New York Giants Could Grab Polished Wide Receiver in Second Round of 2019 NFL Draft

Nov 10, 2018; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Riley Ridley (8) catches a pass against the Auburn Tigers during the second half at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

With one more college season under his belt Georgia wide receiver Riley Ridley likely would have been a sure-fire first-round pick, but due to a three-headed monster running game, his services weren’t needed as much as expected. The New York Giants could target the wideout in the second round of the draft, providing value to a receiving corps that just lost Odell Beckham Jr.

The Giants signed Golden Tate to act as another slot receiver, but he is also capable of playing on the outside as well. Ridley is purely a wideout, which is exactly what Big Blue needs.

Looking into Riley Ridley and why he could make sense for the New York Giants:

At 6’1″, 200-pounds, Ridley is a speed pass catcher with trustworthy hands. His 4.58 40-time at the NFL Combine was slower than expected, but he has a diverse skill set. His toughness and competitive nature only break the surface on his intangible attributes – Ridley is mentally superb, but his physical traits lack at some points.

One of the more impressive characteristics is his body control. Ridley’s catch radius is also above-average, snagging balls out of the air with ease and calmness.

Take a look at this clip:

A simple fade route to the corner of the endzone, Ridley uses his body control to snag the ball at its highest point, ensuring that the cornerback can’t make a play. He also manages to get his feet in bounds to complete the catch and score the touchdown. This is the type of balance that translates to the next level.

This next clip of Ridley shows a middle post route, which appears in head coach Pat Shurmur’s offense frequently. Shurmur loves crossing routes over the middle of the field to confuse defenders and put the ball in space, this increases chances of extra yards.

The cons:

The primary con associated with Ridley is his less than average quickness of the line. He will be jammed by better corners at the NFL level if he doesn’t improve his footwork and initial wiggle off the snap. He lacks the run-after-catch ability at times due to his inability to create ample separation – he makes up for this with his great catch radius but allows corners to catch up and stop him before exposing open field.

The Giants could utilize him in 2019 if they are willing to spend their second-rounder on him (No. 37). The fact is, Ridley was likely going to be a first-round selection in 2020, but giving him time to develop and become the top option for the Giants’ next quarterback might not be a bad idea.