Don't get me wrong - he's a nice player. If he stays healthy, I have no doubt he will enjoy a productive career in the slot. His catch rate improved markedly in Year Two, from 62% to 70%, and he had a couple of long TDs against the Eagles.
Still, color me disappointed. The red flag on Shepard in the draft was that he's one-dimensional, a pure slot guy. The justification for taking him early in the second round was the Giants saw more upside than that. So far, I think he has been exactly as advertised by the draftniks who rated him as a late second- / early third-round pick, with a few more drops than expected thrown in. He doesn't contribute on specials like a Jarvis Landry, Jamison Crowder or (in earlier years) Julian Edelman and Doug Baldwin. Shepard missed four games this year, and wasn't exactly a difference-maker when he played: he caught passes in eleven games; the Giants lost them all. He put up good numbers in three of those losses, and was largely invisible the rest of the year, even when he and Engram were the only receiving threats. As far as I could see, defenses were not particularly keying on him, and he doesn't seem to get a lot of separation against fairly ordinary coverage.
It doesn't help that the next receiver taken in the 2016 Draft, Michael Thomas, is a star and would have been a much better complement to Odell Beckham than either Shepard or Brandon Marshall. (I know: Drew Brees, ideal playing conditions, etc. Still...)
Again, I'm not trashing Shepard. I'm glad the Giants have him. I'm just disappointed that a pure slot receiver taken at #40 seems to be merely solid, not special.
He does not have the explosive ability you’d want in a 2nd round slot WR, like Crowder or Lockett for example. Notice that also translated to him not being a PR either.
He was billed as a 1st round talent that slipped to the 2nd due to lack of height. Dominant run blocker. A Steve Smith (Panthers) type.
He’s no bust but I do not see the value either and his upside scouting reports appear way off. And he’s getting banged up a lot.
I like Shepard. I liked that he broke some big plays this year. He's fine.
+1
That's fair, good point.
Very fair point.
All of football would disagree with you. He is a great player. Saints are a run first team now and you put Thomas with Eli he is def a #1 wr.
I don't know if he was overdrafted or not. Year three is usually telling for most WRs so I think it will be more fair to evaluate him after this season, assuming some of the other pieces stay on the field. He was never meant to be the #1 WR.
When healthy, VC was the best
Also as has been pointed out a million times, our OL sucked the last two years and the offensive schemes were unimaginative. The QB isn't the only one who suffers due to that.
I see a gamer, a worker, good hands, not afraid to get hit.
He will do great things when this offense gets its head out of its ass.
The biggest red flag to me is the # of injuries he has sustained this year. Wonder if he is a concussion risk - maybe I am mixing it up - but I thought he has some history there.
Laughable post re: Thomas. Anyone who doesn't think Michael Thomas is a legitimate #1 WR and a star doesn't know much about Michael Thomas. Btw, Thomas was the #2 WR on my list after Corey Coleman, and he was the guy I was hoping the Giants we're going to take at the Shepard pick. But hey, basketball on skates and all.
Definitely feel better with him out there than Randle and Barden.
Huh? If anything, he's the anti-Reese pick. IIRC, his scouting report was that he was limited athletically but the best route runner coming out that year. Thus a "safe" pick, with limited upside unlike the typical Reese picks of superior athletes that lacked the college production.
IMO, SS has been exactly what his scouting report said he would be. A solid route runner with good hands and strong in the slot. If anything, he showed the potential to be more than that this (when healthy) with some nice YAC on occasion, which was a major hole in his game his rookie season.
I don't think he was overdrafted in the middle of the 2nd. Maybe a slight reach. You can certainly say they should've selected Thomas over him, but he's arguably been the 2nd best WR from that class.
We thought we had the next Victor Cruz, but we don't. That's fine. Sterling is a nice player. Expectations just need to be brought down to reality.
Toomer Burress smith nicks cruz beckham
+1. He's not OBJ, but then he's a 2nd rd pick.
I do remember some people saying he could be another Beckham around the time of his first camp, which I thought was ludicrous.
I didn't understand why Mike Thomas dropped but I also thought Treadwell would be much better than he's been.
Shepard has been targeted 10 times or more 3 times this season... each time, he has gained over 130 receiving yards.
Thomas meanwhile averages 10 targets a game and hasn't gained more than 117 yards in a game this year.
IMHO, not being a homer, I take Shepard > Thomas
There were four receivers taken ahead of Shepard in 2016, all in the first round: Corey Coleman, Will Fuller, Laquon Treadwell, and Josh Doctson.
Sterling Shepard has more receptions, for more yards, and more touchdowns than any of them. In fact, he has more catches for more touchdowns than Coleman, Treadwell and Doctson, combined.
Shepard has already accomplished more than most second round picks will in their entire career.
There were four receivers taken ahead of Shepard in 2016, all in the first round: Corey Coleman, Will Fuller, Laquon Treadwell, and Josh Doctson.
Sterling Shepard has more receptions, for more yards, and more touchdowns than any of them. In fact, he has more catches for more touchdowns than Coleman, Treadwell and Doctson, combined.
Shepard has already accomplished more than most second round picks will in their entire career.
I disagree completely. He was taken for his high floor. He wasn't projected as a high ceiling prospect. So I'm not sure why you felt the need to throw an inaccurate - in this case - shot at Reese.
Looking forwards. Why point this out? You also have King, Sharpe, Rudolf, Lewis.
If the OP is advocating drafting wrs early this year; Stop smoking crack.
You want an additional #1 type to balance Odell?
We already have that.- Evan Engram.
Your value play is this:
Spend a 4th or 5th round pick on a legit #2 TE (not saying he isn't one also.. for the nimbys) so on. certain. formations. you can free up E.E.
Or. Duplicate Ellison via free agency for the two TE sets.
(As opposed to burning a high pick on a niftier #2 than Shep).
This isn't the year for that.
Good Reese pick!
He was hurt most of the year, his production is fine.
Look at the next 10-15 picks after Shepard. Not many guys there you would want over him.
I don't think that's fair. It was pretty much a consensus that Shepard was an outstanding prospect as a wildly productive slot receiver, and that the Giants got him as a bargain.
I don't see him as a problem on a team with about 50 of them.
I also thought he showed more explosive ability after the catch this year. He was actually able to break free for a couple of long ones this year, something he wasn't able to do as a rookie.