Sterling Shepard

New York Giants: Sterling Shepard competing with Golden Tate for No. 1 spot

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New York Giants receiver, Sterling Shepard.

With Odell Beckham Jr.’s departure, the New York Giants need to establish a new No. 1 wide receiver, and the competition will be between Sterling Shepard and new signing, Golden Tate.

From an outside perspective, it might seem as if Tate would be the top option considering his past success and trustworthiness. However, Shepard is familiar with the playbook and has chemistry with starting quarterback, Eli Manning. Those two factors might be more determining.

The New York Giants are in good hands with Sterling Shepard and Golden Tate:

As a duo, I believe they will be extremely effective, especially when you consider their ability to play on the exterior and interior. Flip-flopping and moving around on the line of scrimmage will be a frequent action on the Giants offense, keeping the opposing defense on its heels and forcing them to adjust, pulling players away from Saquon Barkley.

One of the methods of success I anticipate from Shep and Tate is their innate ability to catch the ball. They both have stellar hands, both securing over 61% of balls thrown their way in 2018.

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Tate is one year removed from a 76.7% catch rate, and Shep 70.2%. Eli Manning’s days of heaving passes into triple coverage in hopes of Beckham coming down with it are over, and that’s a positive thing.

Often times, we would see Manning force the ball to OBJ, causing turnovers and incompletions. Relying on your top pass-catcher isn’t a bad thing, but he was so dedicated to finding him he would often miss wide open receivers in the flat.

That negative response will now be eradicated after his departure. The position battle that will ensure to replace the No. 1 spot will be fierce. Both Giants receivers haven’t dropped a ball this spring and are showing they’re capable of handling the load. It’s possible the Giants simply consider them both a No. 1 receiver and utilize them in a similar fashion.

 

New York Giants: Corey Coleman finally ready to take his game to the next level

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New York Giants, Corey Coleman

With the New York Giants trading away star wideout Odell Beckham Jr., the wide receiver unit was shaken up and has been left a bit uncertain as we head towards the 2019 regular season.

Options like Cody Latimer and Russell Shepard present value on the field going into their second-year with Big Blue, but former first-round pick Corey Coleman might be the player to win the No. 3 job. Coleman, coming off a quiet season of just 71 yards on five receptions, will compete for the staring role alongside Golden Tate and Sterling Shepard.

His ambition and work ethic has been elevated lately, as he seeks to perform at the level expected of him coming out of college. After breaking his right hand in Cleveland, Coleman never returned to form, struggling to stick with the starting unit and landing with the Giants in a reserve role.

However, the way he’s been practicing and preparing has presented a clear indication of his goals for the season ahead.

“We are going to see the best of [Coleman],” head coach Pat Shurmur said. “He’s the first one to tell you when he came in the league, he had a lot to learn. Now he’s got an opportunity to maybe be a front-line player.”

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Corey asked Shurmur how he managed to develop both Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen into such effective pass-catchers, and that he wants to reach that type of success. His motivation is intoxicating, and something that will hopefully allow him to reach his potential.

What makes Corey Coleman special for the New York Giants?

The one attribute that separates Coleman from his counterparts is his elite speed. Coming out of Baylor he ran a 4.37 40-yard dash, and he has shown that quickness in the NFL at times.

“I don’t think anyone’s ever questioned my speed,” Coleman said. “Being fast is great, but being able to play fast, that’s what it has to be about.”

His top utilization is the deep ball — Coleman is a capable route runner as well with solid hands. I feel as though his primary issue is more mental than physical. The tangible traits are present for Coleman, he just has to learn how to harness them. If he can build upon success early on in the season, we could see his production increase quickly.

 

 

New York Giants: Eli Manning proves he’s nervous about the 2019 season

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New York Giants, Eli Manning, Daniel Jones

Any normal human being would be nervous if their employer brought in a younger version of the employee in question to eventually take their job. This is currently the case with New York Giants veteran passer Eli Manning. Drafting Daniel Jones might not have rattled Eli visually, but behind closed doors, he is certainly nervous.

