By Michael Stewart
Introduction: Keeping up with the prospect spotlight, let’s focus on the wide receivers in the 2019 draft and who could be available and of interest to the New York Giants. Below are currently the top ten projected wide receivers in the upcoming 2019 draft. At this moment, it’s still unclear whether or not the Giants will use one of their picks on a wide receiver; as there are other pressing needs to address first.
- A. J Brown (Ole Miss) 6’1/225: Brown is currently ranked 1st among the wide receivers in the 2019 NFL draft. Brown has good speed and runs like a running back after the catch. He is an efficient route runner and is not afraid the catch the ball in traffic.
- David Sills (West Virginia (6’4/203: Sills is currently ranked 2nd among the wide receivers in the 2019 NFL draft. Sills has good size and is strong with one on one battle’s with opposing defenders. Sill’s a lethal weapon in the red zone and will not hesitate to go into traffic for a reception.
- Anthony Johnson (Buffalo) 6’2/210: Johnson is currently ranked 3rd among the wide receivers in the 2019 NFL draft. Johnson has good size and strength, but does lack the separation speed needed in the NFL. Johnson will likely evolve more into a possession receiver at the next level.
- N’Keal Harry (Arizona St) 6’4/213: Harry is currently ranked 4th among the wide receivers in the 2019 NFL draft. Harry is very versatile and an offensive weapon whose equally productive lining up as wide receiver or as a running back. Deploying Harry in varies formations creates mismatch problems for the opposing defenses.
- Deebo Samuel (South Carolina (5’11/215): Samuel is currently ranked 5th among the wide receivers in the 2019 NFL draft. Samuel runs good routes and has good speed to create separation. Samuel excels in slant routes and isn’t afraid to go into traffic to make the catch.
- JJ Arcega-Whiteside (Stanford) 6’3/225: Arcega-Whiteside is currently ranked 6th among the wide receivers in the 2019 NFL draft. Arcega-Whiteside is most effective when he stretches the field and it’s not because of his blazing speed; which he doesn’t have. It’s because he is very deceptive and tends to catch opposing cornerbacks off guard in coverage. Arcega-Whiteside is also great in traffic and usually wins the one on one battle’s for the ball.
- Marquise Brown (Oklahoma): Brown is currently ranked 7th among the wide receivers in the 2019 NFL draft. Brown has game breaking speed and can score anywhere on the field. To go along with his exceptional speed, Brown has good hands and runs his routes well.
- Bryan Edwards (South Carolina) 6’3/220: Edwards is currently ranked 8th among the wide receivers in the 2019 NFL draft. Edwards has good size to go along with above average speed. Edwards has strong hands and runs routes well, but lacks the separation speed at the next level. Despite the lack of deep threat speed, Edwards has enough ability to be successful at the next level.
- Stanley Morgan Jr. (Nebraska) 6’1/200: Morgan is currently ranked 8th among the wide receivers in the 2019 NFL draft. Morgan has good acceleration off the line of scrimmages and also in his breaks; which creates separation between him and his opponent.
- Juwan Johnson (Penn State) 6’4/231: Johnson is currently ranked 9th among the wide receivers in the 2019 NFL draft. Johnson can elevate for the ball, is a skilled route runner and can find the open areas on the field. Johnson could be a threat in the red zone that the Giants have been looking for at the wide receiver position.
Final Thoughts: The Giants have two solid wide outs in Odell Beckham Jr and Sterling Shepard, but they are still lacking a big target they can utilize in the middle of the field and more importantly in the red zone. Currently, Cody Latimer is their designated big receiver and thus far after four games might not be the long term solution. Whether GM Dave Gettleman considers bringing Latimer back or not is still unclear; so the possibility of the Giants drafting a wide receiver is still an option.