The New York Giants will be without Odell Beckham Jr. for the first time in five years this upcoming season. Which wide receivers will now step up for Big Blue?
It’s never easy to replace a superstar. That’s what the 2019 New York Giants need to do. With the mercurial Odell Beckham Jr. now on the Cleveland Browns, the G-Men have a huge hole to fill at the wide receiver position. When healthy and motivated, Beckham was a true superstar and one of the most dangerous weapons in the NFL.
So who will step up for Big Blue this coming season at wide receiver? Rookie sensation Saquon Barkley paced the Giants in receptions out of the backfield last year with 91, while Beckham chipped in with 77 in 12 games.
But which wideouts will truly succeed moving forward? Let’s take a look at New York’s wide receiver depth chart and project how these players will perform in 2019.
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Sterling Shepard: Now 25 years old, the Oklahoma product finished third on the Giants in receptions (66) and second in receiving yards (872) last season. Both were career-highs. So was his 13.2 yards per reception average. But is he ready to become a true No. 1?
This is his opportunity. He does not possess the breakaway speed of Beckham (few do) but he’s been a consistent target of veteran quarterback Eli Manning. Shepard is known for being able to make the tough catch in traffic. He’ll really need to step up his game in order to become a true WR1 and all the pressure that comes with it.
Golden Tate: General manager Dave Gettleman inked the nine-year veteran to a four-year, $37.5 million pact in March. Tate is 30 years old now and has a lot of worn tread on the tires. With that being said, the Notre Dame product grabbed 74 receptions for 795 yards and four touchdowns with the Lions and Eagles last year.
Tate is your prototypical possession receiver, the guy you look for on third-and-seven to move the chains with a key catch in a big spot. He’s past his prime but he should still have a decent amount of upside left in the tank.
Corey Coleman: The 5-11, 185-pounder looks like the third receiver on the depth chart at this point in time. A former first-round pick of the Browns in 2016 (15th overall), Coleman has a real opportunity to shine in New York. He recorded just five catches for 71 yards in eight games for the G-Men last year but he showed potential as a kick returner. Watch him closely during training camp. He has the innate ability to really blossom.
Cody Latimer: A hamstring injury held the former Denver Broncos wideout to only six games for Big Blue in 2018 (11 catches for 170 yards, one touchdown). He’s still just 26 so he’ll compete with Coleman and rookie Darius Slayton for the No. 3 role.
Darius Slayton: A fifth-round selection from Auburn (171st overall) in this year’s NFL Draft, Slayton averaged 20.3 yards per reception for the Tigers and has the ability to stretch the field, something the G-Men desperately need. He ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine and, as they say, you can’t teach speed. He is a real sleeper heading into training camp.