Hodgins, Nelson ink Blue deals
The Giants added one familiar face and one new one.
Wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins and offensive tackle Matt Nelson both agreed Thursday to undisclosed terms, the Giants announced.
The door for Hodgins to return was left open last week after he and the team couldn’t agree on a value before he tested the open market. Hodgins could have been retained as a restricted free agent on a one-year, $3 million contract, but that was too rich for the Giants’ blood.
Hodgins’ seven touchdowns over the last two seasons were the second-most on the Giants, behind only the Eagles-bound Saquon Barkley’s 17. He has 54 catches for 581 yards in 25 games and an established chemistry with quarterback Daniel Jones since coming over from the Bills in November 2022.
The Giants’ biggest tweak to their receiving corps this offseason has been swapping in Isaiah McKenzie (11 catches for 82 yards in 13 games for the Colts last season) for Parris Campbell. The seldom-used Campbell (20 for 104 last season) signed Thursday with the Eagles.
So, Hodgins, who had 105 yards receiving in the Giants’ lone playoff win of the last 12 seasons, returns to a mostly familiar cast anchored by Darius Slayton, Jalin Hyatt and Wan’Dale Robinson. The Giants figure to target a receiver with one of their first three picks in the draft.
“What you have to realize about the business of the NFL is they are always trying to upgrade, always trying to bring new people in and make the team better,” Hodgins said after last season ended. “I can’t take too much sensitivity to it because they gave me the opportunity [in 2022].”
Nelson spent his first five seasons with the Lions, appearing in 43 games latching on as an undrafted rookie in 2019. Eleven of his 14 career starts came in 2021, but he also started two games at right tackle last September before landing on injured reserve due to his ankle.
The Giants have shown devotion to upgrading their offensive line from top to bottom this offseason. Projected starting guard Jon Runyan Jr., swingman Jermaine Eluemunor and projected backups Aaron Stinnie and Austin Schlottman also are on their way in with Nelson.