With training camp a few weeks away, the New York Giants have several positions they need to iron out ahead of the regular season. One unit that will require some attention is the wide receivers, who have one final spot to fill.
Currently, the top three options remain Golden Tate, Sterling Shepard, and Darius Slayton. All three missed time in 2019 due to injury or suspension, but they will head into 2020 with a full bill of health and no disciplinary issues. While the same can’t be said for some other players on the team, the receivers are in a good place and should be prepared to help Daniel Jones build off an impressive rookie campaign.
Here are three New York Giants’ WRs who will be competing for the No. 4 spot:
1.) Corey Coleman
General manager Dave Gettleman seemingly has a soft spot for Corey Coleman. Coleman has been unable to play a full season with the Giants, suffering a torn ACL during training camp last year and playing in just eight games in 2018. His five receptions with Big Blue over two years equates to 71 yards.
There is value to be had with Coleman, who is a former first-round pick and has simply battled injuries throughout his career. In 2016 with the Cleveland Browns, he played in 10 games posting 413 yards and three touchdowns. His play fell significantly in 2017 when he broke his hand and missed the remainder of the season after nine games.
There is no question that Corey contains excellent speed, and if he can remain healthy, I believe he will lock down the number four spot on the roster. However, history indicates otherwise, and the Giants should be prepared to have supplemental options available.
2.) Binjimen Victor
Binjimen Victor is an exciting young prospect who joined the Giants as an undrafted free agent. At 6-foot-4 and 198 pounds, Victor can be a security blanket in the intermediate passing game and a reliable red-zone threat for Jones. He is lanky and has an incredibly large wingspan, giving him the potential to develop into a solid player.
Victor lacks elite speed, and only starting in 2019 with the Ohio State Buckeyes, he posted 573 yards and six touchdowns over 12 games. He is nowhere near a focal point on offense, but allowing him to develop and complete is precisely what the Giants should be doing.
3.) Austin Mack
Mack is another appealing young player with potential. Also coming from Ohio State, the 6-foot-2, 215-pound receiver posted 361 yards and three scores last year. While he wasn’t as productive as Victor in the passing game behind Justin Fields, he has solid athleticism and smooth route running.
He’s a physical receiver who enjoys press coverage and can create separation on his brakes, but against NFL talent, he could take some time to adapt.
Austin is the outlier of the group, and I believe he needs at least one season to develop into an NFL quality pass catcher, but he will also be battling with Victor and Coleman for the final slot in the wide receiver corps.