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Signing Kenny Golladay is the right move for the New York Giants

Detroit Lions: Kenny Golladay
Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

By now, the cat’s out of the bag. Kenny Golladay appears set to move on from the Detroit Lions and as an unrestricted free agent and can sign with anyone. ESPN’s Dianna Russini reports that the Cincinnati Bengals have an offer on the table for Golladay. An Adam Schefter tweet points to the Bears putting the full-court press on for the talented receiver. Though, he remains available.

Another interested suitor, the New York Giants, are turning back the clock and bringing in the Pro Bowl wide receiver for a visit set to take place Thursday night. We highlight why the Giants should go all-in on recruiting the 6-foot-4 wideout.

Read More: Mutual interest between star WR Kenny Golladay and the New York Giants

Mutual interest between Giants and Golladay sets up visit

While it may seem strange for general manager Dave Gettleman to set up a free-agent visit when very few seem to be taking place, it actually makes sense on a deeper level. Golladay is coming off a hip injury that sidelined him for 11 games last season. The Giants and their medical staff likely want to do their due diligence on his current physical state.

If everything checks out as expected, Golladay should be able to ease any potential concerns the Giants may have before receiving an offer. For both parties, this should be seen as a win-win situation. Golladay gets a bigger payday and the Giants have a better understanding of whether to anticipate any possible further injury reoccurrences. In this case, there shouldn’t be any problems.

Kenny Golladay would be WR1 with the New York Giants

New York Giants, Kenny Golladay NFL free agency
Sep 27, 2020; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Kenny Golladay (19) against the Arizona Cardinals in the second quarter at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Billy Hardiman-USA TODAY Sports

As it stands, the New York Giants have a lot of room for improvement inside their receiver room. While Darius Slayton and Sterling Shepard have displayed a lot of talent in their own right, they will never be a team’s No. 1 option. Adding a player like Golladay, who has two 1,000-yard seasons under his belt would add a receiver with the build the Giants are currently missing.

Golladay would give fans of the Big Blue a receiving option reminding them of Plaxico Burress. Having a huge target such as Golladay may help Daniel Jones take the next step in his crucial development, just as it helped Eli Manning become a Super Bowl-winning quarterback in 2007. 

Despite his large frame and 4.5 speed, Golladay slipped to the third round in the 2017 NFL Draft. The Lions pounced on him and the rest is history. In just his second year, Golladay became Matt Stafford’s top go-to option, being targeted over 100 times in both 2018 and 2019.

Now, the Giants have a chance to supplement their secondary receiving options such as Slayton, Shepard, Evan Engram and the newly-signed Kyle Rudolph with an athlete who has a unique combination of size and speed. It’s time they provide Danny Jones a player who resembles a true No. 1 option. His future in The Meadowlands could depend on it.

Read More: Kenny Golladay’s 5 best landing spots in 2021 NFL free agency

Golladay offers deep ball potential

During his Pro Bowl 2019 season, Golladay led the NFL with 11 touchdown catches. Not only is he a big target in the red zone to complement Evan Engram and new target Kyle Rudolph, but Golladay also has the speed to go downfield and make big plays.

As PFF shared, Kenny Golladay, or “Gobbleday” and has a knack for gobbling up contested catches. Since entering the league in 2017, Golladay’s 16.7 yards per reception is the best in the NFL.

Just 27 years old, it’s likely Golladay is now entering the prime of his career. Perhaps one of the more appealing traits about Golladay is that he’s had to work his tail off to become the player he is today. With a work ethic like his, you can bet the Giants want to add that to their culture as they look to contend in the NFC East.

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