One of the major goals for the New York Giants this offseason is to improve their wide receiver corps. and give quarterback Daniel Jones better weapons. In that pursuit, they might have landed an under-the-radar talent this week who could end up being a steal in 2023 NFL free agency.
The New York Giants were one of the biggest surprises in the NFL last season. Not much was expected from the team in year one under new head coach Brian Daboll, but the roster far exceeded expectations and helped him win “Coach of the Year” honors in 2022.
While players like Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley took major leaps forward under Daboll’s offensive-minded guidance, that wasn’t the case with the wideouts as they were the Achilles heel of the offense all season long.
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On Wednesday, the New York Giants made a major move to improve their pass-catching options in a blockbuster trade for uber-talented tight-end Darren Waller. However, on Thursday they made a low-key move that could pay big dividends in 2023 as well.
New York Giants record (2022): 9-7-1, third place in NFC East
This afternoon, NFL Media league insider Mike Garafolo broke the news that the Giants had come to terms on a one-year deal, worth $4.7 million for Indianapolis Colts veteran Parris Campbell. The payout could reach up to as much as $6.7 million in incentives.
“The Giants had [Parris Campbell] identified as one of the guys they wanted to go after in free agency. … The Giants are slowly but surely putting together the kind of targets that they would like to have for Daniel Jones,” Garafolo said on the NFL Network Thursday.
Here is a breakdown on Campbell and his potential upside via Sportsnaut Colts expert Chris Phillips:
“Parris Campbell was once thought to be the next Percy Harvin and that comparison has ironically turned out to be fairly accurate. Both offer more potential than what anyone has seen on the field. Regardless, Campbell still has the talent to make good on his original draft projections. He has elite speed and was the best separator on a Colts team that desperately lacked it. Everything is there for him to succeed and be a borderline number-one receiver for the Giants.
“The biggest and only concern for him is his health. In a creative Brian Daboll offense, led by Daniel Jones, it would not be surprising to see Campbell post career highs. He’s best off in the slot but can be successful on the outside. This is a receiver who can offer explosive plays, as long as he’s healthy.”
Campbell was taken with a second-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft by the Colts. He, unfortunately, did not show much during his first three seasons as he battled injuries that limited him to just 15 games in three years. However, in 2022 he was able to get on the field for 16 starts and provided a solid second option behind Michael Pittman Jr., as he racked up 63 catches, 623 yards, and three touchdowns last season.