Receiver Sterling Shepard gave away Manning’s hand on Tuesday afternoon after the first session of minicamp concluded. The two teammates had worked together this offseason as usual, but this time Eli has amped up his workouts and conditioning program.

The New York Giants seem to have gotten the message across to Manning:

In other words, Manning seems to be practicing like his job is on the line, and to be quite frank, it is. This could be the two-time Super Bowl-winning passer’s last season if he fails to operate at a high level behind a revamped offensive line. There are no more excuses on the table for Eli, as providing him with more time is the supposed missing ingredient to his success.

My question is – is it too late for Eli?

Suffering from inadequate offensive line play for years created a type of muscle memory for Eli, one that forces him to worry at the sight of pressure and drop his eyes and lose track of his progressions. This is a very real mental part of any quarterback’s game that heavily impacts their efficiency.

For Manning, it’s detrimental he overcomes this obstacle. General manager Dave Gettleman has done everything in his power to provide him with protection and talent – Saqoun Barkley is generally all he needs to succeed.

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However, the current team seems to have shifted their focus from Odell Beckham Jr. to team chemistry and camaraderie. This is a positive sign for the organization as a whole and Manning, who will benefit from less distraction and more positivity.

Between Barkley, Shepard, Golden Tate, and Evan Engram, the Giants have plenty of weaponry to assist in Manning’s success in 2019, and he must take advantage of it or he will go missing faster than Tom Hanks in “Castaway.”

New York Giants: What Sterling Shepard and Golden Tate can do for Big Blue

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New York Giants receiver, Sterling Shepard.

Trading away Odell Beckham Jr. was certainly the biggest headline of the offseason for the New York Giants, but the most important thing of the entire scenario is how they responded to his departure.

The Giants went out and signed veteran pass-catcher Golden Tate, a player known for his yards-after-catch abilities. The new acquisition and weapon for Eli Manning has led the NFL in forced missed tackles in five of the last six seasons, finishing second in the only season he didn’t come in first, according to Pro Football Focus.

If you can remember the electrifying plays Beckham made and the number of tackles he avoided, it’s hard to imagine Tate breaking even more tackles and picking up more yards. I’m not saying that Tate is anywhere close to as talented as Beckham, but in specific areas, he’s more refined.

“He is nifty,” Giants coach Pat Shurmur said. “Obviously, before the ball is thrown and then once he catches it, he has a way of breaking tackles or making them miss. I can see that is going to be a part of his game already.”

One of the best attributes Tate holds is his health. Beckham has missed a total of 16 games in two seasons, so essentially missing an entire year. Tate, on the other hand, has missed just one game in six years. The best way to make a difference is to actually be on the field, something OBJ couldn’t consistently do on a regular basis.

Manning will benefit greatly from a clean bill of health for his receivers moving forward.

How will the New York Giants utilize Tate and Shepard in 2019?

One of the major positive in regards to Tate and Shepard is their ability to play inside and outside. Head coach Pat Shurmur will be able to create an unpredictable offense with two diverse receivers. Additionally, they are possession receivers that will help keep the ball with the offense and the defense on the sidelines.

Running down the clock and holding onto possession should help the overall efficiency of the team. Ultimately, it comes down to Manning and his ability to get the ball to Tate and Shep quickly in space. Speedy receivers are better when the ball is in their hands with room around them.

Tate averaged 10.7 yards per reception in 2018 and Shepard 13.2. Both will be impactful players on a rebuilt Giants offense.

 

New York Giants: Looking into the top offensive position battles

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New York Giants wide receiver, Cody Latimer.

Following the NFL Draft, the New York Giants are scheduled to have a very exciting offseason period with plenty of position battles across the roster.

As the New York Giants progress through OTAs, position battles are beginning to take shape. The offensive side of the ball has plenty of talent to enjoy a productive 2019.

Some of the exciting position battles that will ensure land at right tackle and the wide receiver positions. The signing of right tackle Mike Remmers, formerly of the Minnesota Vikings, will compete against Chad Wheeler on the right side of the line.

