The New York Giants didn’t hesitate to trade Odell Beckham Jr. last offseason in an attempt to add draft capital and promote the rebuilding of the team. They used the picks allocated to draft Dexter Lawrence and Oshane Ximines, a defensive tackle and pass rusher, both of whom have had limited success this season.
Lawrence has been the most influential of the rookie crop, aside from Daniel Jones, which shows the value they got from Beckham. They also received safety, Jabrill Peppers, in the deal, who has become a staple on the defense and will remain a starter for the foreseeable future.
However, the Giants lost their No. 1 wideout and have struggled at the wide receiver position this season, especially with the number of injuries that have piled up. This begs the question — should they consider signing a big-name pass-catcher next offseason?
Should the New York Giants pursue Amari Cooper in free agency?
To start, the Giants will likely avoid pursing a top receiver like Cooper, who’s preparing to cash in on a great season with the Dallas Cowboys. However, the talent and lack of drama he would bring compared to Beckham makes him an enticing option.
Pairing him with Golden Tate, Sterling Shepard, and Darius Slayton would be deadly, but you could make the argument that the Giants don’t need that much strength at the WR position. Alternatively, that money could be used to sign an offensive tackle or linebacker.
Cooper earned nearly $14 million this season on a one-year deal (Spotrac), which could lead to a deal worth over $15-16 million per season on a multi-year contract. That’s a ton of cap-space to allocate towards a position that isn’t necessarily a need. Again, GM Dave Gettleman would be better off investing in the offensive line, defensive line, or secondary. Those holes are far more pressing, despite the Giants wide receiver core lacking profoundly in separation yards.