Kenny Golladay

FOCO drops New York Giants new receiver Kenny Golladay bobble-head

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kenny golladay, new york giants

The New York Giants made a big splash in free agency to acquire star receiver Kenny Golladay, formerly of the Detroit Lions. Golladay instantly became a sensation for Giants fans who desperately desired a premium pass catcher, reminiscent of Odell Beckham Jr.

However, Golladay is an entirely different receiver compared to OBJ, representing a big body who can make 50/50 contested catches. Having posted 1,190 yards and 11 scores in 2019, the Giants feel will be a very productive player for them in the future, and after signing a four-year contract, there’s nothing better than a premium bobblehead to display him as a New York Giant.

Happy Golladays, Giants fans! Kenny is bringing his big plays to Big Blue! Celebrate his arrival to the Meadowlands with this Kenny Golladay New York Giants Stadium Façade Bobblehead!

GET YOUR KENNY GOLLADAY BOBBLEHEAD HERE!

New York Giants rated as second most improved receiving corps

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New York Giants, Kenny Golladay

The New York Giants came into this offseason with receivers as a large need, but that was mostly addressed through the draft and free agency. In free agency, of course, the team made the big name signing of Kenny Golladay to add a receiver that may very well finish in the top 10 statistically. And in the draft, they added a further weapon with first round pick Kadarius Toney after trading down.

Those improvements earned them the title of second most improved receiving corps by PFF. The only team rated higher happens to be the Giants’ neighbor, the Jets.

The Giants followed that splash free-agent signing by spending their first-round pick on another wide receiver. Per Zack Rosenblatt, Toney said that he models his game after Alvin Kamara, and like Kamara, his after-the-catch ability is rare. That’s something New York needed to add at wide receiver. The Giants’ wide receivers averaged 3.0 yards after the catch per reception in 2020, dead last in the NFL. Toney should help turn that number around.

The article by PFF mentions how Golladay and Toney aren’t the only additions. The Giants also added Kyle Rudolph, and while the signing has been almost forgotten since the start of the offseason, they also brought in 2017 top 10 pick John Ross.

A deep receiving group

Depth isn’t usually associated with the Giants receiving corps in recent years but the organization really does have a deep group this year. Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton are the top performers from the last couple of seasons, and they both return this year.

With the addition of Golladay as well as Toney, it’s easy to imagine Shepard and Slayton being able to work more effectively. Opposing defenses will be forced to focus on more than just them, and the Giants now have multiple receiving tight ends in Evan Engram and Kyle Rudolph.

The pressure will be on for Daniel Jones now that he has more weapons than ever, but ultimately, the Giants have done about as good a job as possible at setting him up to win in 2021.

Grading the New York Giants’ free agency haul

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New York Giants, Kenny Golladay

The New York Giants approached the 2021 free agency with a bag of cash, meaning they spent a significant amount of money to plug holes all over the roster. Ranging from wide receiver to cornerback, the Giants are giving quarterback Daniel Jones plenty of weapons to work with and support on defense, finally taking advantage of the rookie quarterback contract window.

However, it is fair to be unbiased when it comes to the recent signings and what they mean for the Giants, especially when considering their contracts. Let’s take a look at each player and why they are graded appropriately.

Grading the New York Giants’ free-agent haul:

DL: Leonard Williams (B)

The New York Giants retained Leonard Williams on a three-year, $63 million deal. Some might argue that this was too big of a contract for Williams, but they have an out after the 2022 season with a $7.5 million hit in dead money. Ultimately, letting a premier interior pass rusher walk was not something the Giants were willing to do, given his rarity and their lack of pass rush in general.

Williams earned double-digit sacks in 2020 under coordinator Patrick Graham, and they are expecting him to be a focal point moving forward. The signing was a good one, but the Giants really forced their own hand, which hurt their leverage in negotiations.

CB: Adoree Jackson (B)

The Giants signed Adoree Jackson to a three-year, $39 million deal, and considering he played in two full games last year, this contract might be a bit overzealous. The Giants desperately needed to fill a gap at CB2, and they took safety Logan Ryan’s word for Jackson’s qualities. Ryan played with him previously in Tennessee, and the Giants clearly think he can be a lockdown corner for them moving forward. His injury history is a bit concerning, which is why I gave him a “B.” However, when healthy, Jackson is one of the best man cover corners in football.

