep downfield.
While this seems like a lot, all these massive issues hamstrung the offense dramatically last season. The Giants made a concerted effort to improve their receiver group, it must show immediately early in the 2021 season.
Here is a look at and breakdown of the Giants’ wide receivers heading into 2021:
Starting Wide Receiver #1: Kenny Golladay
Kenny Golladay is just getting started in New York.
The Giants prized free agent will be expected to become Daniel Jones’ top target in the passing game for many years to come. With any luck, Golladay will be to Daniel Jones what Plaxico Burress was to Eli Manning.
The 6’4 Golladay offers the size and ability the Giants have lacked for several seasons. Golladay will be an imposing red zone target and first down threat to keep the chains moving.
With a new 4-year, $72 million contract, expect some motivated play from Kenny Golladay. If he stays healthy, he must return to his 2019 form and get back to dominating opposing cornerbacks.
Starting Wide Receiver #2: Sterling Shepard
Sterling Shepard is the NY Giants’ longest-tenured active player. He is now the veteran of the group and will be counted upon in a leadership role.
Shepard switched his number to No. this season. He will be honoring his late father, Derrick, with his No. 3, who also wore the number with the Dallas Cowboys and Oklahoma Sooners.
Shepard is now heading into year six of his NFL career. He’s been a part of only one winning team with the Giants, coming back in 2016. It’s been a rough four-year stretch for Sterling both for the team and himself.
Shepard has only one full 16-game season in the past four years. He missed another four games last year with multiple lingering injuries that restricted him from playing at full strength most of the season.
If Shepard can replicate his Week 17 numbers more often, he could be in for a big season. Shepard will move back into his natural slot position with Golden Tate finally gone and Golladay can be a trusted and reliable threat on the outside.
Starting Wide Receiver #3: Darius Slayton
Darius Slayton heads into a big year three of his NFL career.
Slayton shined as a rookie when he hauled in 8 touchdowns and 740 yards. His touchdown numbers went down to three but he improved slightly on his yardage and reception totals.
Slayton was used as WR1 in many situations last year. That’s not who he is nor should he have been expected to take on this role.
Slayton is an excellent complementary option, not the guy who should be carrying any NFL passing offense. He is now in that position, as Shep and Golladay can carry th heavy weight alongside Slayton.
Slayton should stretch the field and be a great deep threat this year. He is a favorite target of Daniel Jones and their history together bodes well for the future. If Slayton stays healthy this year (something he struggled doing in 2020), he can have another breakout season as he did in 2019.
Kadarius Toney
Kadarius Toney has his work cut out for him in August and training camp.
Toney hasn’t had the most ideal offseason to begin his career. Issues with his cleats, mysterious injuries, and multiple practices ending early aren’t ar recipe for success. However, none of this matters as long as he corrects them and puts the issues to rest in camp. A brief reminder that the Giants’ last 1st round rookie receiver had issues his first offseason too. It seemed like that decision worked out just fine.
Toney is too talented to go to waste in the Giants’ offense.
The team’s first-round draft choice needs to have a role this season. He brings an explosive and dynamic element to this offense that currently lacks in both departments. Toney will likely be a role player used in specific spots during his first season. Expect him to be used more as the season goes on.
John Ross
John Ross was a splashy signing this offseason.
Ross is best known for his high-end speed and breaking the 40-yard dash record at the 2017 NFL Combine.
Since then, John Ross went top 10 in the draft and hasn’t lived up to his draft status ever since. Injuries have followed Ross from Washington where he played in college, to Cincinnati with the Bengals, and the injuries haven’t gone away yet in New York.
Ross needs to stay healthy or he could end up a surprise cut come September. He needs to have a strong camp and show he belongs in this offense. Ross has the talent and speed to be a difference-maker and he needs to stay healthy to put it all together.
Dante Pettis
Dante Pettis is entering a make-or-break season.
A 2018 2nd round pick, Pettis made his name as the NCAA’s all-time punt returner. Pettis impressed as a rookie, hauling in five touchdowns on 17.3yards per reception.
Pettis joined New York midway last season. He impressed over his last two games including an impressive 33-yard touchdown. If he can keep up his strong play from the end of last season, he should make this team with his receiving and returning abilities.
David Sills V
David Sills has intriguing size and athleticism, it just may not be enough to make this team. After an impressive offseason and camp last season his roster chances were dashed with an injury placing him on IR. Sills has his work cut out for him, he could be a top practice squad candidate.
Derrick Dillon
Derrick Dillon is 5’11, 184 pounds, and runs under a 4.3 40. Dillon was a part of LSU’s record-breaking offense and National Championship team in 2019. Unless he puts up a monster performance, the road may end in 20201 for Dillon in New York.
Austin Mack
Austin Mack snuck onto the roster last season as an undrafted free agent from Ohio State. His blocking abilities helped immensely and his toughness showed throughout the season. Mack doesn’t have any elite athleticism or physical skills working in his favor. It’s an uphill battle for the Giants’ last receiver from 2020.
C.J. Board
C.J. Board was surprisingly re-signed this offseason. Board offered little to the Giants last year on special teams or offense. He is a veteran at this point with little upside. He will compete in training camp and likely will look for external options in the NFL to continue his career.
Alex Bachman
Alex Bachman fits the mold of a ‘Joe Judge type of player’. He is a gritty, hard-nosed football player who keeps his head down and puts in the work. Bachman could be a practice squad player as he further develops his skills in 2021.