The New York Giants need to allocate resources toward the offense this off-season, one way or another. Whether they look to free agency to acquire a wide receiver or the 2021 NFL draft, co-owner John Mara has already indicated they will be making moves.
Considering the offense ranked 31st in the NFL last season in points per game, at 17.5, we can assume the majority of their capital will go toward bolstering the unit. Second-year quarterback Daniel Jones had very little to work with, and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett did him very little favors.
While Sterling Shepard represents a solid WR2, they desperately need a receiver who commands more attention and the return of Saquon Barkley should only help. This off-season presents a fantastic opportunity to add significant pieces, and with the expectation that the Giants will have a top 10 defense in 2021, as long as their offense is average, they should be a playoff-caliber team.
Free agency holds multiple options they can consider, as well as the draft. Let’s take a look at one combination that would completely overhaul their offense this off-season.
Two offseason additions to overhaul the New York Giants’ offense:
1.) Kenny Golladay
It is no secret the New York Giants need a big body on the outside that Daniel Jones can rely on. Detroit Lions receiver Kenny Golladay could fit that role perfectly, as he stands at 6-foot-4 and 214 pounds. At just 27 years old, Golladay is coming off a tough season where he played just five games. However, he posted 338 yards and two scores during that small timeframe. In 2019, he earned a Pro Bowl appearance, remaining healthy the entire year and earning 1,190 yards and 11 scores.
With the cap expected to drop this off-season considerably, teams are going to have to cut bait. The Lions have fully committed to a long-term rebuild, so retaining Golladay might not be the most cost-efficient option. With that being said, if he hits free agency, he might be looking for a one-year, prove-it deal; that way, he can cash in, in 2022, when the salary rises again post COVID-19.
His ability to haul in balls in man-coverage and represent an elite deep threat for Jones makes him a perfect fit for the Giants‘ scheme under Jason Garrett. With Allen Robinson expected to land $18+ million per season as the top receiver on the market, Golladay will likely be a bit cheaper and represent ample value, given he remains healthy.
2.) Jaylen Waddle
The Giants have the 11th overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, so there’s a fantastic chance one of the top three receivers drops to them. If that receiver happens to be Jaylen Waddle out of Alabama, the Giants shouldn’t think twice. Waddle is an elite play-maker with electrifying abilities in the open fields, and he would complement Golladay perfectly from a Z/slot position.
Waddle is best utilized with pre-snap motion, shifting him and giving him the momentum to beat man coverage and avoid press. Unfortunately, a significant ankle injury disrupted his 2020 season, but he is a stellar prospect with Henry Ruggs speed and even better route running abilities. He is a player you design your offense around, and adding Golladay plus the return of Saquon Barkley would make the Giants’ offense intimidating. It would truly be an overhaul compared to the disgrace they put on the field in 2020.