New York Giants: Will they sign any veteran receivers?

The New York Giants held their annual kick-the-tires Tuesday, as the team hosted Chris Cooley, Wes Welker and Hakeem Nicks.

ESPN 980 tweeted the news about Cooley, while Josina Anderson was the first to report the news about the two receivers.

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ESPN’s Dan Graziano painted a good picture about how these workouts typically go for New York.

“The Giants host a dozen or so players every Tuesday for workouts, and the vast majority of them are not signed. But these names are interesting because of their profile and because of the fact that the Giants only have five wide receivers and three tight ends on their roster right now,” Graziano said.

Let’s start by talking about Cooley. The 33-year-old tight end was once a reliable option for the Redskins, but he’s been out of the NFL since 2012.

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However, this could be a move to give Larry Donnell a proverbial kick in the pants. Donnell has been inconsistent as of late, but that’s been the story of his career to this point. I don’t think Cooley will be joining the Giants, and even if he does, it’s hard to imagine him emerging as a viable option on the offense.

In regard to the latter two aforementioned players, I think they would both be better additions for the Giants.

The Giants have been completely devoid of a slot receiver with Victor Cruz — the Patterson native is scheduled to make his long-awaited return Sunday against the Bills — recovering from a calf injury. Welker would likely fill that role well, as he is one of the most prolific slot receivers in NFL history.

The caveat with Welker is his health, as his history with concussions led many teams to stay away from him during free agency. I believe he can still play, albeit in a reduced role.

Dec 28, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver Wes Welker (83) runs the ball in the fourth quarter against the Oakland Raiders at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos defeated the Raiders 47-14. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Last year in Denver, Welker hauled in 49 passes for 464 yards and two touchdowns.

Nicks is probably the most interesting option out of the three players. Nicks was once a top-10 receiver for New York, and he was a key cog in the team’s 2011 Super Bowl run. He commanded double teams and played like a true number-one receiver. He had the ability to become a top-tier receiver in the NFL.

Unfortunately, a foot injury drastically set back Nicks’ career, and he was never really the same player. He had a touchdown-less year in 2013, which led to the Giants neglecting to renew his contract going into 2014.

Nicks signed a one-year deal with Indianapolis, but struggled to get playing time.

Following his brief stint in Indy, Nicks was signed by Tennessee to be a veteran presence on a young offense. Despite having a productive offseason in which Nicks became more of a leader, he failed to survive the Titans’ final wave of roster cuts.

I think Nicks still has something left in the tank, and it’s something that could benefit the Giants.

Both Welker and Nicks would be huge improvements for the Giants, who have little-to-no depth behind their core trio of receivers.

With that being said, it’s sill unclear whether Cruz will make a successful recovery from a torn patellar tendon, so getting some insurance wouldn’t be a bad decision.

However, bringing in two injury-prone players as a back-up plan for a player whose status is questionable because of an injury could be a silly move.

If Cruz — worst-case scenario, obviously — does sustain another injury, Welker could come in and provide similar production. Nicks, on the other hand, could play outside, while Odell Beckham Jr. or Rueben Randle moved to the slot.

It’s not a guarantee that any of these players get signed, but they’re certainly the most interesting and big-name players the Giants have hosted.

Side Notes:

* The Chicago Bears traded Jon Bostic and Jared Allen Monday, seemingly signaling they’re preparing to rebuild by way of a fire sale. If tight end Martellus Bennett, whom the Giants let walk after the 2012 season due to financial reasons, the Giants should seriously consider making a move.

* Speaking of the Bears, free safety Brock Vereen, Shane’s brother, was released. A fourth-round pick in 2012, Vereen visited the Giants for a pre-draft visit. He’s a name to keep an eye on.

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