Kenny Golladay’s time with Big Blue may be coming to an unceremonious ending. After signing a four-year, $72 million contract in March of 2021, Golladay battled through injuries and inconsistency during his first season in New York, and he has completely fallen out of favor with this new regime.
Golladay began to draw the ire of the NY Giants fans after his dropped touchdown in the preseason opener against the New England Patriots, and then a couple days later Golladay went viral for all the wrong reasons after he was caught not hustling in practice.
Golladay caught just two passes for 22 yards in the season-opener, and despite being announced as a starter last week, the embattled receiver was on the field for just two snaps. While he is undeniably uber-talented, the receiver has failed to haul in a touchdown in his Giants tenure. With Monday’s latest Golladay report from the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, it seems as though Joe Schoen could look to move on in the near future.
Could the #Giants trade WR Kenny Golladay if his situation becomes untenable? It's possible.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 26, 2022
Before tonight's game against the #Cowboys, a look at how it could work and the options for what's next: https://t.co/nmXpt6Y3mz
With the Giants desperately in need of wide receiver help, it makes total sense to keep Golladay around this season and see if he can regain some of his Detroit form. However, with the Golladay trade rumors sizzling, it is time to evaluate which teams would make the best trade partners.
In order for this to happen, the G-Men would need to take on most of Golladay’s salary, but they could end up getting a late-round pick in return. There’s definitely some intriguing options. With that said, here are three teams the NY Giants could trade Golladay to.
3. Green Bay Packers
There should be no team more motivated to trade for a proven wide receiver than the Green Bay Packers. After trading Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason, the Packers receiving core consists of Randall Cobb, Sammy Watkins, Allen Lazard, and two rookies: Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs.
The start to the season has been rocky to say the least for Green Bay. Aaron Rodgers was very vocal in his frustrations with his receiving core in Week 1, especially after Watson dropped an easy touchdown. Watkins had a big game in Week 2, but he was just placed on the injured reserve, further depleting an already depleted receiving unit.
Rodgers is the Packers quarterback, which means this season is Super Bowl or bust. The Packers could certainly use a sure-fire No. 1 receiver, but that is not something they will find in the middle of the season. Golladay is a big-body wide receiver who excels in jump ball and contested catch situations, something Green Bay’s offense could desperately use. Nobody fits balls into tighter windows than Rodgers, which makes Golladay an ideal fit.
2. Baltimore Ravens
Lamar Jackson is the MVP front runner, and he’s been balling out without any proven wide receivers. After turning down a mega-deal and betting on himself, Jackson has come out firing, with 12 touchdowns in three games. For contrast, that is more than every NFL team except his own.
The Ravens receiving core is currently made up of Rashod Bateman, Demarcus Robinson, Tylan Wallace, James Proche, and Devin Duvernay. Robinson is the only one of the wide receivers who has over 1,000 yards in his career, but he is a journeyman, and who is by no means a top option.
Bateman was supposed to be the next big Baltimore receiver, but he has been plagued by injuries. The Ravens have big expectations this season, and in order to fulfill those, it might be worth taking a chance on Golladay.
1. Chicago Bears
The two teams who were most intrigued by Golladay last offseason were the Giants and the Chicago Bears. Golladay is native of Chicago, and played college ball at Northern Illinois, which may intrigue the Bears.
While he certainly has struggled in New York, it could appeal the Bears to bring Golladay back to Chicago to see if playing in his hometown can unlock him. The Bears starting wide receivers are currently Dante Pettis, who the Giants let go last offseason, Darnell Mooney, and Equanimeous St. Brown, by far the worst starting wide receiver group in the NFL.
The Bears have started the season 2-1 despite the fact that they have the worst passing offense in football. Justin Fields has completed just 23 passes for 297 yards in three games, which is unfathomably bad. While some of that is due to play-calling, it is clear the Bears need to give Fields more proven receivers on the outside to throw the ball to.