2.Wide Receivers/Tight Ends:
Another very solid department for the Giants is their pass catchers. The team has three very capable receivers out of Darius Slayton, Golden Tate, and Sterling Shepard.Â
Slayton is going into his second season on a high note. He was Daniel Jones’ favorite target last season and is the Giants’ resident redzone threat. Last season, Slayton turned 48 receptions into 780 yards and eight touchdowns. He will look to build on this performance in 2020.Â
Golden Tate is the veteran in the receiver room. Entering his 11th year, Tate has had an illustrious career so far, recording 660 catches for 7,890 yards and 44 touchdowns. Tate has yet to show signs of slowing down as last year, he recorded 676 yards and six touchdowns in 10 starts. And over the last five seasons, the Notre Dame product leads all wide receivers with 1,003 yards after the catch. Having someone who can make plays with the ball is something a young, developing quarterback needs, and Tate is that man for the Giants.
Rounding out the top three is Sterling Shepard, who has been on the New York Giants longer than any other pass catcher. While it has only been four seasons, he is actually the longest-tenured Giant, period. In his time in East Rutherford, Shep has played very consistently. He has posted 55+ catches and 550+ yards in each of his four seasons. He is a great locker room presence and a very solid receiver number two or three for the Giants and Daniel Jones.
New York is also very comfortable with their talent when it comes to tight ends. The Giants have a top 12 tight end out of Evan Engram along with two solid backups, Kaden Smith and Levine Toilolo.
Evan Engram is entering his fourth year in the league and is poised for a breakout year. After an injury-riddled start to his career, which caused him to miss 14 out of his first 48 games, Evan Engram is finally healthy. This is good news for Daniel Jones as Engram was one of his favorite pass catchers as he recorded 113 yards and one touchdown in Jones’ first start. Engram should be more involved in the offense this season with Jason Garrett’s love for tight ends, and may finally be able to put all the pieces together.
Engram will be complemented with Kaden Smith and Levine Toilolo, both of which are giants in the literal sense. Standing at 6-foot-5 and 6-foot-8, respectively, the duo should be useful in the run blocking game, something that Engram has lacked. As tall pass catchers, the two should also be good resources to use in the red zone for Jones to throw to.
With all these options, pass catchers are also something Daniel Jones and the Giants will likely not need to worry about in 2020.