WR: Kenny Golladay (A)

The Giants solved a massive hole with Kenny Golladay, and aside from his mammoth contract, he is the perfect scheme fit for coordinator Jason Garrett. The Giants are paying Golladay $72M over four years, but they have an out after the third season with $6.8 million in dead money. Considering how much the cap is going to increase moving forward, the deal will look solid in the future, and he’s capable of being a high-end WR1.

TE: Kyle Rudolph (B)

While Rudolph is certainly getting up there in age and is coming off a serious foot injury, he is the perfect tight end for Jason Garrett. He hasn’t dropped a pass in over two years, which is something Giants fans will rejoice over when he’s finally healthy and ready to produce at a reasonable level.

As an average blocker, I give this signing a “B” simply because he’s coming off an issue that is still bothersome, and his age indicates he might have a steep fall off this upcoming season.

OLB: Ryan Anderson (B)

I actually really like the Ryan Anderson pick-up, as he was simply buried on Washington’s depth chart last year due to a strong defensive front. He is a capable player that produced five forced fumbles in 2019 and 4.0 sacks. The Giants are expecting him to replace Kyler Fackrell at a vastly lower price point, but he has hidden production they can exploit.

WR: John Ross (B+)

John Ross is a player who has been plagued by injuries his entire career, but when healthy, he can push the fields vertically and force defenses to compensate for his speed. He attracts a lot of attention, which will open up the field for players like Saquon Barkley and Kenny Golladay. The Giants offered him a one-year deal with low money allocations, giving him a solid “B+.”

RB: Devontae Booker (C)

The signing of Devantae Booker was extremely interesting, and not because he’s incapable of being a solid contributor. The Giants could’ve gone out and signed a player like Mike Davis, who shined for the Carolina Panthers in the absence of Christian McCaffrey last season. Instead, they signed Booker to a two-year, $5.5 million deal. Overpaying running back’s when there were better options on the market doesn’t make much sense to me.

LB: Reggie Ragland (B+)

The signing of Reggie Ragland was a bit surprising but very justifiable. His connection with former Detroit Lions executive Kyle O’Brien, who now works for the Giants, brings the signing to light. Ragland has underwhelmed since his inception into the NFL, but as an Alabama product, the Giants have ties with his former coaches and might be able to extract his value.

DL: Austin Johnson (B+)

Retaining Austin Johnson was a solid move for Big Blue, considering they lost Dalvin Tomlinson to free agency. Johnson can supplement his loss on a rotational basis, but not as a starter. He shined when on the field, but I expect the Giants to potentially look to the NFL draft to find another big interior defender.

C: Jonotthan Harrison (B+)

Harrison is a solid depth center, someone who can fill an interior spot if need be on the offensive line. The problem with Harrison is that he’s injury-prone, and as a former Jets player, he has some upside but is very limited.

DE: Ifeadi Odenigbo (A)

Former Minnesota Viking Ifeadi Odenigbo is a great signing for the Giants, as he led the Vikings last year in pass rush efficiency. Despite the unit being the worst in the NFL, he has some hidden potential and sits at a very low price point — the Giants might be able to extract some value in production. He’s mostly a bull-rush-oriented pass rusher but can win reps on the outside as a five tech and potentially slide as a rotational player to mitigate fatigue on the interior.

QB: Mike Glennon (B)

The Giants rolled with Colt McCoy as their backup quarterback in 2020 but elected to go a different direction with Mike Glennon in 2021. Glennon has a solid arm and can run the offense efficiently if need be, whereas McCoy was extremely limited by his size and inaccuracy.

OVERALL: B+

Why the New York Giants overpaying for Kenny Golladay was 100% the right move

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New York Giants, Kenny Golladay

Some might say that the New York Giants overpaid the top receiver on the free-agent market this off-season Kenny Golladay. However, if you watched the Giants in 2020 and saw the qualities of their offense, you would understand that they didn’t have much of a choice. The 27-year-old brings a Pro Bowl-caliber season in 2019 to New York, one where he posted 1190 yards and 11 scores, leading the NFL.

The Giants ultimately signed the best player at the position to a four-year, $72 million deal. In 2021, Golladay will count just $4.65 million against the cap, but the deal is actually a three-year contract with very minimal dead money in the 2024 season. They have an OUT after 2023 when he turns 30 years old, where they can move on and save a good chunk of money. At the same time, Kenny benefits from this, as the cap is expected to skyrocket after the 2023 season as a result of the massive TV deal that just passed.

