The New York Giants shocked the football world late on Tuesday night when they agreed to trade wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for two picks in the 2019 NFL Draft and safety Jabrill Peppers.
The fact that such a trade was agreed to remains surreal as of Wednesday morning, but the show must ultimately go on.
At 4:00 p.m. EDT, the new league year gets underway and free agents are free to sign with new teams. And with Beckham now out of the picture, the Giants may turn to the open market as they seek a replacement.
Here’s a quick look at five receivers the Giants could, should and likely will sniff around.
Golden Tate
Golden Tate remains unattached entering free agency and while he was a clunky fit in Philadelphia, his success in both Seattle and Detroit can not be over-stated.
Tate is a consistent receiver who is capable of creating yards after the catch, and he wouldn’t come in and step on Sterling Shepard’s toes. Shep would be able to remain inside as a slot receiver, while Tate could run things on the outside.
In three of his 10 NFL seasons, Tate has eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark three times, including a 2014 campaign in which he topped 1,300 receiving yards.
Even at the age of 31, he might be a solid short-term fit for the Giants.
Donte Moncrief
After years serving as a secondary option in Indianapolis, Donte Moncrief signed a one-year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars and stepped into a larger role. He responded with 48 receptions for 668 yards and three touchdowns.
Moncrief may not have lit up the box score on a week-to-week basis, but he proved himself capable of making big plays and creating some mismatches on the outside.
At 25 years of age, the 6-foot-2 Moncrief could be a cost-effective option for Dave Gettleman & Co.
Dontrelle Inman
Inman played a full 16-game slate just once in his career, hauling in 58 receptions for 810 yards and four touchdowns for the San Diego Chargers in 2016.
Durability is certainly a concern, but at 6-foot-3 and with 4.47 40-yard speed, Inman is an intriguing potential option if a team — like the Giants — can manage to keep him healthy and on the field.
Additionally, Inman could likely be had for a very cost-effective deal and possibly even short-term if that’s what Dave Gettleman wants.
Tyrell Williams
Williams may very well be one of the most intriguing wide receivers available in free agency, and it’s any guess how his market will develop.
The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Williams is considered by some to be the only true starter at the position to become available in free agency. He’s a legitimate outside and down-field threat, capable of creating separation and making the big play.
Williams is two years removed from a 1,000-yard season for the Chargers, which represents just the tip of the iceberg of what he’s capable of. And while he’s had down years in 2017 and 2018, he was still relatively productive all things considered.
Unlike many of the others on this list, Williams will probably cost a pretty penny.
Demaryius Thomas
Demaryius Thomas, at this stage of the game, might be a desperation scenario for the Giants. He’s coming off of an unproductive season in which he tore his Achilles and was recently arrested on a vehicular-assault charge.
There’s also an issue with age — Thomas will turn 32 during the 2019 season.
All of that aside, Thomas put up incredible numbers from 2012 to 2017 with the Denver Broncos and had a career-high catch percentage (69.7%) in Houston before being lost due to injury.
There appears to be gas left in the tank, but there’s also some baggage with Thomas that makes signing him a 50-50 scenario. But if he can be had on a low-risk deal, there is a potential for solid rewards.
