collin johnson

Why the Giants claiming WR Collin Johnson was a great move

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collin johnson, new york giants

At first glance, some might question whether or not former Texas standout Collin Johnson is capable of being a productive receiver at the NFL level. Having been released by the Jacksonville Jaguars this off-season, the New York Giants quickly scooped him up off the waiver wire.

Johnson spent his rookie season with Jacksonville last year, as a fifth-round pick. He tallied 272 yards and two touchdowns, but he offers something very specific for a Giants team that invested heavily at the wide receiver position is off-season, especially when it comes to Kenny Golladay. Big Blue signed Golladay to a four-year, $74 million deal, but having a competent back up option behind him is essential so coordinator Jason Garrett doesn’t have to upend his scheme.

In 2020, the Giants lost star running back Saquon Barkley in Week 2, and the offense saw half its playbook go with him. Adding Golladay, Kadarius Toney, and the return of Barkley should open things up tremendously for a unit that desperately needs to see improvement.

Johnson offers a supplement to Kenny, as the tallest receiver in the NFL at 6’6″, 220-pounds. Johnson isn’t known for his route running, but rather his ability to high-point footballs and make contested catches.

The Draft Network coined Johnson a “big physical WR” coming out of Texas:

Big physical WR that displays good overall athleticism for the position. He uses excellent length and excellent catch radius in contested catch situations. He shows sufficient play speed on 8 and 9 routes while also displaying good tracking ability to locate the football in the air. He will use his big body to catch a 6 route and absorb contact. Displays good willingness and courage to give up his body to secure off targeted throws. Very good competitiveness to make difficult catches at critical moments in the game. He will be a red-zone nightmare for defenders due to his big body and ability to go get the football anywhere on the field.

With a very comparable skill set to Golladay, the Giants clearly view him as a solution if need be. Does this mean he’s anywhere close to as talented as Golladay? Of course not, but it’s about consistency with the scheme and not having to tear out pages of the playbook because they don’t have a player who can replicate that portion.

Ultimately, this was a high upside signing for the Giants, with Johnson fitting a specific purpose.

New York Giants claim 3 players off waivers, what do they bring?

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quincy roche, new york giants

The New York Giants made several waiver claims on Wednesday afternoon, adding two defensive players and one of the tallest wide receivers in the NFL. Not a single Giants that was released was picked up by another team, indicating how weak their depth was at specific positions, notably on the offensive line. In addition, the players they cut at wide receiver were also passed on, which means David Sills could end up back on the practice squad. The Giants have already resigned multiple players, including Niko Lalos, Brett Heggie, Matt Cole, and Damion Willis.

New York Giants claim three players off waivers:

1.) LB: Quincy Roche

Quincy Roche finished the preseason with the Pittsburgh Steelers with six total tackles and two sacks. At 6’3″ and 245 pounds, Roche has a few physical limitations but posted solid grades this preseason.

Per Lance Zierlein of NFL.com:

Roche has packed the stat sheets for the better part of four years, but he’s very average athletically and doesn’t have the mass to consistently hold up at the point of attack. He’s tight in his lower half, which limits his ability to corner sharply when attacking the pocket. However, he’s limber in his upper body, which creates opportunities to slide off of blocks and make plays at awkward angles. His production should matter, but the athletic profile might push him down the board.
Roche can be a solid developmental player on the back end of the roster, and with a great defensive coaching staff, they could unlock some hidden talent. However, the Giants must be preparing to move a player to the injured list, which will likely be Elerson Smith.

2.) WR: Collin Johnson

The Giants also claimed former Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Collin Johnson, who was a fifth-round draft pick in 2020 out of Texas. Johnson is a big 6’6″ receiver who closely mirrors Kenny Golladay’s frame and skill set. The Johnson pick-up is a solid move in the instance that Kenney suffers an injury, and they need to supplement his loss with a similar style of player. While Johnson is nowhere near the quality that Golladay provides, he is known for his 50/50 balls and red-zone catch radius.

Per The Draft Network:

Big physical WR that displays good overall athleticism for the position. He uses excellent length and excellent catch radius in contested catch situations. He shows sufficient play speed on 8 and 9 routes while also displaying good tracking ability to locate the football in the air. He will use his big body to catch a 6 route and absorb contact. Displays good willingness and courage to give up his body to secure off targeted throws. Very good competitiveness to make difficult catches at critical moments in the game. He will be a red-zone nightmare for defenders due to his big body and ability to go get the football anywhere on the field.

3.) LB: Justin Hilliard

Another player with a solid off-season was former Ohio State linebacker, Justin Hilliard. As an undrafted free agent this year, Hilliard picked up 15 tackles and eight stops over 110 total snaps this preseason with the San Francisco 49ers. Clearly, the Giants view him as a potential developmental piece at LB and considering their lack of depth there, this is a solid pick-up that could pay off in dividends down the road.

Hilliard is also known for his coverage abilities and versatility, which is a major bonus for a team that doesn’t have a traditional coverage-based linebacker.