Big Blue WR corps doesn’t go deep
When the decision was made to trade away Odell Beckham Jr., it completely changed the realm of wide receiver for the entire Giants franchise. It is rare to import a player of such immense talent onto a roster and rarer still to export such a talent in his prime.
When the Giants did it, they knew their ability to overwhelm an opposing defense would be diminished, and hoped the equity in return and the headaches avoided would more than even out.
The month after dealing Beckham to the Browns, the Giants gave Sterling Shepard a fouryear contract extension worth $41 million. This was no coincidence. Shepard is not a game-breaker in the Beckham sense, but he is more what the Giants want to invest in moving forward. The Giants like everything about the way Shepard comports himself, on the field and off it.
What no one likes, though, are the concussion issues that derailed much of his 2019 season and leave Shepard and the Giants with legitimate concerns about what comes next.
Shepard took a hit to the head in the season-opening loss in Dallas, was diagnosed with a concussion and missed the next game. In Week 5, he suffered another concussion, missed three consecutive games, was cleared by an independent neurologist and was ready to return for the rematch with the Cowboys.
It did not happen, as Shepard reported his symptoms reappeared after a week of practice, and he sat out the next two games. Shepard was able to return to finish out the season, playing in the final six games and putting up a nine-catch, 111-yard day in a victory over the Dolphins — Eli Manning’s final start for the Giants.
Sustaining two concussions so close together — four weeks apart — is worrisome. He missed two games in 2017 because of severe migraines. He also had a concussion in college at Oklahoma and two in high school. Shepard is married to model Chanel Iman, and the couple has two young daughters. He does not enjoy talking about all this, understandably so.
Shepard’s health is of paramount importance, and his availability on the field is essential for the Giants, who are not exactly teeming with talent at wide receiver. Golden Tate is a solid starter with an innate ability to wriggle out of tackles for yards after the catch. He is also entering his 11th NFL season. Shepard and Tate are short and shifty, capable but not feared weapons.
The continued development of Darius Slayton is essential, as he might have the greatest upside of anyone on the roster. The fifthround pick from Auburn was ready, physically and mentally, to make an immediate impact, and his rookie year (48 receptions and team-highs with 740 yards and eight touchdowns) was noteworthy. How much better can he get?
The competition for jobs and roster spots figures to be intense this summer, with plenty of openings and just three spots not up for grabs.
Corey Coleman seemingly has the potential to make some noise, but waiting for him to develop is an exercise that the Browns, Bills and Patriots tried and gave up on before the Giants took a shot in 2018.
That Coleman was the No. 15 pick in the 2016 draft is merely a line on his rèsumè — that status holds no bearing anymore. There was a glimmer of hope for Coleman in 2019, but he tore his ACL in the first practice of training camp. He was re-signed to a oneyear deal, and this is probably his last chance. If he can regain his speed and quickness, the 5-foot-11 target could be a factor — he turns 26 in July, so he is still young — but this has been said before about him.
Cody Core has 33 receptions in four years — he spent his first three seasons with the Bengals — and if he makes the team again it will be based on his fine work on special teams. There are three undrafted rookie free agents, and do not be surprised if more than one of them sticks around, either on the roster or practice squad. Austin Mack and Binjimen Victor, both from Ohio State, and Derrick Dillion from LSU all bring something to the table.