The New York Giants held the fourth and 36th overall selections in this year’s NFL Draft and were forced to bypass one of the NFL’s most talented wide receiver classes in years.
Instead, they got their franchise left tackle (Georgia’s Andrew Thomas) and the best safety in the draft in Xavier McKinney of Alabama. They also didn’t take a wideout with any go their eight remaining picks, opting to shore up their offensive line and defensive back seven instead.
So, entering this season the Giants will be going with the same wide receiver group that they finished last year with: Sterling Shepard, Golden Tate and Darius Slayton.
But the NFL is a league of weapons. Teams are required to go four or five players deep at wide receiver these days, which leads us to the question — who will be the Giants’ fourth and fifth receiver this year?
The Giants have veteran Corey Coleman, a former first-round pick of the Cleveland Browns, on the roster, but he’s either been injured or underachieved in his time in the NFL.
“He’s the favorite to win this job, but is by no means a lock,” writes NJ.com’s Zack Rosenblatt. “The Giants are high on the former Browns first-round pick, but he missed all of last season after suffering a torn ACL on the first day of training camp. He only has five total catches in the last two years. He’s still only 25, though, and before his injury had legitimate deep speed (4.37-second 40-yard dash).”
Also on the roster is Da’Mari Scott, who the Giants used on special teams last year, but could give a legitimate shot at a role on offense this summer. David Sills, a UDFA out of Virginia last year, has excellent hands and will also be afforded a shot at camp.
Then, there are this year’s UDFAs: LSU speedster Derrick Dillon and the duo from Ohio State — Austin Mack and Binjimen Victor.
Dillon is 5-foot-11 and weighs 180 pounds but runs a sub-par 4.3 40. Mack has always been a highly touted prospect and could be a real find for the Giants while the 6-foot-4 Victor could likely be used as a red-zone option.
