Due to several injuries in the wide receiver room, the New York Giants are not taking any chances ahead of 2026. Last season, the team lost Pro Bowl receiver Malik Nabers in Week 4. He suffered a season-ending ACL tear and fully tore his right meniscus. New York has other wide receivers who are injured or are already done for 2026. With that, the team signed three notable free-agent wide receivers on Monday.
NFL insiders reported that Odell Beckham Jr., Braxton Berrios, and Juju Smith-Schuster were all signed to one-year deals with the Giants. It’s worth noting that this is Beckham’s second stint with New York. As the wide receiver room is dealing with injuries, the Giants want reliable depth for the 2026 season. Will either of the three notable free-agent wide receiver signings be on the roster come Week 1?
Which Free-Agent Wide Receiver Signing Has The Best Chance to Make the 2026 Roster?
The Odell Beckham Jr. Reunion Finally Happened
It was no secret that Beckham Jr. and the Giants shared a mutual interest in the veteran wide receiver coming home. He was the 12th overall pick by New York in the 2014 NFL draft out of LSU. Beckham Jr. spent the first five seasons of his professional career with the Giants. In recent years, fans have been clamoring for the front office to bring Beckham Jr. back where his career began. On Monday, the reunion finally happened.
This past weekend, Beckham Jr. was at his new teammate Brian Burns’ charity softball game. It was not a coincidence that Beckham was there over the weekend and signed with New York on Monday. Additionally, Beckham Jr. has a connection with Giants head coach John Harbaugh. He spent the 2023 season with the Baltimore Ravens, and Harbaugh was his head coach. This offseason, Harbaugh has only said positive things about Beckham.
Now, the 33-year-old wide receiver is back where his career first started. With other free agents and draft picks this offseason, the team has added depth in its receiving core. Beckham Jr. will have to compete this offseason for a spot on the 53-man roster. His last game was in Week 14 of the 2024 season, as a member of the Miami Dolphins. Fans will want to see Beckham Jr. on the roster in 2026. Does the veteran receiver have enough juice left for a final chapter in New York?
This Newly-Signed Wide Receiver Has Connections to New York’s OC
Matt Nagy spent 2023-2025 as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs coaching staff. During that time, he became familiar with Smith-Schuster. Nagy was hired this offseason as the offensive coordinator of the Giants. It just so happens that Smith-Schuster worked out and was signed by New York on Monday. Could his connection with Nagy be enough to help him make the 53-man roster?
Smith-Schuster spent 2025 with the Chiefs. He appeared in all 17 of their regular-season games and made 12 starts. The 29-year-old finished with 33 receptions for 345 yards and one touchdown. Smith-Shuster was on the field for 56% of the team’s offensive snaps. He was signed to a one-year, veteran’s minimum deal wth the Giants. While he is not expected to be a starter, he could be a solid veteran depth piece in a wide receiver room that is dealing with injuries ahead of 2025.
The 29-year-old wide receiver is heading into an important year of his professional career. Smith-Schuster’s 2026 campaign will be his 10th season in the NFL. After 10 years of service, players receive maximum pension payout, qualify for a higher base salary, and gain access to post-career healthcare and financial annuity plans. Additionally, Smith-Schuster likely still wants to prove he belongs in the NFL. He’ll have an opportunity to compete for a spot on the 2026 New York Giants roster.
Could Braxton Berrios Replace Gunner Olszewski?
During the Giants’ OTAs last Friday, one veteran wide receiver went down with a non-contact injury. That is rarely a good sign. Sources reported on Saturday that Gunner Olszewski suffered a torn Achilles tendon. Just devastating for the 29-year-old, who was set to enter his seventh professional season. Olszewski was a depth piece for the Giants at wide receiver and played a key role on special teams. He was their primary punt returner in 2025.
Olszewski returned 23 punts for 273 yards and one touchdown last season. That included a long of 94 yards and an average of 11.6 yards per return. Unfortunately, he tore his Achilles tendon and will miss all of 2026. Berrios could be Olszewski’s replacement at punt returner. Berrios has been named first-team All-Pro in the past as a special teamer. Not only could he play a special teams role, but Berrios can also play wide receiver. It’s worth noting Calvin Austin III was signed by the Giants this offseason. He returned 15 punts for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025.
Berrios spent 2025 as a member of the Houston Texans. He started the year with a hamstring injury and suffered a chest injury mid-season. The 30-year-old appeared in just four of Houston’s 17 games. Additionally, he played just six games in 2024 for the Dolphins after tearing his ACL. Berrios has played in 10 games over the last two seasons. It will be an uphill battle for the veteran wide receiver to make the 2026 roster.
