New York Post

Giants bring Parris to NY

- By RYAN DUNLEAVY rdunleavy@nypost.com

The Giants budged a little on their standard for durability in order to add Parris Campbell’s versatilit­y.

Coming off a career year with the Colts, Campbell agreed Thursday to sign a one-year contract with the Giants, The Post confirmed.

The low-risk deal for one of the top receivers available near the end of the first week of NFL free agency is worth a base of $3 million — a $1.5 million signing bonus, $1.4 million salary and $100,000 workout bonus — and includes $1.7 million in per game roster bonuses and another $2 million in statistics-based incentives, according to NFL Network.

General manager Joe Schoen joked at the scouting combine about the outside “obsession with the receiver position,” but weeks earlier acknowledg­ed to his scouting staff that the roster is “pretty thin” at receiver, as seen on a recent episode of the team-produced “Giants Life” documentar­y.

“Smart, tough and dependable will ring true through all positions, but specifical­ly at that position the versatilit­y to play multiple spots will be important,” Schoen said during a meeting. “You have to be smart to play in our offense. To do what we want to do, you have to be able to move the guys around, and they have to be able to learn.” Campbell, 25, fits the bill as he lined up for 756 snaps in the slot, 218 split wide and three in-line, according to Pro Football Focus. The Giants already have Wan’Dale Robinson and Sterling Shepard — both of whom are recovering from season-ending torn ACLs and are at their best in the slot but capable of playing on the perimeter, too. The concern lies in the 6-foot, 208pound Campbell’s injury history, including 34 games missed due to the combinatio­n of three separate injuries as a rookie, a torn MCL and PCL in his knee during his second season, and a broken foot during his third season. Head coach Brian Daboll, who lives by the “smart, tough and dependable” motto, counts availabili­ty as part of dependabil­ity.

But Campbell delivered 63 catches for 623 yards and three touchdowns in 17 games in his final year before free agency. The Giants mitigated risk by including $100,000 per game roster bonuses for Campbell as a reward for staying healthy.

“He’s always had elite speed — I noticed that from Day 1,” said linebacker Bobby Okereke, who also is making the free-agent jump from the Colts to the Giants. “Guys have to come into the league and figure out their body. He’s faced a lot of adversity with injuries, but that’s only made him more resilient.”

Campbell adds a sorely lacking catch-and-run element to the offense, as 51 of his 63 catches and 391 of his 623 yards were either behind the snap or within 0 to 9 yards from the line of scrimmage, and he forced 13 missed tackles. The shifty former second-round draft pick out of Ohio State averaged 3.5 yards of separation on his routes, according to NextGenSta­ts, which would have been tops on the Giants last season.

“I’m excited,” Okereke said. “You’re getting a fast, physical guy. And you’re getting a great leader.”

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