New York Giants Offseason: Reviewing the Wide Receiver Position
By Sean Dyer
Who’s In, Who’s Out?
In: Odell Beckham Jr., Sterling Shepard, Roger Lewis, Tavarres King, Travis Rudolph, Hunter Sharp
Out: Brandon Marshall, Dwayne Harris, Darius Powe, Kalif Raymond
Wide receiver is a position that could see some turnover under Pat Shurmur and Dave Gettleman. Perhaps more than people realize.
Odell Beckham Jr. and Sterling Shepard are obvious locks for 2018. The only questions regarding OBJ are his health and whether or not he’ll get a lucrative contract extension before Week 1.
Roger Lewis is in for now as he has done well as a depth receiver. Lewis has plenty of talent but has had off-field concerns. Gettleman’s no-nonsense attitude might not gel with Lewis. If Lewis has another off-field incident this offseason, his Big Blue career could come to an end.
Tavarres King is a free agent but he won’t be difficult to re-sign. He’s shown an ability to be a deep threat and has taken advantage of every opportunity he’s gotten on the field. The new coaching staff and front office have no allegiance to King but for what he’ll cost, he’s worth bringing back.
Travis Rudolph and Hunter Sharp will be longshots to make the Week 1 roster. However, they made the most of their reps late in 2017 and earned a chance to battle in training camp and the preseason. Rudolph is an exclusive rights free agent, so if the Giants want him back, it’s essentially a done deal.
Brandon Marshall signed a two-year contract prior to last season, but it was really a one-year deal with a one-year option. The New York Giants can cut ties, free up $5 million in cap space for 2018, and only incur $1 million in dead cap.
After the disappointing debut season Marshall had for Big Blue, it is expected that he will be released this offseason to create cap space to work on the offensive line.
Dwayne Harris has largely been a disappointment for the Giants. He’s done little to contribute to the offense and hasn’t been anything special in the return game. Harris’s biggest contribution has been as a gunner on special teams. Although he’s very good as a gunner, a Pro Bowl gunner, in fact, a team cannot pay a gunner $4 million per year.
Harris still has two years left on his deal but releasing him saves $3.25 million in 2018 as well as 2019 with just $1.6 million in dead cap. It’s really a no-brainer.
Darius Powe and Kalif Raymond could get looks in camp for the Giants but the new regime will likely bring in young receivers they have worked with before and know a little more about.