PFF Suggests Giants Consider This Pending Free Agent

The New York Giants offense was supposed to take a big step forward in Year 2 of the Joe Schoen/Brian Daboll era thanks to the addition of some resources like tight end Darren Waller, receivers Parris Campbell and Jalin Hyatt, and the returns of running back Saquon Barkley and quarterback Daniel Jones.

Instead, the offense morphed into a hot mess, partly due to injuries, partly due to poor offensive line play, partly due to the quarterback's performance, and largely due to a lack of enough firepower at receiver.

That's probably why Pro Football Focus, in its analysis of one free agent every team should pursue in the 2024 off-season, has the Giants going after Washington receiver Curtis Samuel, of whom the popular analytics site notes:

The Giants could benefit from investing in the wide receiver market this offseason and should perhaps be looking to double-dip in free agency and the draft. Curtis Samuel isn’t going to come in and be a WR1 for the team, but he is a reliable target who can fill out a wide receiver room. He’s coming off a 2023 season where he dropped just four of the 66 catchable passes thrown his way.

There's no question that the Giants could use more talent at receiver. Still, if they are going to make a splash in free agency at the position, they should aim for the moon and land themselves a legitimate No. 1 receiver rather than another WR2. Samuel, by PFF's admission, is not a WR1, and while his limited drops are impressive, he's also a receiver whose production thus far has tapped out in 2020 when he caught 77 passes for 851 yards.

The Giants already have a solid WR2 option in Darius Slayton, who finished as the team's receiving yardage leader for the fourth time in the last five seasons. Slayton recorded 770 yards on 50 catches, both career highs, while also cutting down on his dropped passes. One can only wonder what his numbers might be if the Giants added a true WR1 to the lineup.

And if they place a higher priority this year on adding a WR1, they might want to look at the draft to do that, given how the depth of receiver talent set to enter the NFL. This would free up limited financial resources to add to the paper-thin depth at edge rusher or find a CB2 to line up opposite CB1 Deonte Banks.

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