New York Giants: Best wide receivers in the NFL?

Do the New York Giants have the best group of wide receivers in all of the NFL as of the start of training camp?

Any questions about if the New York Giants are in a “Super Bowl or bust” mode during the closing chapter of Eli Manning’s Hall-of-Fame career were answered by transactions completed by the club earlier this year. New York gave Manning a much-needed asset in 6-4 veteran Brandon Marshall in March, and the club then used a first-round pick on tight end Evan Engram. Those two are set to play alongside superstar Odell Beckham Jr. and second-year talent Sterling Shepard.

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Earlier this week, USA Today listed the Giants as being responsible for the best group of receivers among NFL clubs:

"Odell Beckham Jr. has never had fewer than 90 catches, 1,300 yards or 10 TDs in a season. The hype is more than justified. Fellow WR Sterling Shepard caught 65 passes and scored eight times as a rookie. Now mix in WR Brandon Marshall, a red zone force who’s basically a tight end, along with first-round TE Evan Engram, who’s basically a wideout given 4.4 speed that probably makes him the fastest guy in the bunch. This aerial assault could be unrelenting."

NFL defenses and opposing coaches have had three seasons to learn how to defend Beckham. Just about all have failed. Beckham has no equal in one-on-one situations, he can score almost anytime he catches a pass from Manning, he’s good for a minimum of 90 receptions and 10 touchdowns each season and, most remarkably, he probably hasn’t yet hit his peak or his physical prime.

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It’s no longer an exaggeration or hype to compare Beckham to the likes of Randy Moss or other all-time greats. The 24-year old already holds numerous franchise and NFL records, and he seems to understand the rock-star life he is apparently fond of exists only because of his many achievements. That he spent a portion of the offseason working with Cris Carter erased any (fake) controversy caused by Beckham skipping voluntary workouts.

Unlike Beckham, Marshall is closer to retirement and/or a gig as a television analyst than to his prime. The 33-year old may no longer blow past defensive backs, but he still possesses the size and tools to go over cornerbacks and safeties in red zone situations. Remember, also, that his existence on the field is meant to create nightmare matchups for every secondary in the NFL.

Shepard’s numbers from his debut season were already spotlighted, but there’s one unmentioned by the USA Today piece that’s worth noting. Manning targeted Shepard 105 times during the 2016 season while playing in an offense that included Beckham and Victor Cruz. That, on its own, says plenty about the chemistry enjoyed by the two-time Super Bowl MVP quarterback and a 24-year old who has only one year of pro experience on his resume.

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Perhaps most promising is that Shepard rarely looked like a rookie during the 2016 campaign. Even if he somehow fails to improve at all, which seems unlikely considering his production, talent and those around him, Shepard nevertheless could find the end zone no fewer than ten times assuming the Giants will be as pass-happy as advertised come September.

One doesn’t need to be an insider to grasp how the Giants feel about Engram heading into training camp. In short, the club believes the rookie can be the best play-maker at the tight end position to wear Big Blue since the days of Jeremy Shockey; hopefully without any Shockey-esque headaches.

As Kevin Patra of NFL.com wrote, rookie tight ends often struggle to adapt to life in the NFL during rookie seasons. If Manning grows to trust Engram early and often, history shows the QB will look for the first-year target more than a handful of times during contests. For what it’s worth, the 6-foot-3 is essentially a wide receiver lining up at tight end, so comparing him to the likes of Vernon Davis or even Jimmy Graham may be a touch unfair.

Championships are not won on paper, obviously, but it should not be lost on anybody the New York offense is built to win a Super Bowl next February. In 2008, a combination of Manning, Plaxico Burress, Steve Smith, Amani Toomer, David Tyree and Kevin Boss helped the Giants beat the then-undefeated New England Patriots. Four years later, Manning, Hakeem Nicks, Mario Manningham, Victor Cruz and others downed the Pats. The current New York offense could be better than either of those units, so long as the big men tasked with protecting Manning don’t hang him out to dry.

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If everything clicks, the Giants will have the best wide receivers in the NFL, and that reality brings with it high expectations. Anything short of at least a single playoff victory will be seen as a massive disappointment for this roster so long as the Giants avoid unforeseen setbacks. The pressure will be on Manning to convert potential into victories and a spot in Super Bowl LII.