Wide Receiver

 The Wide Receiver, the playmakers of the offense, the guys who gain chunk yardage. Wide Receivers are everywhere nowadays, with plenty of quality receivers coming out of college every year. Just this past year we saw rookies like Puka Nacua and Tank Dell put up great numbers despite being rookies. Similar things have happened in the past few years with players like Justin Jefferson and Jamaar Chase. These pass catchers are essential for any offense to function. Recently the Giants have struggled in this department but it seems this group is on the rise. Let's take a dive into a WR group with no clear dominant X receiver.

    Let's start off with Big Blue's most productive and underrated WR over the last few seasons, Darius Slayton. The 5th-round pick out of Auburn wasn't expected to be the team's best WR when he was drafted in 2019. With guys like Golden Tate and a young Sterling Shepard, Slayton was already the third WR on the depth chart, but that made Slayton's production much more surprising. Out of 5 seasons played, Slayton has had 4 seasons of 700+ receiving yards, the only year he didn't have those numbers was 2021 in which he only played 13 games. During his rookie year, he scored 8 touchdowns, almost leading all rookies. Slayton has been as reliable as they come despite drop problems during his college days. He isn't a Justin Jefferson or Tyreek Hill, but when you need him he'll be there for a big catch with major yardage. Slayton was almost off the team when the new regime came in for the 2022 season, but Slayton worked hard, took a pay cut for the team, and earned his spot. Big Blue is lucky to have a guy like him despite the team's shortcomings and hopefully will keep him for the foreseeable future.

    One word I would use to describe Wandale Robinson is electric. Robinson was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2022 NFL draft and was said to be a reach by most. Standing at a height of 5'8" and only weighing 185 pounds, Robinson was considered very undersized for a typical WR. At Kentucky, he was used as a gadget and gimmick player, used in motions and sweeps and even out of the backfield. His first year with the Giants was a rough one, only playing 6 games and in that 6th game, he eclipsed 100 receiving yards but soon tore his ACL in the same game. In 2023, Robinson only had 525 receiving yards on 60 receptions but you have to watch him play to see what I mean by electric. He's fast, agile, shifty, and will get open against anyone. Robinson was 8th in catch percentage amongst all pass catchers with 45 catches minimum and was top 5 in open percentage against single-man coverage. Robinson has shown the tools of an elite WR and I am excited to see where his development goes next season.

    Next up we have the 3rd round rookie out of Tenessee, Jalin Hyatt. Hyatt, a former Fred Biletnikoff Award (The award for college's most outstanding WR) had a so-so rookie season. Mainly used as a deep threat, Hyatt had an okay rookie year. He brought in 23 passes for 373 receiving yards, not a lot but shows promise. Hyatt was an interesting prospect, coming from a college offense designed to be high-powered and fast, which played to Hyatt's strengths as a pass catcher. Hyatt may only be going into his second year, but everyone at the Giants organization will be studying his development of route running and other aspects of his game to see if he can be the WR 1 the team has been looking for.

    There are more WRs on the team but almost all of them will most likely gone before next year. Veteran and long-time Giant Sterling Sheppard has hinted at possible retirement multiple times, Isaiah Hodgins will most likely leave the team, and the same for Parris Campbell. The more interesting story this offseason will be what the Giants will do with the 6th overall pick in the 2024 draft, with many believing a WR is at play, with two names coming to the forefront.

    The first of these two names is LSU's Malik Nabers. If it wasn't for a certain player named Marvin Harrison Jr, Nabers would be the best WR in the class. He has everything a team is looking for in a WR 1. Great route running, great speed, physicality, great attacking at the point of contact with the ball. His one weakness can be summed up easily "He isn't Marvin Harrison Jr". Nabers is coming from a school that has sent many electric WRs to the NFL in recent memory. Odell Beckham Jr (Former Giant), Justin Jefferson, and Jamaar Chase are great WRs to come from LSU, and Nabers will be the next player to be added to that list. He wasn't second amongst all college WRs in receiving yards and 4th in TDs for no reason. Credit to JustBombsProductions for the edit below.

    However, Nabers was only second in receiving yards amongst all college WRs who were eligible, who was number one? Well, that would be Washington's Rome Odunze. Odunze is as physical as they come. In on one coverage, Odunze is going to fight tooth and nail to come down with the ball. He is one of the reasons Washington made it to the Nation Championship this year after all. Odunze is 6'3" and weighs 200 pounds and he uses every last ounce of muscle to bring the ball down. If there is a guy to trust with a jump ball down the field, it's him. Odunze led all college WRs in receiving yards with 1640 and was 6th in TDs with 13. He has been overlooked due to Nabers and MHJ being in this draft class but he shouldn't be slept on at all. 

    Either of these WRs would be a massive addition to the Giant's WRs and bring something to the team that they haven't had since OBJ was on the team. A WR you can count on at any moment. Whether or not they draft either of them will depend on how the draft plays out, but whoever gets one of these guys will have a game-changer. Next time I'll be diving into Big Blue's Offensive line to discuss the big boys up front, stay tuned for that.