Remmers is coming off back surgery this offseason but is expected to be fully healthy heading into training camp. Wheeler ranked as one of the worst tackles in the league last season, while Remmers lands in the bottom-middle of the pack. He should have more of an impact than Wheeler, who was an undrafted free agent out of USC. He showed flashes of competency at times but simply didn’t have the level of talent required to success consistently at the professional level.

The new Giants, Remmers, has plenty of NFL experience to help the unit succeed, especially after GM Dave Gettleman traded for right guard, Kevin Zeitler. The solidification of the right side of the line should complete a massive rebuild of the front-five. However, I do anticipate Gettleman do address the position in the next draft if not allocating cap-space towards an upgrade.

I do anticipate Remmers winning this job with ease despite Wheeler being healthy and capable.

The Giants will have a great battle for the No. 3 WR spot:

Outside of Sterling Shepard and Golden Tate, who are immediate starters, the third spot on the unit is up for grabs. Options like Corey Coleman, Russell Shepard, and Cody Latimer will all compete for the starting job. I anticipate Latimer having the best shot at securing it as he was efficient before succumbing to injury in 2019.

He racked up a solid 190 yards and one score six total games last year. He’s productive when on the field and has the speed to beat corners deep. He’s not the most refined route runner, but he has trustworthy hands — 68.8% catch-rate in 2018. However, I wouldn’t rule out Coleman as a candidate to earn the role as well.

Coleman, a former first-round pick, has struggled to live up to expectation after breaking his hand early on while playing for the Browns. The Giants found a use for him as a kick returner, but the acquisition of Jabrill Peppers diminishes Coleman’s value.

The Giants invested a second-round tender in the pass-catcher, as they have seen glimpses of the potential most saw as he exited college. I don’t expect Russell Shepard to realistically contend for the third spot, but we’ve seen crazier things happen before.

New York Giants: How Will the Receiver Corps Shake Out?

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New York Giants, Sterling Shepard

With the acquisition of receiver Golden Tate, the New York Giants attempted to fill the role of Odell Beckham Jr., who was traded to the Cleveland Browns in a deal that shook the NFL.

Tate is the league’s top yards-after-catch receiver, but he’s not nearly as talented and explosive as Beckham, yet in the reality of the Giants offense, that might not be a bad thing. Often times, quarterback Eli Manning was found forcing the ball to Beckham and he would demand targets simply due to his electrifying nature.

The future of the offense for Big Blue is designed to burn time off the clock and maintain possession. Signing Tate and extending Sterling Shepard was a fantastic move, money aside. Both receivers can play in the interior and exterior, allowing head coach Pat Shurmur to move them around the field and create unpredictability.

It will ultimately allow Manning to spread the ball around the field without feeling the need to force the ball to one specific target. Shurmur’s scheme will finally open up and the possibilities will expand. However, there are several players fighting for starting roles on the receiver corps, so let’s see how the unit could shake out.

How will the New York Giants receiving corps look come September?

We can assume that Shepard and Tate will act as the No. 1 and 2 pass-catchers for the Giants, but beyond them, it’s a tossup. Personally, I feel that Corey Coleman can finally reach his potential and act as a true wideout. He only corralled five receptions for 71 yards in 2018, but he was featured mostly in a reserve role. With Beckham gone, Coleman has the opportunity to move up in the ranks.

I wouldn’t rule out Russell Shepard moving to the No. 3 spot, though, as he caught 10 balls for 188 yards and two touchdowns last season. He’s a solid red-zone threat in addition to his possession skills. Additionally, he averaged 18.8 yards-per-reception, compared to Coleman’s 14.2.

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It should be an interesting position battle between those two players — Coleman is a former first-round pick that has plenty of value on the offense, he just has to find a way to access it. Shepard is dependable in specific schemes but only featured a 52.6% catch-rate — Corey earned 62.5%.

Behind those two options, the Giants have draft pick Darius Slayton who apparently has feet for hands so far in OTAs. He has a lot of work to do before becoming a dependable receiver at the NFL level, however, he is extremely athletic and could develop into a solid target given a successful development.

