New York Giants had a fantastic NFL draft this year, but they landed several high upside players as undrafted free agents. Of course, we have been focusing on fourth overall pick Andrew Thomas and safety Xavier McKinney more than most, but diving into the unknown players that most overlook can sometimes be beneficial.
As we have seen in the past with players like Victor Cruz and even Ahmad Bradshaw being drafted in the seventh round, unexpected talent can emerge as productive players at the NFL level.
Here’s a look at three New York Giants undrafted free agents we should keep an eye on this summer:
1.) WR Binjimen Victor
We have covered Binjimen Victor extensively the past few months, as his size and frame give Daniel Jones a quality target in the intermediate passing game. At 6-foot-4 and 198 pounds, Victor closely resembles AJ Green in terms of size. If he can add a bit of strength off the line of scrimmage, he can increase his efficiency on contested footballs and experience better releases.
Victor also has the size to be a solid red-zone threat, earning six touchdowns over 12 games in 2019. While he didn’t start until his senior season with the Ohio State Buckeyes, his emergence gives the Giants some underrated talent that could compete for the fourth spot on the wide receiver corps. He will be looking to dislodge Corey Coleman for the final slot, and after his injury last year, there is a solid chance that you could push him off the roster altogether.
While I do think it will take some time for Victor to adapt to the physicality and speed of the NFL, he has the tangible traits to become a productive player for the Giants.
2.) RB Javon Leake
The Giants landed Javon Leake as a UDFA out of Maryland. At 6 foot and 215 pounds, Leake is a boom or bust style player, as it contains amazing straight away speed but doesn’t have that much vertical mobility. NFL analyst Lance Zierlein comparison to Tevin Coleman, a player who can burst through running lines and capitalize on good blocking.
Over three seasons with Maryland, Leake only enjoyed 155 total touches, but his big-play potential makes him a high upside talent the Giants should be looking to capitalize on. With Saquon Barkley and Dion Lewis cemented as the No. 1-2 running backs, Leake will be competing for the 3rd spot, attempting to replace Wayne Gallman and Jon Hilliman.
3.) OL Kyle Murphy
Murphy is an interesting player out of Rhode Island. Dave Gettleman is known for his ability to find offensive linemen in the later rounds or as undrafted free agents. At 6-foot-4 and 302 pounds, Murphy has the size to develop at the tackle position. He played in 43 games, starting in 36 over this career with RI.
While Murphy has minimal experience against FBS defenders, he will need time to develop at the NFL level. He will likely land on the practice squad. Kyle will look to refine his skills to earn a reserve spot on the offensive line. Murphy was team captain for Rhode Island and a former basketball player, attesting to his character and athleticism. He moves very well on the line and has solid athleticism. The New York Giants are hoping to develop him behind the scenes to build out their depth at OL hopefully.