Most of the conversations this time of year focus on holes in the roster, but the Giants must have one the deepest WR groups in the NFL. The first four slots are absolute locks.
1. OBJ
2. Cruz
3. Randle
4. Harris
You have to assume the Giants will carry 6 WRs. I can't recall the last time a team carried 7, but I can see the case for 7 if the team is still concerned Cruz might have a setback. Thus far it doesn't seem like the organization is too concerned though.
The remaining two slots seem to be a competition between four players.
Corey Washington - BBI has seen the potential, and you have to love the size, but he'll have to prove in the preseason games that he can run the entire route tree and contribute on specials.
Geremy Davis - So is this guy surprising anyone yet? It's early, but he is showing an ability to work the middle of the field, good hands, and he has good size. I actually liked the pick when it was made, but there were concerns about his speed. Speed is only one aspect of WR play however, and if he runs good routes, has good hands, and knows how to get open, he might just surprise. I think so far (it's early) he has helped himself more than any other WR fighting for an active spot. The preseason games will show his true ability. Call me crazy, but I predict that if Randle goes elsewhere next year, Davis can be groomed to fill his role.
Preston Parker - A jack of all trades guy who doesn't seem to excel in any one area, but is a valuable reserve. Reminds me of a utility infielder in baseball. I think Parker has the biggest uphill climb out of anyone in this group of four. He is not explosive and despite being 6'0" he doesn't seem to play with any size advantage. To me, Parker is what he is. A serviceable veteran who would could help a team that does not have the same WR depth the Giants do.
James Jones - This is a tough one. Jones has proven throughout his career that he can contribute and make plays. The Giants would be looking for him to be no more than a 4th/5th WR depending on the formation and game plan. I think he is really just insurance in case Cruz has a setback or OBJ tweaks a hammy. No doubt that Jones is working hard to make a roster spot, but he is also auditioning for a job on any NFL roster should he not make the final cut.
Barring setbacks/injury, and given the experience in the first 4 WR spots, I think the Giants will opt to go with youth an upside in slots 5 and 6. Davis and Washington should round out the WR corps.
As far as the last 2 spots go, keeping in mind Harris' ST ability, I think it breaks down like this:
#5 WR (active on game day) - strong special teams player, WR ability less important. This was Parker last season and I think (hope) he'll be pushed by Davis this year.
#6 WR (likely inactive) - better WR, than ST player; often developmental. I think Washington has the edge here and showing significant improvement on ST will surely help, but I think he can lock this spot up due to his WR skills.
James Jones - he's a long shot unless there are injuries or a guy like Washington shows no improvement.
Honestly, the base case scenario for the Giants concerning Davis might be the Cruz rookie year one. Hamstring tweak (or something minor) and spend on a year on IR.
The in-game competition between these guys is going to be huge.
Jones could step in to any of the three WR spots and hit the ground running.
If Parker clears waivers (and yes, he IS subject to waivers), the Giants will certainly keep him on speed-dial. In fact, if I understand the eligibility rules correctly, he seems to qualify for one of the two vet slots on the practice squad. That might be the perfect spot for him - versatile backup who can step in when injuries hit, great scout-team guy, but not quite good enough to make the final 53 if everyone stays healthy.
The staff seems to be in love with Davis, and see him as a weapon they'd like to see on the field sooner than later. If he lives up to just some of that, he'll stick.
Jones is a competent vet with a great understanding of this system (and by the way before going to a different attack in Oakland was extremely good at it in GB) and adds some experience to a young group
In other years, like last one, Parker and/or Washington could stick around, but this group will be too tough for them to crack
Don't see Jones really competing against those two as (unless I'm mistaken) he's not really known for his special teams play. If he were to knock Davis/Parker off the roster, that would really only leave them with 1 WR (Harris) capable of playing specials (aside from PR which Beckham can obviously do).
That's why I see it as Jones vs Washington for 1 spot and Davis vs Parker for the other.
Jones i think is a lock and i think he will be the consistent 4th wr with Harris having his own set of plays...
I think so far Geremy Davis is looking like the last Wr on the roster...with him and Washington it is going to come down to who can play special teams, the battle is not going to be necessarily won because of what they do at WR, it is going to be won on special teams..
He has neither extraordinary height or speed to cause other organizations to get the hots for him.
Plan A should be the PS with only a training camp that is either a disaster or a true revelation changing this.
He has neither extraordinary height or speed to cause other organizations to get the hots for him.
