Tyke Tolbert believes the New York Giants wide receivers could surprise some people in 2020 if they can remain healthy.
The New York Giants drew some criticism for failing to add an outside threat at wide receiver this offseason, but don’t bring that complaint to the door of Tyke Tolbert.
Despite the perception, Tolbert believes the current crop of Giants receivers have “great potential” so long as they can remain healthy and on the field.
“I think it’s a great potential,” Tolbert told reporters on Thursday. “Coach [Joe] Judge mentioned something earlier to us about the team with the best advantage is the healthiest team. We like all our guys to be as healthy as possible because when you have everybody healthy and everybody on the field at the same time, then you’ll be able to use people in different ways.
“I’m looking forward to those guys being out on the field together and being healthy and having everyone contribute again, because we believe the healthiest team will be the team that has the biggest advantage. Health is priority number one right now.”
Outside of Golden Tate and Sterling Shepard, it’s second-year receiver Darius Slayton who will likely draw the most attention after breaking out as a rookie.
“The difference for Darius is, it’s year two, obviously, and it’s game experience. He did get some game experience in the NFL last year. At this point of time last year, he hadn’t played an NFL snap. Now, he has some game experience,” Tolbert said. “He can go out there and he knows the speed of the game and how the defensive backs play in the NFL. That’s, to me, the biggest difference. He’s a smart guy. He’s starting the new offense, as we all are.”
Although Slayton rounds out the top three, the Giants still have some questions further down their depth chart. Who will be WR4? And who will fill out the remaining positions?
Former first-round pick Corey Coleman, who is returning from an ACL tear, is one of those options.
“I think Corey did a really good job this offseason and this summer, being with the trainers, getting rehabbed and getting ready to go. There’s only so much he can do with all of the COVID stuff, so he still had to do a lot of work on his own, which he did,” Tolbert said. “I think Corey is pretty much back to where he was before he got injured. I’m just looking forward for Corey to go out there and compete like everybody else. He’s making strides right now. He’s going to go out there and practice hard and do what he has to do.”
Other options include the three undrafted rookie free agents — Binjimen Victor, Austin Mack and Derrick Dillon.
“They’re all working very hard. Two guys came from the same college, so they push each other. Another one came from the Princeton of the south down there, LSU,” Tolbert said. “They’re all doing a really good job. They’re all competing, they’re all studying. I like to see good, young guys with a chip on their shoulder to go out there and compete. That’s what they’re doing right now. They’re always working hard and trying to get better.”
However things shake out, Tolbert stresses that it will all boil down to health. And if these Giants can stay healthy, the potential is most certainly there.
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