Longtime NFL veteran wide receiver Sterling Shepard signed a new contract with the New York Giants. Shepard, a former second-round pick, has spent the entirety of his professional career with the New York Giants.
The #Giants are expected to re-sign free agent WR Sterling Shepard I’m a new deal, per sources. Longtime Giants staple will continue his career in New York.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 12, 2023
Sterling Shepard, New York Giants, Agree to Contract
The 2022 New York Giants were the best iteration of the team in quite some time, but injuries prevented Shepard from playing a big role on the offense. After starting the season strong, Shepard tore his ACL late in Week 3’s 23-16 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. This prematurely ended his season, as the wideout finished the year with just 13 receptions for 154 yards and one touchdown.
Shepard originally entered the NFL as a second-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. Selected by the New York Giants, the Oklahoma product immediately stepped up and earned a large role in the passing attack. Starting and appearing in all 16 games, the rookie finished his first season in the pros with 65 receptions for 683 yards and eight touchdowns on 105 targets. For good measure, he also added another 31 yards on the ground.
Shepard proved that his rookie success was no fluke over the next two seasons. Appearing in 27 of a possible 32 games, Shepard recorded a combined 125 receptions for 1,603 yards and six touchdowns over the next two seasons. While the Giants struggled to put together wins, Shepard proved to be a valuable part of the offense, and the Giants rewarded his contributions with a four-year, $41 million contract prior to the start of the 2019 season.
Unfortunately for Shepard, he has struggled to stay healthy in recent years. The wide receiver only played 10 games in 2019, finishing the season with 57 receptions for 576 yards and three touchdowns on 83 targets. Shepard missed four games in 2020 to turf toe, and only recorded 66 receptions for 656 yards and three touchdowns during the abbreviated season. In 2021, Shepard blew out his Achilles, limiting him to just seven games, 36 receptions, 366 yards, and one touchdown.
Main Photo: Danielle Parhizkaran – USA Today Sports
