The New York Giants need to acquire a top wide receiver this off-season in order to help Daniel Jones as much as they can. To no one’s surprise, the Giants have struggled since trading star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and have failed to replace his production. It has been almost two years since the blockbuster trade, and the time has come for New York to finally add another top-tier talent at the wide receiver position. Kenny Golladay has played with the Detroit Lions his entire career and he could end up hitting the open market in March if the Lions don’t place the franchise tag on him. The Giants showed interest in him near the trade deadline and if the opportunity presents itself, the New York Giants signing Kenny Golladay would be a smart acquisition.
New York Giants Signing Kenny Golladay Would Be a Smart Acquisition
The Numbers
Kenny Golladay is 6’4″, 214 pounds and will turn 28 during the 2021 season. Some fans mostly think of Golladay as injury prone, but that is not the case at all. While he did miss 11 games in 2020, Golladay had only missed two games the previous two seasons. In those two seasons, Golladay eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards in each year and earned his only Pro Bowl nod in 2019. However, he did miss time in 2020 and he only had 20 receptions for 338 yards and two touchdowns. But if his output was adjusted to 16 games, Golladay was on pace for another 1,000 yard season, which would have been his third consecutive year doing so.
Golladay’s big frame gives him the ability to make contested catches when needed. Since 2018, Golladay is first in yards per reception, with 16.7. Golladay has the second-most contested grabs since 2018 with 53, second only to Allen Robinson who has 61. The big play ability is there and Golladay can stretch the field.
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What Golladay Can Bring To the Giants Offense
The Giants desperately need playmakers, which is exactly what Golladay is. His ability to stretch the field and go up to make tough catches makes him one of the best available free agents this year. The Giants rolled into 2020 with Golden Tate, Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton as their top three receivers. That ultimately failed, and the offense was a huge disappointment. The Giants have longed for a game-changing wide receiver since Beckham Jr. was traded. They badly need a wideout who has the ability to make the rest of the receivers around him better. Golladay can do that, and has proved so over the last few years. Just look at the Giants vs Lions game in 2019 when Golladay torched New York for 123 yards and two touchdowns in what was a close game.
Golladay’s free agency is similar to Plaxico Burress who decided to sign with the Giants as a free agent. Before signing with New York, Burress was 27 and already had two seasons with 1,000 yards. Golladay is currently 27 years old and has two 1,000 yard seasons. Also worth noting, Burress dealt with injuries the year prior to signing with the Giants. Golladay dealt with injuries in 2020 and could be atop the Giants radar in just a few short weeks.
The Giants signing Burress helped Eli Manning‘s development tremendously, and signing Golladay could do the same for Daniel Jones.
Last Word
No one truly knows what the Lions will do with Kenny Golladay. He reportedly turned down a contract offer from them last season, but he could be franchise tagged. But if he does hit the open market, expect the Giants to be on the phone, since they already had interest in him prior to free agency. Golladay would be one major piece that could help transform this offense from lackluster to productive.
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