Signing Golladay wasn’t so much about the offense as it was about a specific player. Quarterback Daniel Jones. Let’s refer to the New York Jets for how not to help your quarterback. When the Jets drafted Sam Darnold in 2018, they expected him to be their franchise passer for many years to come.

However, they failed to do one major thing, provide him with the necessary weapons and solid protection. While the Giants are still working on Jones’ protection, they are not letting his rookie deal expire without giving him proper tools to work with. Signing Golladay was about helping Jones reach his maximum potential, as the offense averaged just 17.5 points last year and had one of the worst passing attacks in the NFL.

The New York Giants got the perfect weapon for DJ:

Considering Kenny posted double-digit touchdowns in 2019, he’s considered one of the best red-zone receivers in the league. At 6’4″, the former third-round pick has all the necessary tools to be a WR1 for the entirely of Jones’ rookie deal. With Jones going into his third season, he will now have Golliday until the end of 2023, given the Giants pick up his fifth-year option.

This is a perfect contract that is quite clearly built around Jones and his development. This allows the Giants to move on from both players if necessary, but I believe the team has the right coaches in place to maximize their potential.

Daniel Jones: Kenny Golladay interested in New York Giants culture

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New York Giants rookie quarterback, Daniel Jones.

The reactions are still coming in after the New York Giants added wide receiver Kenny Golladay to their arsenal of weapons. Those reactions include that of Golladay himself as well as current members of the Giants organization.

One of the most important people in all of this is Daniel Jones. He’s the one that was without weapons in 2020 and the addition of Golladay improves his chances during his make or break 2021 season. And in a statement, he was positive about the addition and getting to work with the new wide receiver on the field.

“He’s been a big time playmaker in this league. When we spoke, he was interested in the culture we have in the building and the mindset of the team. I think he had heard it from coaches but wanted to hear how we saw it as players and how much we believed in it,” Jones said. “I think finding the right fit in that sense was important to him. I can’t wait to get out on the field and get to work with him.”

Culture has become a buzzword in many places that is used by every team regardless of their actual success. Every coach, both good and bad, brings up their team culture. However, the Giants have seen a culture change more tangibly since the addition of Joe Judge saw their coaching staff overhauled and the team immediately becoming more competitive in Judge’s first season.

One could say that’s already played a role in the Giants landing free agents this year. Golladay this year is their signature free agent, but it also appears the Giants are frontrunners to bring in cornerback Adoree Jackson, and they already added to the depth of their pass rush with defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo.

In other words, the Giants are one of the more improved teams so far out of this offseason’s contenders for that title. And from the looks of it, we can attribute a lot of that to how things went last year with the change in the coaching staff.

The Giants might not have picked up as many wins as desired, but the change in culture was noticeable, and it’s starting to pay off as the roster itself finally improves.

“Just hearing the vision that coach Joe Judge had and Jason Garrett had as far as the offense, that had me right there,” Golladay said on Saturday about his visit with the team.

It seems like that culture and the current coaching staff of the Giants had more than a little influence on him choosing to come to New York over other teams.

Where should the New York Giants go at 11 after WR Kenny Golladay signing?

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Rashawn Slater, New York Giants

They were many factors that played into wide receiver Kenny Golladay choosing the New York Giants as his next home, including quarterback Daniel Jones reaching out to him saying that “we are trying to do something right here.”

The Giants, more specifically, Daniel Jones, needed a WR1 to help spur his development and increase his production. Last season, the Giants ranked 29th in passing yards earning 189.1 per game and ranked 31st in points per game with 17.5. Adding Golladay to the mix will undoubtedly have a profound effect on their efficiency, especially in the red zone.

Golladay is a 6’4″ behemoth of a receiver, showing his WR1 skills with his ability to high-point catches and use incredible body control to box out corners and dominate in all facets of the field. After reviewing his film, not only did I see an elite red-zone threat, but also an athlete that can make plays on a whim. His elite use of his stellar frame is perfect for Jones, who desperately needed a big body target to utilize in the passing game and a dangerous threat inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.

What does the signing of Kenny mean for the New York Giants?

The signing of Golladay does a lot more than just improve the offense, it also opens up more options with the 11th overall pick in the draft. The Giants have a big decision to make, as a top 10 player will likely fall to their slot, and they have to make a decision on drafting another receiver to completely overhauling a weak unit in 2020 or allocate the pick toward a position of need. Normally, teams tend to settle with the best player available in the first round, based on positional value. If that is the case, the Giants might want to target offensive tackle Rashawn Slater out of Northwestern.