Don’t forget about Cody Latimer. The five-year veteran played in just 6 games last year before succumbing to injury. He’s a talented player that can make contested catches. He’s mostly a deep-ball threat, but if healthy, he can easily steal the No. 3 job away from Coleman and Russell Shepard.

Latimer earned 11 catches for 190 yards and a score on a 68.8% catch-rate.

Predicting the Giants’ receiving corps:

1.) Sterling Shepard

2.) Golden Tate

3.) Cody Latimer

4.) Corey Coleman

5.) Russell Shepard 

Comment your prediction below!

New York Giants Top News 5/22: Sterling Shepard Lights up OTAs

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New York Giants, Sterling Shepard

Happy hump-day New York Giants fans! Day three of OTAs is upon us and we have seen some great things so far in such a small sample size. Cornerback Sam Beal has looked solid, Sterling Shepard made a great play with Beal in coverage, go figure. Check it out below!

https://twitter.com/PirateLifeFF/status/1130929304605470720

Let’s not look past Eli Manning’s placement and arm strength on this toss, hitting Shepard in stride with Beal running alongside in coverage. That’s a quality throw and catch from the duo, something I hope to be seeing a lot of come the start of the regular season.

Aside from the Giants, former player, Landon Collins has taken his talents back to the media in a rant about GM Dave Gettleman and the direction of the team. He felt as though the Giants let him walk due to their “culture change” approach — some might agree with me, Collins certainly didn’t help himself when it came to locker-room issues.

He publicly humiliated Eli Apple on numerous occasions. The idea that locker-room issues should be handled in-house didn’t resonate well with Collins who was questionable when it came to speaking out to the media. However, it was an isolated incident with Apple. I will post an article below so you can read the whole story.

Nonetheless–

Here is your New York Giants news and coverage:

Jordan Raanan (ESPN) – Collins: Giants let me go for ‘culture change’

Paul Schwartz (NY Post) – Janoris Jenkins survived Giants purge and is facing next challenge

John Schmeelk (Giants.com) – Sideline Notes: Giants OTA No. 2
Mike Moraitis (Giants Wire) – Giants’ Eli Manning in the best shape of his career?
Alexander Wilson (Empire Sports Media) – New York Giants might have a serious cornerback position battle

Looking for some great tweets to enjoy?

Check out yesterday’s best articles around the web!

New York Giants: Why Sterling Shepard Might Struggle in 2019

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New York Giants, Sterling Shepard

The New York Giants will be without Odell Beckham Jr. in 2019 and the offense will look completely different. The Giants will no longer have their superstar wide receiver for Eli Manning to force the ball too.

Instead, the Giants will have a couple of dependable slot receivers in 2019. Sterling Shepard and Golden Tate are the new primary receivers in the Giants’ passing attack.

Many believe that the subtraction of Odell will lead to the addition of increased performance by Sterling Shepard. Unfortunately, that might not be true.

Shepard’s Stats Without Beckham

It would be easy to assume that without the Giants’ primary receiver on the field, the secondary receiver’s stats would improve. Sterling Shepard’s stats did not improve when Beckham was off the field.

The New York Giants made a serious commitment to Sterling Shepard in the 2019 offseason. They signed him to a four-year, $41 million extension. This extension solidifies Shepard as the Giants’ primary receiver for the foreseeable future.

However, there is an argument to be made that Shepard has not proven himself entirely worthy of this extension. In the 11 games that Shepard played in 2017 and 2018 without Odell Beckham Jr. on the field, his stats were underwhelming.

Shep hauled in 58 receptions for 746 yards and only 2 touchdowns in those 11 games. That is only an average of 67 yards per game, and just barely over 5 receptions per game. Shepard has not been a highly productive receiver without Odell Beckham being double covered on the outside.

Why He Might Succeed:

Sterling Shepard did struggle when he was the primary receiver in 2017 and 2018. But there could be reason for him not to have the same struggles in 2019.

