The New York Giants are looking for wide receiver Kenny Golladay. Most Giants fans think this is the player they should be spending their free agent money on.
Golladay is a 6-foot-4, 214-pound man who – when healthy – can be a revolutionary presence.
The keyword here is ‘healthy’. Golladay lost 11 games last year due to hamstring and hip problems and is now looking for a substantial contract. Former great giant Tiki Barber is advising his former team not to take any chances in Golladay.
“It’s stupid, but someone is going to give [a big contract] for him, ”said Barber, via NJ Advance Media. “He played five games last year and had a great season.
“For me, there is not even a question of what the Giants should do with their choice of the first round this year. Take one of those [receivers] and develop it together with the rest of this young offense. “
Barber is right. Golladay played only 16 games once in his four-year career at Detroit. It was 2019 when he was nominated for the Pro Bowl after leading the NFL at the touchdown reception (11) and averaged 18.3 yards per reception. This is the Golladay that the Giants hope to receive.
But there is more to signing Golladay than meets the eye. Giants third-year quarterback Daniel Jones needs a wide receiver that can both leverage its size and make the contested catches. Golladay can do that.
Highest PFF receiving scores on contested targets since 2017:
🥇 Kenny Golladay – 96.8
Rob Allen Robinson – 95.1
🥉 DeAndre Hopkins – 94.6 pic.twitter.com/7BaROgsgBO– PFF (@PFF) March 11, 2021
Jones throws himself in tight windows and needs his receivers to stay and fight for football. Nobody does this better than Golladay.
Majority of yards received at contested receptions last season
1. Kenny Golladay – 429
2. DeVante Parker – 400
3. Mike Williams – 384
4. Julio Jones – 380 pic.twitter.com/qIHwSNozHI– PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) June 17, 2020
Golloday’s 16.77 yards per reception are also the highest in the NFL since 2017 (min.150 catches). It will boil down to whether the Giants believe he is healthy and can stay healthy and, of course, how much it will cost them.