It was abundantly clear more than ever last season that the NY Giants desperately need some help at wide receiver. It seems as if the answer could finally be coming in this offseason whether it be through the draft or free agency.
The expectation is that the Giants will be looking at a stud wide receiver early on, with Big Blue potentially using their first-round pick on a speedster for Daniel Jones – if he returns to run the offense next season that is.
If Schoen decides to use an early pick, either in the first or second round, than these five players should be on the list for the NY GM to keep a close eye on:
5. SMU WR Rashee Rice
To kick things off we have big-bodied Rashee Rice out of SMU (6-3, 206 pounds), who in his senior season showcased that he could be a genuinely good player in the NFL if given the opportunity. Rice might not be the most explosive athlete, but his route running, build, and flexibility more than make up for it and have showcased why he is such a popular prospect.
He may not be getting as much attention as some of the other receivers in this draft class, but if the Giants could manage to draft him in the second or third round, Rice could end up being a big-time steal. In 12 games at SMU last season, Rice caught 96 passes for 1,344 yards and 10 touchdowns. While his nine drops certainly aren’t a nice thing to look at, more than half of those total came from just two games, so we’re confident that this won’t be a major issue in the NFL.
If the Giants decide to go with a corner, linebacker, or guard in the first round, a player like Rice could be the kind of player they look for in the second or third round, which is where he is usually selected in mock drafts.
There are certainly things Rice needs to work on as a prospect, however, he has one of the highest floors in the draft for a WR. If he can just add some more muscle and become more physical at the line of scrimmage, he had what it takes to be great.