The Giants traded away Odell, but they replaced him with Golden Tate. Tate is a yards-after-catch monster. The receiving duo of Shepard and Tate could be among the league’s best if Shepard can reach his full potential.

Sterling clearly struggled when there was not another primary receiver on the field alongside him. But that should not happen in 2019. Golden Tate will play alongside Sterling Shepard and this should keep Shepard from struggling too much.

Whenever Odell Beckham Jr. is on the field, he requires extra defensive help and pressure. Golden Tate might not require the same assistance, but he still needs to be held in check more than Bennie Fowler or Russell Shepard. This could give Sterling Shepard the opportunity to flourish in the Giants’ new offense.

New York Giants: 5 important things to watch during OTAs

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New York Giants receiver, Sterling Shepard.

The New York Giants will open OTAs on Monday as they look to shake out the roster and provide their rookies with essential experience ahead of the 2019 season.

This will be an opportunity for the younger players to leave their mark, proving they’re worthy of a starting position or a reserve one. There will be plenty of position battles during this period, which will provide answers and excitement.

5 things to watch for during New York Giants OTAs:

1.) Where will Daniel Jones land on the depth chart?

As expected, Daniel Jones is the anticipated QB3 heading into training camp behind Eli Manning and Alex Tanney. While the 6th overall pick starting as a third-string option doesn’t promote the immediate impact narrative some people prefer from top draft picks, it’s better off he starts in a reserve role where he can learn and develop.

The upcoming season will be Jones’ growth season, and he will benefit significantly from it. Learning Manning’s tendencies and preparation procedure will aid him when he eventually takes over. In addition, refining his already solid technique and arm strength will be a part of his progression.

2.) How will the New York Giants use Sterling Shepard and Golden Tate?

Diving into the Giants’ receiver corps presents a ton of questions. It was always rather simple at this time of the year — Odell Beckham Jr. was the main pass-catcher and everybody else was an afterthought.

This year, things are different, and it will be interesting to see how the Giants utilize Shepard and Tate. Both have the ability to line up in the interior and exterior, which should create mismatches and unpredictable routes. Tate is the best receiver in the league in terms of yards-after-catch.

Look for head coach Pat Shurmur to find ways to get him open in the middle of the field so he can use his elevated play-making ability to pick up extra yards.

3.) Chad Wheeler vs Mike Remmers

It’s expected that former Vikings right tackle Mike Remmers will emerge as the starting player for the Giants after signing a contract recently. However, he’s coming off back surgery and there are plenty of questions that need to be answered, physically. There’s a chance Wheeler rightfully earns the starting job after flashing decency at times last year.

He’s by no means a great option, but the Giants did go out and secure a top 6 right guard in Kevin Zeitler this past offseason in the Olivier Vernon trade. If Remmers shows he has healed fully from the surgery he will be the starter hands down, but that’s not the case until we see him in training camp.

This is one of the better position battles of the offseason.

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4.) The cornerbacks unit

The cornerbacks will present a great position war this training camp period. Featuring several new players in DeAndre Baker, Julian Love, and Corey Ballentine, there are plenty of positions open for the taking.

Most have Love penciled in as a slot-corner option alongside Grant Haley, but I imagine he will fight for a starting role on the outside. Baker, the top corner in the draft, theoretically has the second starting job opposite Janoris Jenkins locked up, but I wouldn’t rule out the feisty Love from earning reps. Nonetheless, it’s an uphill battle for him.

Ballentine has lengthy arms and NFL speed/agility — he’s an underrated talent that will compete hard but will likely be a reserve option. I anticipate 2019 being a developmental year for him. Don’t forget about Supplemental draft pick Sam Beal either – he missed all of 2018 with a shoulder injury. His talents have yet to be evaluated on the field, meaning he has as good a chance as anybody at securing starting reps.

5.) Eric Dungey could be a surprising sleeper

Syracuse quarterback, Eric Dungey, was signed as an undrafted free agent this offseason period. He’s an extremely athletic player that doesn’t have the most sound throwing abilities but could replicate Taysom Hill of New Orleans. He has a solid frame at 6’3″, 220-pounds.