Slater is a phenomenal talent with the versatility to play multiple positions. With below-average arm length, some project he can move inside to guard, and the Giants could easily utilize him in that way on the right side. However, starting him at right tackle might be the most beneficial move, as Nate Solder hasn’t played RT in over a decade, and Matt Peart missed developmental time last year with COVID-19. You can never have too many great offensive linemen, that is simply a fact and today’s NFL.

The Giants had a bottoming unit the last couple of years, so utilizing the 11th overall pick on another high upside player shouldn’t be overlooked. Alternatively, they could secure a player like Jaylen Waddle out of Alabama, who would completely revitalize the offense and give the Giants too many weapons to work with.

Defensively, depending on if the Giants utilize some salary space on a CB2, they could allocate the 11th overall pick toward a defender like Patrick Surtain out of Alabama or Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons. As you can see, the options are endless, and the Golladay signing is to thank.

New York Giants: An NFC East best offense in 2021?

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New York Giants, Saquon Barkley, Darius Slayton

The New York Giants had one of the worst offenses in the league in 2020 – but that might have changed around quickly based on how things have gone so far during the offseason. The Giants were already expected to see a boost to their offense going into the next season with a healthy Saquon Barkley, but that boost is greatly expanded by adding a receiver that has the potential to finish as one of the top ten in the league: Kenny Golladay.

The Golladay deal gives the Giants the number one receiver they haven’t had since they moved on from Odell Beckham Jr. Sterling Shepard never quite rose to that role, and Darius Slayton hasn’t been consistent enough to seize it either. Now, the Giants have what they’re looking for.

But the Giants still have other, less consistent but still dangerous talents in their back pocket. With a number one threat for defenses to focus on, these talents might be able to shine more. They include Evan Engram, whose receiving potential the Giants have continued to bet on each season as calls to trade the tight end go unheard. And Darius Slayton, who was still an 8 touchdown receiver in 2019 despite his lesser performance in 2020.

The Giants added another depth player to the receiving game with tight end Kyle Rudolph, who himself is only one year removed from a 6 touchdown season in 2019. If Saquon Barkley can stay healthy this entire season, the Giants will also have one of the most dynamic weapons in the running game this year.

It’s a bit early to start crowning the best offense in the division, and the last Giants teams to be crowned early have underperformed big time. But if there’s one season when the Giants will avoid that fate, it seems like this one.

After all, with the team finally getting a number one receiver, and other talents returning and having less pressure on them to take on the entire load for the offense, we might just see more than one player blossom from the move the Giants have made.

BREAKING: New York Giants land top free agent wide receiver Kenny Golladay

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The New York Giants have agreed to terms with top free-agent wide receiver Kenny Golladay. Golladay landed a four-year, $72 million deal with a max of $76 million and $40 million Gauranteed. This is New York’s big splash signing as Golladay was the top free agent on the open market. After days of “mutual interest” and an official in-person signing, Golladay and the Giants were able to finalize a deal with the stud wide receiver.

New York is addressing a huge need with this signing, getting Daniel Jones a new primary receiving threat. Golladay is the big-body outside receiving threat that the Giants desperately needed. He’s a 6 foot 4, 214-pound wide receiver. Golladay spent the first four seasons of his career with the Detroit Lions. Now, he will join the New York Giants as their top receiving threat.

Kenny Golladay was the top receiving option for the Detroit Lions. Detroit elected not to place the franchise tag on Kenny after failing to agree to a long-term contract extension. Now, Golladay walks away from Detroit and marches into New York as the Giants’ new alpha dog wide receiver.

Kenny Golladay was a Pro Bowl selection in 2019 after he led the NFL with 11 receiving touchdowns to go along with an impressive 1,190 receiving yards on 65 receptions. Golladay topped one thousand receiving yards in back-to-back seasons (2018-2019), establishing himself as one of the top receivers in the league. “Babytron” has shades of his game similar to former Detroit Lions great Calvin “Megatron” Johnson, hence Kenny’s nickname.

The only concern with Kenny Golladay is his injury history. Golladay played in only 5 games in 2020 before suffering a season-ending hip injury. Kenny is presumably healthy again and ready to get to work in Jason Garrett’s offense. Similar to the Buffalo Bills adding Stefon Diggs last offseason, Giants fans will hope that the acquisition of Kenny Golladay will lead Daniel Jones to have a Josh Allen-like breakout campaign in his third season.

