The New York Giants wide receiving corps is worse off than last season which is hard to do. Right now, the team has Victor Cruz as their guaranteed No. 1 guy and a lot of uncertainty after that. General manager Jerry Reese is well-aware that he has to make wide receivers a priority in the offseason considering he is not even sure if the players on the roster can be counted on.
Hakeem Nicks is good as gone. The wide receiver is entering free agency after a season that saw him miss time due to injury while not recording a touchdown when on the field. Nicks is not expected to return and really it is unclear if the Giants would want him back or not. After a 2013 holdout in organized team activities, he left a bad taste in everyone's mouth. With Nicks not in New York right now, Rueben Randle is the next in line, but Reese is not ready to count on him just yet.
Reese is not endorsing Rueben has the heir to the Nicks' throne. The general manager told media the "jury is still out" on whether or not the second-year pro is developing into a reliable target for quarterback Eli Manning. Randle had a strong season in 2013, capitalizing off the downfall of Nicks. He put up 611 yards and six touchdowns, leading the Giants. However, according to Reese, he has history of miscommunication with Manning and will need to develop better chemistry with the quarterback if he is going to be relied on.
So with that, the Giants begin their look towards free agency and the NFL draft for help on the field. New offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo is ready to take a new approach to the offseason and increase the air attack, but will need better receivers to do so.
If the Giants are willing to pay a lot, Eric Decker would be an easy target. There will be a bidding war for the former Denver Broncos wide receiver who is looking to make big money on the market. The Giants should not be ruled out in that effort. However, if they are looking for more cost-friendly players, someone like James Jones might be the better option.
The wide receiver has strong history with McAdoo after the two worked together in Green Bay. He seems like the perfect fit and a nice compliment towards Cruz and Randle. Jones is not known for speed, but his hands and athleticism can make him a starter or rotational backup for any team.
New York has the No. 12 pick in the first-round of the draft. That will not get them Mike Evans from Texas A&M, but could land them Clemson star, Sammy Watkins. Bringing on a rookie might not be ideal for New York, but Watkins has star power and would be a big upgrade.