Dungey threw for 2868 yards in 2018 with another 754 in rushing. He earned a total of 33 touchdowns over the course of the season, proving to be a capable playmaker. The Giants were intrigued by his athleticism and ability to get into the endzone. Look out for him to move around the field and play a bit of tight end and quarterback in a reserve role.

 

New York Giants: How Does The New Offense Compare To The Rest Of The Division

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New York Giants, Sterling Shepard, Saquon Barkley

The New York Giants have come in dead last in their division in each of the last two seasons. They have become the least threatening team in the NFC East and have not won the division since 2011.

The rest of the teams in the NFC East have been accumulating young talent for years. The Cowboys have made the playoffs and won the division in two of the last three seasons. Their young core of Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliot make them an annual playoff contender.

The Eagles have also been far more successful than the Giants recently. It is painful to say or think about this, but the Eagles won the Super Bowl in 2017 and made the playoffs again in 2018.

The Redskins have placed 3rd in the division for three straight years. But even they have won the division more recently than in 2011. They have won it twice since then (2012 and 2015).

Our beloved New York Giants have fallen behind in recent years and it is time for them to get back on track. The Giants made moves to improve their offense in 2019. Let’s see how their new offense compares to the rest of the division:

Offensive Lines:

The Giants’ offensive line has been bad for years. The Giants finally got rid of Ereck Flowers in 2018, but the unit still struggled as a whole, despite bringing in veteran left tackle Nate Solder.

The other three teams in the division all have above-average or excellent offensive lines (when completely healthy). The Dallas Cowboys had two Pro Bowlers on their offensive line in 2018 with left tackle Tyron Smith and right guard Zack Martin. Left tackle Trent Williams of the Washington Redskins also made the Pro Bowl in 2018. The Eagles also had a Pro Bowler in right guard Brandon Brooks. The Giants are the only team in the division to not have a Pro Bowler on their offensive line.

The Giants are trying to buck that trend. In 2018, they drafted left guard Will Hernandez in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Hernandez showed lots of promise in his rookie year and looks like he can be a Pro Bowl-caliber player in the future.

In the 2019 offseason, the Giants acquired a talented offensive guard via trade with the Cleveland Browns. Kevin Zeitler is one of the NFL’s best pass-blocking guards, allowing only 11 total pressures in 2018.

The Giants’ offensive line is the worst in the division. However, it has the potential to improve mightily in 2019 with the addition of Zeitler, Hernandez progressing in his second year, and center Jon Halapio returning from injury.

Running Backs:

Fortunately, the Giants still have the best running back in the division, though it is a close race. Saquon Barkley racked up more total yards from scrimmage in 2018 (2,028 yards) than any other running back. But Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliot was not far behind with 2,001 yards and he also lead the NFL in rushing yards with 1,434 yards.

The Eagles also have a solid group in the backfield. They traded for former Bears running back Jordan Howard this offseason and also drafted Miles Sanders out of Penn State. Howard has racked up 3,370 rushing yards and 24 rushing touchdowns over the past 3 seasons. In 2018, Sanders ran for 1,274 yards and 9 touchdowns at Penn State.

Technically, the Washington Redskins have the “best” running back on their roster, but that is if you are going off of total careers. Barkley, Elliot, and Howard are all young, promising players. But Washington Redskskins running back Adrian Peterson is one of the best running backs of all time.

Peterson is 33 years old now and is well past his prime. However, he was still solid for the Redskins in 2018 with 1,042 rushing yards and 7 rushing touchdowns. The Redskins also have a young, unproven back named Derrius Guice. Guice was electric in college at LSU with 2,638 rushing yards and 26 rushing touchdowns in his final two collegiate seasons. Guice tore his ACL in the 2018 preseason but will look to prove himself as a quality NFL running back in 2019.

The Giants have the best running back in the division and even in the NFL. Saquon Barkley will only get better in 2019. However, the team would be wise to add some more talent behind Saquon to keep him from wearing and tearing.

