Ranking the New York Giants’ starting wide receivers for 2020

New York Giants, Darius Slayton
Nov 24, 2019; Chicago, IL, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) runs with the football ahead of Chicago Bears cornerback Prince Amukamara (20) in the first quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Kena Krutsinger-USA TODAY Sports

Judging Daniel Jones’ production for the New York Giants in 2019 is a bit tumultuous, simply based on the fact that most of his weapons were injured throughout the season. Jones didn’t enjoy a single game with all of his playmakers on the field at one time, which severely limited his efficiency and quality in both the pass and run game.

However, he still managed to put together a 3,027-yard performance with 24 touchdowns. The hope is that his playmakers can remain healthy in 2020, allowing him to maximize the talent around him and excel in all facets of the game.

Let’s take a look at each wide receiver for the New York Giants and rank them based on projected production:

1.) Darius Slayton

I believe Slayton is primed for a massive 2020 campaign, based on his rookie numbers and how much he developed in just one season. Slayton put together a 740-yard and 8 touchdown performance in 2019. After dropping nearly everything in rookie minicamp a few months before the regular season, he ended up leading all rookies in yards in the NFL and was the Giants’ top wide receiver. He will be 23-years-old during the 2020 season and has 12 games under his belt with Daniel Jones as his quarterback.

Slayton is the Giants’ top boundary receiver, as Golden Tate and Sterling Shepard both prefer to work in the slot. His 15.4 yards per reception total and 52.9 yards per game were excellent, and he held onto the ball well, allowing zero fumbles. I expect him to continue his development moving forward and become one of the more trustworthy pass catchers on the team.

2.) Sterling Shepard

Shepard suffered two concussions in 2019, putting his career in jeopardy. If he endures another brain injury, he could be forced to make a difficult decision and leave the game of football behind. However, we can expect him to be taking all precautions regarding head injuries moving forward. He’s one of the Giants’ top pass-catchers and normally works best from the slot position.

His best season came in 2018, when he played in all 16 games, earning 872 yards and 4 touchdowns. He managed 8 scores in his rookie season back in 2016. Nonetheless, Shepard signed a four-year, $40 million deal last off-season, and the Giants could use his presence to help Jones in the passing game. I believe Slayton will surpass him in terms of production, but Shepard is still an integral part of the offense.

3.) Golden Tate

Golden Tate was decent for the Giants in his first year in New York, posting 676 yards and 6 touchdowns. His 57.6% catch rate was his lowest since his rookie season in 2010. At 32-years-old in 2020, Tate can be a producer on offense and a security blanket for Jones. He works well interchanging between slot and boundary duties. However, the Giants have an out after the 2020 season in his contract, which would allow them to retain about $13 million between 2021-22. He would count as $5 million in dead-cap, allowing them to save some salary cap and allocate toward other positions.

4.) Corey Coleman

Coleman has battled injury throughout his career, suffering an ACL tear during training camp last season. He is looking to leave his mark on the Giants and will return for one more year. He is on a cheap contract, and taking a flier on a former sub 4.40 40-yard dash time athlete is never a bad idea. As a former first-round pick, Coleman has failed to live up to his expectations, but he has the talent to supplement injuries in the wide receiver corps. Hopefully, he can remain healthy and contribute in some way this upcoming season.

Honorable Mentions:

5.) Cody Core

Core is primarily a special teams ace, and he was kept for that reason. However, his primary position is wide receiver, and while he isn’t the most effective player running routes, he can be a good reinforcement piece in case of injury. Again, he’s primarily going to focus on special teams, but having diverse players who can play multiple positions is precisely what Joe Judge seeks.

6.) Binjimen Victor

The Giants signed Binjimen Victor out of Ohio State as an undrafted free agent this year. At 6-foot-4 and 198 pounds, Victor is a long and lanky pass catcher that is capable of snagging contested balls and acting as a security blanket in the intermediate passing game for Daniel Jones. While he wasn’t the focal point for the Buckeye offense, he did earn 573 yards and six touchdowns over 12 games. I believe he will compete with Corey Coleman for the fourth spot in the wide receiver corps, but he certainly has the physical traits to develop into a solid player.