New York Giants: Who Will be Odell Beckham Jr.’s Sidekick?
Even though the New York Giants have begun the 2016 NFL season with a free agency bang, they are still searching for key players at several positions.
One of those vital spots is the starting receiver that will line up across from super star Odell Beckham Jr.; a spot previously occupied by Rueben Randle. Randle is now a free agent and has been reportedly visiting other teams like the L.A. Rams, per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. This is of course with the hopes of landing a big contract, and the Giants don’t appear to want Randle back at anything more than at a bargain price. He will probably play elsewhere next season.
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If that is the case, who will the GMEN bring in to replace, and hopefully build upon, Randle’s production?
If you’re thinking a hopefully healthy Victor Cruz, who recently renegotiated his contract, think again. Cruz is coming off of major knee and calf injuries that have derailed his last two seasons. The odds of him being able to fill the outside receiver role opposite of OBJ are probably low.
More importantly, Cruz has always been a bigger weapon from the slot and struggled when the Giants moved him outside before his injury. Ideally he will be the 3rd receiver in a single back set for New York, with Beckham Jr. and another receiver slotted outside the hashes. So the question remains: Who is #2?
The Giants reportedly had some big interest in Mohamed Sanu when free agency opened. Sanu is from the area, born in New Jersey and having played for Rutgers, and the Giants would have loved to have added him after he showed how versatile of a player he was in Cincinnati. But the Falcons “swooped” in and signed him to a 5 year 32.5 million dollar contract, leaving the Giants without their most likely ideal choice.
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Along with Sanu, guys like Jermaine Kearse and Travis Benjamin were quickly snatched up and became unavailable, and in terms of free agency, there wasn’t much else out there at the receiver position to pick from after that. Mike Wallace looked pretty bad last year in Minnesota, and New York needs a proven young player to step in. A veteran “experiment” at this point would be a waste of time.
There are still some serviceable veterans out there, however, and the Giants could “settle” for one if they don’t think the draft is the answer. Guys like Brandon LaFell, Percy Harvin and Marques Colton are still unsigned, but each carry lots of mileage and injury concerns with them.
The Giants at this point basically have three choices: 1.) Bring back Rueben Randle, 2.) use Dwayne Harris in the slot and move Victor Cruz to the outside hoping he holds up, or 3.) grab a young, unproven guy in the draft.
Ultimately, the GMEN may have to do all three based on injuries and/or production, or 2 of the 3. Some mock drafts have Laquon Treadwell from Ole Miss on the Giants radar, and that pick would make a lot of sense.
Treadwell is a large receiver with a lot of range who is similar in ability to a young Hakeem Nicks, and with arguably faster feet. Lining him up across from OBJ with a healthy Cruz in the slot would give defenses A LOT to think about in passing situations.
Whatever the Giants do, they can’t afford to take a step back on O. The defense looks to be coming together on paper, but the offense is the key for the Giants to have a shot at the playoffs. If Big Blue can’t throw with the same ability as last season, it could mean another year without a playoff appearance.
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GM Jerry Reese can’t afford to have that happen. The #2 receiver issue needs to be resolved adequately before the GMEM step on the field in September.