Isn’t it ironic that the New York Giants desperately need a WR1 after trading away Odell Beckham Jr. last year? Considering Big Blue ranks dead last in the NFL with 44 points through four games, their offense could certainly use a jolt of energy.
Beckham, who posted 81 yards through the air and 73 yards on the ground in the victory over the Dallas Cowboys Sunday afternoon, is rubbing it in the face of the Giants. He also hit pay-dirt twice, while the Giants haven’t scored a touchdown in over two games. Over the last 16 quarters of football, Daniel Jones and the offense have only reached the end zone twice, with their last six scoring drives resulting in field goals.
Considering the Giants’ lack of offensive weaponization, finding a free agent WR1 in 2021 might be a necessity. Given they don’t allocate a high draft pick toward the position in the 2021 NFL draft, current Chicago Bear Allen Robinson could fit the bill. Against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Robinson posted 101 yards and one score over seven receptions.
The Bears only managed 11 points, but Robinson displayed his number one WR status in the loss. So far in the campaign, Robinson has 331 yards and two scores and would offer Jones a fantastic option in the receiving game.
The New York Giants will need to allocate resources one way or another:
The primary issue is his future contract, which will likely land in the $15-18 million range per season. The Giants have a healthy cap situation at the moment, given they have several high profile players on one-year deals. They currently are paying Leonard Williams and Kyler Fackrell a combined $20.7 million. Getting rid of their contracts would allow the Giants to sign Robinson and then some. In addition, they could look to extend Williams on a multi-year deal, but it would have to be less than $14 million per-season, given his inability to rack up sacks at an extravagant level.
Pairing Robinson with Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton would be fantastic; this would also assume that the Giants cut Golden Tate, who would otherwise count $8.5 million against the cap. After the 2020 season, the Giants have an out in his deal, counting $4.7 million against the cap in dead money, but will ultimately save them about $4 million.
With all of these savings added up, the Giants are in a solid position to spend in free agency and add players via the draft. With a defense playing above their weight-class, solving the offense’s issues is a major concern at this point.
Of course, I would be remiss not to mention the schematic deficiencies that offensive coordinator Jason Garrett has imposed on the team thus far.