The 2024 NFL draft noticed a number of groups enhance their receiver rooms. Are the New York Giants among the many groups that improved probably the most?
Bradley Locker of Professional Soccer Focus believes so.
Darius Slayton’s ongoing contract discussions mixed with the Giants having the worst receiving grade within the league final 12 months left the workforce in want of some juice at wideout. The workforce obtained precisely that in LSU’s Malik Nabers, who led the FBS in receiving grade in 2023 (minimal 15 targets). A staple of Nabers’ recreation is slipperiness after the catch, as mirrored by his 30 missed tackles compelled final 12 months.
If Slayton does stay in blue and crimson, he’ll type a potent one-two punch with the 20-year-old Nabers. Regardless, Nabers offers actual insurance coverage, given the inconsistent manufacturing of Wan’Dale Robinson and Jalin Hyatt, who every tallied lower than 530 yards in 2023.
Past Nabers, basic supervisor Joe Schoen was proactive to find a brand new tight finish. Veteran Darren Waller continues to critically mull retirement, so the Giants snatched Penn State’s Theo Johnson at 107th total. Not solely did Johnson take a look at extremely effectively — with a 9.93 Relative Athletic Rating — however he was additionally a red-zone weapon for the Nittany Lions. His seven touchdowns in 2023 tied for a workforce excessive.
Daniel Bellinger tasks as TE1 for New York, however Johnson ought to function in 12 personnel, which offensive coordinator Mike Kafka ran on 23% of performs in 2023 — the Twelfth-highest charge within the NFL.
Assuming quarterback Daniel Jones stays below heart, each the explosive Nabers and Johnson ought to increase a poor group from the 12 months earlier than. Each might go a good distance in returning the Giants’ offense to its environment friendly 2022 type.
New York went into the 2023 season with one of many worst receiving corps within the NFL. It was highlighted by Darren Waller, Darius Slayton, Parris Campbell, and Wan’Dale Robinson.
Waller was clearly within the again finish of his profession and never extremely productive anymore and it was clear that Slayton, Campbell, and Robinson shouldn’t be high receiving choices on the workforce. This resulted within the Giants passing for under 3,351 yards and 15 touchdowns.
The deficiency was clear and the entrance workplace determined to deal with it with a premium draft decide by deciding on Malik Nabers sixth total.
Nabers was nothing in need of a star in faculty, totaling 189 receptions for 3003 yards and 21 touchdowns (14 in his ultimate season) in his collegiate profession. Nabers needs to be an instantaneous winner on the skin as he’s an elite area creator and is electrical with the ball in his fingers.
The Giants additionally determined to draft Theo Johnson, who racked up 77 receptions for 938 yards and 12 touchdowns (seven in his ultimate season) in his collegiate profession.
The 2 rookies totaled extra touchdowns final season than the Giants’ whole receiving corps. Whereas it won’t translate to the NFL at a one-to-one ratio, including the sort of expertise with out dropping any main producers within the receiving recreation.
Solely time will inform if the workforce has actually turned the receiving corps round however as of now, it appears good.
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