This Player Named “Best Fit” for Giants at No. 25

Although the New York Giants focused on revamping their wide receiver room, general manager Joe Schoen might not be done with the project.

That’s what ESPN’s Matt Bowen believes could be the case. In his article about best fits for the draft’s top playmaker prospects, Bowen opines that the Giants should grab USC receiver Jordan Addison if he falls to them at No. 25.

A highly productive receiver in college, Addison has the traits to get open and make himself available to quarterback Daniel Jones. His 2,468 receiving yards over the past two seasons -- the first of which at Pitt before transferring -- rank second in the FBS. He's a fluid mover with the ability to change gears in the route stem and the burst and controlled footwork to separate.

Bowen also believes that a receiver of Addison’s caliber would potentially be the cherry on the cake the team is hoping to deliver to Jones, whom they signed to a new four-year, $160 million contract starting this season, and to whom the Giants are hoping builds o last year's break-out season.

Addison fits here, given his inside/outside flex in Brian Daboll's system. He can work out of the slot, and win on the boundary, and press zone windows in the middle of the field. I see a combination of schemed throws for Jones with Addison's ability to produce on multiple-breaking routes. Addison would also add to the deep matchup-based pass game in New York after the club already traded for tight end Darren Waller and added wide receiver Parris Campbell in free agency.

The Giants had hoped that Kenny Golladay would turn into their No. 1 receiver when they signed him to a four-year, $72 million deal. That, sadly, didn't materialize, and Schoen, who inherited that contract, decided to rip the bandage off and take the cap hit to move on from Golladay's anemic production as a Giant.

However, while many believe that the Giants need to find a No. 1 receiver, Schoen downplayed that idea at his year-end press conference.

"I know a number one wide receiver can be important, but there are some number one wide receivers that are home right now," he said the day after the Giants were eliminated from the 2022 postseason.

"A number one receiver doesn’t guarantee you anything. I think it’s important that we continue to build the team, and there are multiple positions where we want to upgrade throughout the offseason," he said. "So, yeah, I’d love to have a number-one wide receiver, but we’ve got to place value on everything we do, and if it makes sense, that’s something we’ll look to do."

Based on how the free agency market developed, teams didn't go crazy with spending on receivers. And it could very well also be the case that SChoen and the Giants don't feel there is a "gotta have" No. 1 receiver in this year's draft class, which could explain the strategy to add different low-cost options to a group that can bring various skillsets to the offense.

The Giants have been doing their due diligence on receivers, just like all the other positions in the draft. In addition to Addison, who, per Walter Football has met with the Giants on multiple occasions, the team has also met with Boston College receiver Zay Flowers and Tennessee receiver Jalin Hyatt multiple times.

Other receivers that they have been linked to include Andrei Iosivas (Princeton), Rakim Jarrett (Maryland), Quentin Johnston (TCU), Marvin Mims (Oklahoma), Trey Palmer (Nebraska), Tyler Scott (Cincinnati), and Jalen Wayne (South Alabama).

Get the latest breaking news and analysis on the New York Giants
Follow and like us on Facebook
Submit your questions for our mailbag
Check out the Giants Country YouTube Channel.
Subscribe and like the LockedOn Giants YouTube Channel
Sign up for our FREE message board forums
Get your Giants tickets from SI Tickets!