Plan A should be the PS with only a training camp that is either a disaster or a true revelation changing this.
If washington cant play specials you can not keep him, unless he shows somethign extroadinary during preseason....
Right now the Giants only have 1 of their WRs who can play special teams, you need that 6th WR to be able to play specials...
Last spot is between Washington vs Davis. If Davis is ready he can be stashed on the PS
(My general observation is that team-friendly contracts take the longest to leak. Agents like to brag if they've gotten a good deal.)
I think Jones is a lock.
Cannot see Jones not making the team.
Is Jones really a slot receiver?
I think Davis goes to the practice squad.....but tell me, if he doesn't have real speed for a WR, how will he play any faster on ST's?
He is going to be on this team if he stays healthy.
Dwayne Harris is making the team, fer chrissakes.
Unless TC was blowing smoke, which isn't exactly his MO.
Unlike others here, I don't think Jones is a lock at all.
At this point I think Washington is taking 1st team snaps as a last chance for him to set himself apart. If he doesn't blow anyone out of the water I think he's done.
re. Davis, and Emil's summary:
I thought the big knock on him in college was that he struggled to gain separation--it was a knock on his speed and his physicality to break free of the DBs coverage. Maybe the route running was at issue too, but I didn't hear that mentioned.
I'd hate to see Parker get cut although I see the rationale. I love his heart and toughness, he's a gamer, got his teammates' backs. Does he have that much upside? No.
VC: it's awfully early yet, coming off the injury he had, to presume he's not going to have setbacks as he is brought along. I just don't want them to rush him back--foolish.
I personally think Jones is making the team too. He knows the offense and put up stats last year and they know he can be a starter should anyone go down, particularly Cruz.
I think there is really one open slot for the rest of the guys.
At this point I think Washington is taking 1st team snaps as a last chance for him to set himself apart. If he doesn't blow anyone out of the water I think he's done.
You might go back and read what Reuben Randle and TC had to say about Corey earlier this summer. Parker certainly isn't a lock over CW. But yeah, CW getting 1st string reps likely means he's gone... great logic right there.
Great post and the I heard the same thing mentioned on NFL network re miles. Same show me contract. I'm in the minority and hope Parker can stay. Love his toughness and won't forget when the Rams went after obj who was the first guy to step in, Mr Parker.
While DAVIS may find his way to the practice squad there is no guarantee. Much depends upon his pre-season game production.
We have a good situation here with talent a plenty.
But we have one true game-breaker in OBJ and we need him at 100% for the whole season if we want to go anywhere. If Cruz can work that underneath slot well we will be fine.
Jones, 31, signed a one-year deal worth up to $950,000. He received the veteran minimum $870,000 base salary with a $30,000 signing bonus, which was his total guarantee upon joining the team.
The veteran could also earn an additional $50,000 roster bonus if he's on the 53-man roster for the Week 1 opener against the Dallas Cowboys.
The $870K is the minimum salary... for a player of Jones' experience. By rule, he would only count $665K against the salary cap if he makes the team.
The $30K signing bonus is cheap insurance. Jones has a good chance to make the team, but his contract suggests that he will have to earn it in the next month. That's even more true of Preston Parker, who has no guaranteed money at all. So, based on contracts, it would be painless for the Giants to cut both vets and fill the fifth and sixth spots with two youngsters. Davis and Washington are the most likely candidates; but a less prominent contender like Talley might have a shot, especially as injuries hit.
BTW, the math on Jones's $665K cap number is as follows: the $30K signing bonus is a sunk cost, and hits the cap whether he makes it or not. The remaining $635K comprises the $50K roster bonus and the $585K minimum salary for a third-year player, which applies because of the Minimum Salary Benefit. Nj.com misstates this aspect slightly, stating that "The $870K is the minimum salary benefit for a player of Jones' experience." (Italics added.) Strictly, the benefit is $285K - the difference between Jones's actual salary and $585K.
Thanks Defenderdawg! - ( New Window )
I think several of Jones's drops in Green Bay were on tough balls coming in over his shoulder, because he was often the outside WR running a "go" route. Last year in Oakland, he was used more as a possession receiver. As such, he had more opportunities to catch the ball facing the QB, and Voilà - his drops plummeted.
There might also have been an element of observer bias in those notorious drop stats. Rodgers has such an impeccable reputation for accuracy that PFF's judges may have been more inclined to score a marginally catchable ball as a drop.
A big one that got away. - ( New Window )