New York Giants: Latest Kenny Golladay price projections spur optimism

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New York Giants, Kenny Golladay

When star receiver Kenny Golladay declined a contract worth $18 million per season from the Detroit Lions, he likely didn’t see the latest projections coming to reality. As of Friday morning, reports indicated that Golladay could earn just $13 million per season on a multi-year deal with the New York Giants, who are hosting him on a visit in East Rutherford.

The Giants and Golladay have been connected for a few days, as the organization desperately wants to find a top receiver to pair with quarterback Daniel Jones. Bringing in Golladay will not only help Jones in the passing game, but it would also benefit Saquon Barkley in the running game upon his return from a torn ACL. Barkley has been vocal via social media about the idea of signing Kenny since the last time Saquon had a WR1 alongside him, he posted over 2000 all-purpose yards.

The New York Giants are doing their due diligence:

There have been red flags in the past regarding Kenny, as his tenure in Detroit ended poorly. His relationship with head coach Matt Patricia was not exactly positive, as he even liked a post bidding Patricia farewell upon his firing. Golladay has stated in the past that he wanted to stay in Detroit on a long-term contract, but they didn’t franchise tag him and allowed him to hit the free-agent market. It is very rare that a top receiver is available on the market, especially at such a juicy price.

I look to Allen Robinson as a benchmark for this contract, as he signed a three-year, $42 million deal with that Chicago Bears three years ago coming off his rookie deal. The 6-foot-4 receiver had better statistics after his rookie contract, and his injury isn’t as serious, so the upside is undeniable.

Adding in the signing of speedster John Ross and the Giants‘ offense should change entirely. They ran a more West Coast style in 2020, utilizing more dink and dunk passes to pick up short yardage. With more speed and man coverage beaters, the Giants will likely transition to a more downfield scheme, especially with Jones, who was one of the most accurate downfield throwers in 2020.

New York Giants Free Agency: Rumors, news, updates, more!

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New York Giants, Kenny Golladay

The rumors were flowing on Wednesday for the New York Giants, as they were connected to wide receiver Kenny Golladay, who is currently on the open market. The former Detroit Lion is reportedly planning to visit with the Giants, spending time with head coach Joe Judge and upper management. If all goes well, the Giants could have their WR1 by the end of the week, and what a massive addition he would be for quarterback Daniel Jones.

At the end of the day, bolstering the offense so Jones can reach his potential is exactly what the Giants need to do this off-season. Just think about the impact Stefon Diggs had on Josh Allen last year with the Buffalo Bills.

Golladay is capable of being a WR1, and he might come at a very reasonable price considering what top receivers normally go for. ESPN’s Jordan Raanan projects that Kenny may only earn $12-14 million per year on a multi-year contract, and with the Cincinnati Bengals offering him a one-year deal, the Giants have a nice advantage and a bit of cash to spend.

New York Giants Updates:

1.) Kanny Golladay on the way!

Zack Rosenblatt of NJ.com connected with a current Giants player, who was adamant that the team needed Golladay:

“We need him,” one current player told NJ Advance Media, speaking on the condition of anonymity. Multiple other players expressed a similar sentiment, that they’d like the Giants to bring in a player of Golladay’s caliber.

The impact that Golladay would have on the offenses is profound. Not only would he open up the running game for Saquon Barkley, but he would allow receivers like Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton to face off against lesser competition. The Giants averaged 17.5 points per game last year, good for 31st in the NFL. Their passing attack was lackluster — Sterling Shepard was man-marked by the opposing team’s CB1s. Shepard is a high-end WR2, and given the matchups, he can be an excellent receiver for Jones.

Ultimately, as long as the offensive line can hold up, adding a Golladay would completely revitalize the offense and give Jones no more excuses moving forward.

2.) Ifeadi Odenigbo

Another low-risk, high reward signing for the Giants. Odenigbo has a combined 10.5 sacks over the past two seasons, starting 15 games in 2020 with the Minnesota Vikings. At 26 years old, Odenigbo has the potential to be a solid rotational piece for the Giants, potentially on the interior. As a traditional defensive end, they could move him to defensive tackle, where he would feature at the 3-5 tech, providing support to Leonard Williams and Dexter Lawrence.