As the 2016 NFL Combine gets underway, we look at five wide receivers who the New York Giants could target to line up opposite of Odell Beckham Jr.
By Gregg Cambareri
Whether it be through free agency, the draft, or both, the Giants will be in the market to bolster their roster at the wide receiver position. Ruben Randle is set to become an unrestricted free agent, and Victor Cruz‘s injury history makes him a player who simply cannot be relied upon. Dwayne Harris did a nice job filling in last season, but he’s much better suited as a fourth wide receiver and special teams ace.
The G-men will have around $60 million in cap space to upgrade their roster. The defense needs a complete overhaul, the offensive line needs depth, and the free agent wide receiver class is fairly weak, making it entirely possible for GM Jerry Reese to add another wide receiver through the draft.
Reese’s draft history tells us he likes taking receivers high–seven times since 2007 has he taken a wideout in the third round or higher.
Although building a defense will be his top priority, adding a receiver in the first half of the draft makes sense; finding a compliment for Beckham Jr. adds another dimension to the offense while providing insurance against Cruz’s injury woes.
We look at five receivers whom Reese could target when comes draft day.
Corey Coleman, Baylor
There are several things to like and several things to dislike about Baylor’s Corey Coleman.
His 1,300+ yards and 20 touchdowns in 2015 obviously stand out. Coleman has good speed and would give the Giants a second homerun threat opposite of Beckham. His 5’10 and 190 pound frame is a little on the small side, but we’ve seen smaller players excel in the NFL before (Steve Smith, anyone)?. He played mostly on the outside in college, but could line up in the slot for Big Blue given his quickness.
Now for the negatives.
Baylor wideouts just haven’t translated to big time NFL stars. Art Briles’s spread offense means Coleman didn’t have a complex playbook and could be suspect while run blocking. His physical frame alone will give some scouts doubt, regardless of smaller players who have enjoyed success.
Bottom line: Coleman’s explosiveness is too good to shy away from, and a strong combine will only enhance his stock. While some mocks have him going in the first round, he could easily slip into the second due to concerns about prior receivers translating their success from Baylor’s spread offense to the pro style. The combine will be critical for Coleman, who could be wearing New York Giants blue if he falls into the second round.
Josh Doctson, TCU
TCU’s all time leading receiver will be on the radar of many teams. Standing at 6’2 and about 195 lbs, Doctson profiles as a steady WR2 in the pro game.
He doesn’t have the breakaway speed to blow by defenders (but by no means is slow). His terrific hands and leaping ability make him a safe target for QB’s, and he even has a knack for the one handed catch. Doctson played all 4 years at TCU, and is regarded as a high character individual, per CBS draft analyst Dane Brugler.
Similar to Coleman, Doctson comes from a spread offense which will raise red flags regardless of how well he performs at the combine. He’s not a physically imposing receiver who will come with some injury concerns, evidenced by a broken wrist which prematurely ended his senior season.
Bottom line: Doctson looks to be a security blanket for QB’s at the pro level and compliments Beckham nicely. He could start immediately for the New York Giants on the outside and fortify their red zone attack with his height. The spread offense he comes from likely keeps him out of the first round, making him an enticing day 2 selection.
Tyler Boyd, Pittsburgh
Boyd is arguably the most versatile player–let alone receiver–in the entire draft. Opposing defenses knew Pitt’s offense revolved around getting Boyd touches, and he still was a model of productivity.
Whether it was lining up outside, in the slot, at running back, or on special teams, the Panthers understood the value of getting number 23 the football.
Similar to Beckham, Boyd gets moved all around the field. Pitt’s pro style offense should also allow him to make a much smoother transition to the NFL than the aforementioned Coleman and Doctson. He’s a dynamic route runner, best used in short to medium routes. Whether it was a screen, slant, cross, or go route, there wasn’t much Pitt didn’t involve Boyd in.
He does come with some concerns, though. He’s deceptively quick but won’t have as much ease escaping defenders at the pro level. While he’s not afraid to make catches in traffic, he lacks the explosiveness to gain separation on deep balls. A DUI charge from the summer of 2015 will make GM’s wary of his off the field history.
Bottom line: Boyd’s versatility makes him a great get for whichever team drafts him. His ability to work anywhere on the field (even quarterback), strong hands, and polished route running make for an ideal prospect. His off the field issues could hurt his draft stock, but the good outweighs the bad here. Keep an eye on his 40 time, which may be the difference between being a top 20 or top 80 draft pick. Compared to a pro? Think Randall Cobb with better hands but less speed.
Leonte Caroo, Rutgers
Could the Giants target the local Edison, NJ native? Caroo could be a target of the Big Blue front office given his impressive productivity on one the Big 10’s weakest teams.
The senior receiver endured all kinds of quarterback inconsistency during his collegiate career–that didn’t hinder his game, earning First Team All Big-10 honors in 2014.
Caroo stands at just under six feet tall, but plays bigger than his size states, telling NJ advance media, “I just have to go out there and show the scouts that I may be a hair under six foot, but I’m not going to play like I’m under six foot. I’m going to play like I’m a 6-foot-5 receiver.”
It’s not all sunshine and rainbows for the local product, however.
Caroo comes with several concerns, none bigger than last season’s simple assault charge which earned him a two game suspension. Given the domestic violence issues in today’s NFL, GM’s will rightfully have their skepticisms. That charge alone will hurt Caroo’s stock.
Bottom line: While Caroo doesn’t possess any elite attributes, he does several things well–good hands, plays bigger than his size suggests, and did it on several bad teams. He could be a fit for the New York Giants in the third round, and see game-time on the outside or in the slot.
De’Runnya Wilson, Mississippi State
For those not familiar with Wilson, you’ll see him at the next level soon. His 6’4 and 215lb frame is ideal for an NFL wideout, making him an intriguing prospect.
Wilson’s quarterback (Dak Prescott) received most of the publicity in Starkville (and nationally, for that matter), but that didn’t deter him from putting together an impressive college career. His 918 yards and 10 touchdowns were enough for him to forego his senior season and declare for the pro level.
Wilson’s size makes him an immediate red zone threat. He’s not going to blow by corners or shred safeties, but his impressive catch radius should allow him to win most of his 1 on 1 match-ups. Wilson is a bit of a project but one worth gambling on, “Blessed with undeniable traits and with refining of technique Wilson could be just scratching the surface of his potential,” notes CBS draft analyst Rob Rang.
It is worth noting that a marijuana arrest in March of 2015 is sure to raise red flags regarding his character.
Bottom line: Wilson is probably a day two pick, oozing with raw natural ability, be it rather unrefined. The New York Giants could use his playmaking ability in the red zone and he’d have a chance to win the starting job opposite Beckham during preseason. If the G-men decide to wait on taking a receiver, keep an eye on Wilson in the third round.