It’s obvious the New York Giants’ main objective this offseason is to improve the quarterback room by acquiring a veteran quarterback and drafting a rookie quarterback.
To maximize the potential of both the veteran and rookie quarterbacks, general manager Joe Schoen will also need to find a wide receiver to complement Malik Nabers and give the team a dynamic duo at the receiver position.
With Darius Slayton a free agent and Jalin Hyatt being non-existent in the offense over his first two seasons in the league, getting a dependable receiver needs to be one of the team’s top priorities. Tee Higgins would have been an ideal receiver to try and acquire, but for the second year in a row, the Cincinnati Bengals gave him the franchise tag.
Fortunately for the Giants, they have around $50 million in cap space, and there are a number of productive free-agent wideouts available.
Here’s a look at three big-name free-agent receivers who need to be on the Giants’ radar.
Chris Godwin
In addition to his consistency, what makes Chris Godwin one of the most attractive free-agent receivers is his ability to play on the outside and in the slot. The Giants do have Wan’Dale Robinson as their slot receiver, but he’s undersized and entering the final year of his contract. Adding Godwin to the roster would give the offense more versatility.
Godwin has spent all of his eight seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but it’s uncertain if they’ll look to bring back the veteran receiver after he dislocated his ankle in October and with the emergence of rookie receiver Jalen McMillan.
Prior to last season, Godwin had been relatively healthy and had four seasons of over 1,000 receiving yards in his career, and was voted second-team All-Pro in 2019. In addition to his production on the field, he has developed a reputation of being a leader on and off the field, which would be a welcomed addition to New York’s locker room.
He turned 29 in February, and if the Bucs elect not to bring him back, the Giants need to have the veteran receiver on their radar.
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Amari Cooper
It was a rough season for Amari Cooper in 2024. When he was with the Cleveland Browns, his production was limited due to poor quarterback play from Deshaun Watson, and then shortly after being traded to the Buffalo Bills, he injured his wrist, which compromised him for the remainder of the season.
He finished the year with 44 receptions for 547 yards and four touchdowns, which were all career lows.
However, prior to last season, Cooper had back-to-back seasons with over 70 receptions and more than 1,000 receiving yards, and he has been voted to the Pro Bowl five times in his career. He’ll turn 31 in June and still has big-play potential anytime he gets his hands on the ball. Due to his age and production last year, the Giants shouldn’t have to break the bank to acquire him, and there’s huge upside if he can get back to his pre-2024 form.
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Stefon Diggs
Even though there are notable reasons why the Giants shouldn’t pursue Stefon Diggs, such as his recent ACL tear and past conflicts with quarterbacks, there are also compelling reasons why he could be a good fit despite being 31 years old.
For one, his familiarity with Schoen and Brian Daboll from their time together with the Buffalo Bills in 2020 and 2021. In those two seasons with Daboll as offensive coordinator, Diggs caught 230 passes for 2,760 yards and 18 touchdowns and was named first-team All-Pro in 2020.
Before tearing his ACL last season and missing the Houston Texans’ final nine games, the veteran wideout had six consecutive seasons of over 1,000 receiving yards. There are risks involved with Diggs, but the Giants are desperate for a playmaker opposite Nabers. If Diggs’ rehab is going well, a reunion with Daboll and Schoen could happen.
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