Receivers And Tight Ends:

The Giants easily had the best receiver in the division over the last 5 years. That changed in the 2019 offseason when the Giants traded away Odell Beckham Jr.

Now the Giants are left with pass-catchers like Sterling Shepard, the newly acquired Golden Tate, and Evan Engram. Still a solid group despite losing their best player.

No one on the Giants’ roster was a 1,000-yard receiver in 2018. Shepard, Tate, and Engram all have the potential to be 1,000-yard receivers in 2019, but there is also a good chance none of them eclipse 1,000 yards, too.

The Eagles have one of the best tight ends in the NFL with Zach Ertz. Ertz had the third most receiving yards out of all tight ends last season with 1,113. He is their best skill player on offense and will remain a consistent player for Philadelphia in 2019.

The Dallas Cowboys struggled to find a receiving threat, post-Dez Bryant until they traded for former Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper in 2019. In only 9 games with the Cowboys, Cooper totaled 725 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns. The Cowboys could use some help at tight end, but Cooper is the best receiver in the division now that Odell is in the AFC North.

The Washington Redskins seriously lack playmakers on the outside. Their leading receiver in 2018 was tight end Jordan Reed with only 558 receiving yards. The Redskins did draft a couple of receivers in 2019 with Kelvin Harmon and Terry McLaurin, but it is hard to imagine these two players will make such a vast improvement to the Redskins’ receiving corps in 2019.

The Giants might not have the best receiver or tight end in the division, but they could have arguably the best group of these positions in the division. If Engram, Shepard, and Tate all reach their full potential in 2019, the Giants’ offense could be electric.

Quarterbacks:

Every team in the division has a young, franchise of future franchise quarterback on the roster. The Giants and Redskins were the last teams to acquire theirs but finally did so in the 2019 NFL Draft.

The Cowboys and Eagles have their franchise quarterback starting and winning games for them, but the Redskins and Giants have not seen their young signal-callers in action yet. It is too soon to tell who has the best young quarterback in the division, but right now Carson Wentz is the best quarterback in the division.

Carson Wentz had an MVP-caliber season prior to injuring his knee in 2017. In the 13 games he played in 2017, Wentz threw for 3,296 and 33 touchdowns. This lead the Eagles to an 11-2 record. Carson made the Pro Bowl in 2017 but suffered another injury in 2018. If he can stay healthy, he is the best quarterback in the division.

The other young quarterback in action is the Cowboys’ Dak Prescott. Prescott has lead Dallas to the playoffs twice in three years and has thrown for 3,000 yards and 22 or 23 touchdown passes in all three of his seasons in the NFL. He has been to the Pro Bowl twice and is set to receive a big contract extension from Dallas soon.

The Redskins had a problem at the quarterback position but found their answer in the Draft. Their quarterback, Alex Smith, suffered a gruesome leg injury in 2018 that will probably keep him sidelined for all of 2019. So the Redskins drafted Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins in 2019. Haskins threw 4,831 passing yards and 50 touchdown passes in 2018 at Ohio State. It will be interesting to see if he can maintain a high production level in the NFL.

While the rest of the division will all be starting quarterbacks age 27 or younger in 2019, the Giants will be kicking off the season with 38-year-old Eli Manning at the helm. Manning has been underperforming for the past two seasons, failing to top 21 touchdown passes. Regardless, the Giants are committed to him as their starter in 2019. However, if Eli struggles, it could mean the Giants will move on from him as soon as possible.

The Redskins were not the only team to address the quarterback position in the 2019 NFL Draft. The Giants made the controversial decision to draft Duke quarterback Daniel Jones with the 6th overall pick in the draft. It can be debated whether or not Jones was worthy of that high selection, never topping 22 touchdown passes in 3 years as a collegiate starter. The Giants will be hoping that Jones proves any doubters wrong when he gets his chance.

The Giants’ quarterback position is probably the worst in the division. Their young soon-to-be franchise guy is far from a can’t-miss-prospect, and their current starter is a legend well past his prime. Giants fans need to hope and pray that Daniel Jones shocks the world and proves all his doubters wrong in the future.