The New York Giants surprised everyone with their performance during the 2022 season. They went 9-7-1 in the regular season, earning a Wild Card spot and even winning their Super Wild Card Weekend matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.
Things couldn’t have gone much better in Year 1 of the Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll era. Heading into Year 2, the Giants will be looking to build upon that strong performance. This offseason will present Schoen with his first chance to make some big moves by upgrading the roster.
When he took over the franchise it was in shambles from what Dave Gettleman did previously. Capped out and without much maneuverability, Schoen and Daboll deserve a lot of credit for getting the most out of what they had to use. If things go according to plan, there will be even more talent on the field for New York in 2023 to take advantage of.
One position that the Giants should be looking to make some changes at is wide receiver. In 2022, Riche James Jr. tied for the team lead in receptions while Darius Slayton led the team in receiving yards. James was mostly a special teams player previously in his career while Slayton was nearly cut and didn’t get on the field until Week 4.
Unfortunately for the Giants, this year’s wide receiver free agent class is lacking top-of-the-line star talent. But, there are some players who would represent upgrades for the team. One player that would help is Jakobi Meyers of the New England Patriots.
If James departs in free agency, Meyers would be a nice replacement for the slot. His ability to win in contested catch situations, low drop rates and versatility to line up on the perimeter makes him appealing in Daboll’s offense.
Another appealing slot receiver would be JuJu Smith-Schuster. While likely better suited as a No. 2 than a No. 1, Smith-Schuster rehabbed his value nicely in 2022 with the Kansas City Chiefs. His elite run-blocking ability would be a great fit in a run-first Giants scheme.
With Slayton hitting free agency, the Giants could be in the market for a field-stretching deep threat. DJ Chark would fit the bill as a replacement there with his speed and athleticism. With the Detroit Lions in 2022, he averaged 16.7 yards per reception.
Could the Giants reap a little reward from their midseason trade of Kadarius Toney to the Chiefs as well? Mecole Hardman is set to hit free agency and seems destined for a change of scenery. His versatile skill set and nose for the endzone, as he scored six touchdowns in eight regular season games, would provide Daboll and Mike Kafka with another chess piece offensively.
Last but not least, Parris Campbell could be an intriguing option as well in the slot. Campbell had the first healthy season of his career in 2022, appearing in all 17 games for the Indianapolis Colts after playing in only 15 in his first three seasons. In need of some speed on offense, Campbell would provide that in spades as a low-risk, high-reward type of signing if he remains healthy.
