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.
4. Tennessee WR Jalin Hyatt
If some of the top receivers are already off the board by the time the Giants make their first-round selection, Jalin Hyatt might just be the guy for New York, as his speed and size are truly elite and would be a big game-changer for the offense.
Hyatt is an incredibly interesting player. While watching him play shows that he is full of talent, taking a more in-depth look at him shows that he needs more work than you would think. This is because of the system Hyatt played in at college, where he was just about only used as a vertical threat out of the slot.
This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as he was incredibly successful in this role, but it is very clear that he needs work as a route runner. While this isn’t something that will ruin his odds of being successful in the NFL, it will certainly help if he got better at it.
Through 12 games last season, Hyatt caught 67 passes for 1,267 yards and a ridiculous 15 touchdowns, winning the Fred Biletnikoff Award for the best receiver in college football. Among the highlights for him in 2022 was his performance against Alabama where he caught six passes for 207 yards and five touchdowns.
The Giants may already have their slot guy in Wan’Dale Robinson, however, Hyatt’s size can definitely open the door for him to play on the outside if need be. Regardless, we’re sure Brian Daboll can make things work in his offense.
3. Boston College WR Zay Flowers
There may not be a more interesting receiver prospect than Zay Flowers, as while he was incredibly productive and would bring a lot to whatever offense he is added too, he still needs to work on a couple of things to improve his game even further.
Flowers was one of the most dynamic receivers in all of college football last season and it looks like that will translate incredibly well to the NFL. In 12 games last season, Flowers caught 78 passes for 1,077 yards and 12 touchdowns. Flowers is incredibly fast and shifty with the ball in his hands as well, racking up 503 yards after the catch, adding to that dynamic ability we mentioned before.
Flowers certainly has things to work on, however, he has most of the tools he needs to see a good amount of success in the league from Day 1. Adding a player like this to a team coached by Daboll could have dire consequences for the rest of the league. He’s a guy to watch for sure come late April.
2. Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba
We really don’t think it’s that hot of a take to say that Jaxon Smith-Njigba would be the clear WR1 of the 2023 NFL Draft if he was healthy this season. Regardless, Smith-Njigba was so incredible in 2021 and showcased immense amounts of potential to the point where he is still a top three receiver in the draft class despite missing nearly the entire 2022 campaign.
In Smith-Njigba’s last full season with Ohio State, he caught 95 passes for 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns on a stacked offense. Similar to Hyatt, Smith-Njigba is a pure slot receiver. While the Giants may have Robinson, Smith-Njigba is as close to a sure star as you can get, so it may be worth moving Robinson around to make room for the OSU product to work.
Normally a talent like this would be taken way before the Giants make their first round selection, however, there is a pretty darn good chance that Smith-Njigba could be available for New York. A player like this would be an absolute game-changer for the Giants and could turn their offense into a genuinely good core. We love this kid’s potential.
1. USC WR Jordan Addison
When most people think of the best receiver in this year’s draft class, Jordan Addison often comes to mind. While you could certainly make arguments for guys like Quentin Johnston and Smith-Njigba, we personally think it’s Addison.
This is mostly due to his super high floor, and the consistency he brings on the field, something the Giants have really struggled with at receiver for a while now. Addison brings a lot to the table as a receiver and the Giants shouldn’t hesitate to draft him if he falls to them at No. 26.
In 11 games at USC last season, Addison caught 59 passes for 875 yards and eight touchdowns. These numbers may not be the most eye-popping, but watching Addison play shows off all the talent you need to see in order to know that he will be great in this league.
Addison is the definition of dependable at the wide receiver position, dropping just two passes this past season and as we all know, the Giants need someone with consistent hands. Alongside this, Addison played in just three games where he was held under 45+ yards.
While there is some concern surrounding his lack of strength, he checks off every other box to the point where that might not even matter. Obviously it wouldn’t hurt to add a couple of pounds of muscle, but it isn’t the end of the world if he opts not to. Addison has standout WR written all over him.
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