Is this NY Giants’ addition New York’s make or break player in 2021?
Kenny Golladay was the NY Giants’ marquee addition this offseason, but will the wide receiver’s success define New York’s 2021 season?
What is a “make or break” player? Simply defined does this player hold the fate of their team in there hands? If this were last year the answer when it came to the NY Giants would have been Saquan Barkley, but he might not hold the keys to this season’s success.
Barkley’s season ending ACL injury seemed to deflate the team and there was no one there to pick up the slack with the same explosiveness.
The NY Giants’ marquee move in the off season free agent pick up of 6’4″ wide receiver Kenny Golladay, who signed a four-year, $72 million contract to be the go to guy in the Giants offense. His ability to make the contested catch will help the an almost anemic Giants offense stretch the field. He brings a red-zone ability with his height that the Giants haven’t seen since Plaxico Burress, something Daniel Jones has never seen in his young career.
The Giant receiving corps has been scrutinized ever since Odell Beckham left (and while he was there). Sterling Shepard has been consistent, when he plays, he has been plagued by injury most of his career. Darius Slayton was drafted to be the stretch the field, vertical threat but after a promising rookie year he was inconsistent last year. Evan Engram is a match-up nightmare at the tight end position, but again his career has been filled with big drops, injuries, and inconsistent play. Saquan can help out of the backfield no doubt and the Giants drafted an all-around electrifying receiver in Kadarious Toney. There is some pressure on them, Barkley to stay healthy and Toney to be an immediate contributor. Nothing the magnitude that is on Golladay.
He is coming into New York, an extremely tough place to play, expected to be a savior for an offense that could not move the ball last year and could not score. He will be asked to make Daniel Jones look great by making jump ball catches 40 yards downfield. He can not get injured, he cannot drop the ball. Make a mistake running a route and he will be booed out of MetLife.
Kenny Golladay is the epitome of a make or break player.
CBS Sports’ Jason LaCanfora agrees:
"Giants: Kenny GolladayWas anyone else giving him close to $36M guaranteed as he lingered on the free agent market? Can he do enough, with others in the supporting cast, to prop up Daniel Jones? We’ll find out with jobs on the line."