Corey Coleman is a former first-round pick by the Cleveland Browns back in 2016. After two underwhelming seasons in Cleveland, followed by two brief stints with the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills, Coleman has seemed to find a home in East Rutherford. The Giants claimed the now 26-year-old receiver and special teamer in October of 2018. Coleman missed the entire 2019 season due to an ACL tear. Now that he’s fully healthy, Coleman earned his chance to show what he can bring to the new-look Giants.
Corey Coleman Is Overlooked but Has a Chance to Make an Impact With the New York Giants in 2020
2018 Season
Coleman had a rough start prior to the 2018 NFL season. He was traded from Cleveland to Buffalo in August for a seventh-round pick. He was then waived by the Bills after less than one month with the team. Coleman stayed in the AFC East, getting signed by the Patriots nine days later…just to be released a week after. New England did bring back Coleman to the practice squad in late September, where he remained for one month before the Giants came calling.
The Giants Claim Coleman
The Giants added Coleman to their practice squad in mid-October and activated him to the active roster a week later. He played in eight games and started one that season. Coleman did not put up insane receiving numbers, only hauling in five receptions for 71 yards, which equated to 14.2 yards per reception.
However, Coleman made his presence known in the return game. He racked up 598 yards on 23 kick returns, his longest being a 51-yarder. Coleman had three games with 100+ kick return yards and five games with 90+ yards. In his first game with New York, he tallied 92 yards on three returns, which is just under 31 yards per return.
His short but productive special teams effort earned him a second contract with the team. Coleman signed his one-year restricted free agent tender in March of 2019.
Injury
After what looked to potentially be a promising year for the young receiver, Coleman tore his ACL in the first training camp practice of 2019 and was ruled out for the season.
The Giants as a team had 1,153 kick return yards in 2019. Coleman had more than half of that in eight games. The team certainly did miss Coleman’s presence on special teams, which is what they hope he can bring back in 2020.
2020 Outlook for Corey Coleman
Coleman’s performance in 2018 earned him yet another contract with Big Blue, with the team signing him to a one year deal in March, just eight months removed from his ACL tear. Before being signed once again by New York, Coleman made it clear that all he wanted was a fair chance heading into 2020.
“Just give me a chance,” Coleman said in a phone interview with ESPN. “I’m not asking for anything. Just a fair chance and opportunity.”
Coleman comes back to a similar receiver room as in 2019. He has a chance to prove what he can bring to the team. A dual-threat, speedy receiver with big-play ability and the vision to see his way through defenders in the return game. The Giants are lacking a towering outside receiver, which Coleman is not as he only stands at 5’11”.
However, it seems that new head coach Joe Judge will make it work. As he said in his introductory press conference, you have to be flexible with your personnel and tailor things to your players’ strengths. While Coleman is not a towering receiver that can jump over any defensive back for a 50/50 ball, he can still be a weapon in the passing game, one that Jason Garrett and Daniel Jones can use effectively.
In the return game, there is no denying that Corey Coleman will once again resume his duties. A promising young receiver with the ability to return kicks well, he could very well have a productive 2020 season.
