Tag: Isaiah Hodgins

CBS Sports predicts a breakout season for Giants WR Isaiah Hodgins

A recent article by CBS Sports tabbed New York Giants WR Isaiah Hodgins as the team’s breakout player for 2023.

The New York Giants have quite a number of players on their roster who could ‘break out’ in 2023. In fact, with all the new faces and young players on the roster, it’s very likely they will have more than one.

In a piece by CBS Sports’ Jared Dubin predicting the breakout player for each team for the upcoming season, wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins was chosen as the player for the Giants.

New York brought in Darren Waller to give Daniel Jones a better option in the passing game. But Waller has played just 20 of 34 possible games over the past two seasons. What if he can’t be counted on to stay healthy anymore? In that case, Hodgins looks like the best game in town. He brought in 33 receptions for 351 yards and four scores in just eight games with the Giants last season. Extrapolate that to 17 games and it’s a 70-746-8.5 receiving line. For a former sixth-round pick who was waived in the middle of last season after mostly being on the practice squad prior to that, it would be a heck of a come-up.

Rubin makes some salient points in favor of Hodgins, who many thought was last year’s breakout player even in the small sample size that they saw.

Hodgins is undoubtedly in the plans, but he’ll have to compete for touches in a very crowded field, with the Giants having a lot of mouths to feed on offense now.

They will be looking to stretch the field with the likes of speedster wide receivers Jalin Hyatt and Parris Campbell, as well as try to put the ball into the hands of their higher-paid players, such as tight end Darren Waller and running back Saquon Barkley.

There’s also veteran wideouts Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton, two Jones favorites.

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Giants’ Isaiah Hodgins: ‘We are not satisfied’ after 2022 season

New York Giants WR Isaiah Hodgins wants more for himself and the team going into 2023.

Mid-season, the New York Giants found themselves thin at receiver. It was then that General Manager Joe Schoen had to get creative with the Giants being tight for salary cap space.

Schoen added wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins in early November, a player he and head coach Brian Daboll were very familiar with from their days in Buffalo.

Hodgins quickly became one of Daniel Jones’ favorite targets for the remainder of the season and was a catalyst in the team’s playoff berth, leading to his getting a new contract this offseason to return to Big Blue.

Although this is Hodgins’ first training camp with the team, he already feels comfortable while knowing the value of his play in system last season:

“I feel very comfortable in the offense and the scheme,” Hodgins said. “Just being able to take a different approach to my game and knowing that I’m not just thrown into the fire like I was last year. (I) kind of get to work on some mental stuff for me. Kind of like looking at coverages and disguising stuff and seeing stuff that I give away and stuff that I can work on in my game. So, I’m trying to take that next step myself.

“It was really beneficial,” he added. “Just being able to compete against top teams, to play in huge games and playoff games and be able to be in the grit and grind with this team. Coming back from being down or a big divisional game. It was good to be able to see the character in that locker room and whether we take a hit or whether we’re winning big games, just never change and keep working throughout the week. I definitely love the guys in the locker room, and it made me feel more a part of the team being in those moments with them.”
Even with Hodgins being all the Giants could have hoped for and more last season, he hopes to eclipse his performance from last season:

“I try to push myself to forget it completely about last year and just sit there and take it day by day and really eclipse what I did last year,” he said. “That’s our goal, we are not satisfied with that.”

This offseason, the Giants added a plethora of weapons including Darren Waller, Parris Campbell and Jalin Hyatt. Even with the additions, it’s likely Hodgins will be featured and continue to build chemistry with Daniel Jones.

Considering defenses will be heavily focused on Saquon Barkley and Darren Waller and given Hodgins a full offseason to work with the team, he could be primed for a big leap this season.

Giants have logjam at wide receiver

The New York Giants will bring at least 15 wide receivers into training camp and half of those won’t make the 53-man roster.

The New York Giants will be taking 15 wide receivers to training camp this week, leading to the question — what is the plan?

Are they just throwing options against the wall to see what sticks? Or are they simply creating competition to see who will rise, or are they safeguarding themselves in case of a repeat of last year when they suffered an unusually high number of injuries?

It could be a little of both. The team found themselves shorthanded last season and they don’t want to get caught short again.

The unit will be run again by assistant coach Mike Groh and he will have a diverse group of players of all shapes, sizes and skill sets who possess a varied level of NFL experience.

Of the 15 players, perhaps eight of them will make the team’s final 53-man roster, and — if things go right — one or two of them could end up leading the team in targets and/or catches.

But that will be difficult. The Giants’ big move this offseason on offense was the trade for former Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller. He is expected to be heavily involved in the passing game.

So is running back Saquon Barkley, when he returns from his ‘holdout.’ Barkley has been the Giants’ best receiver when healthy the past few years and there’s no reason to stop throwing him the football.  Between he and Waller, there will be fewer opportunities for the wideouts, unless something changes.

So, what should fans expect this summer at wide receiver?

Expect the veterans to get the benefit of the doubt, at least in the beginning. That means initial work for Sterling Shepard, who is returning from another lost season due to injury, and Darius Slayton. Toss in Isaiah Hodgins and Wan’Dale Robinson (when he’s ready), along with free agents Parris Campbell, Jamison Crowder, Jeff Smith, Cole Beasley, and rookie Jalin Hyatt.

The Giants will try to forge a serviceable unit out of those names. They are top-heavy on slot receivers it seems so they might thin the herd there in favor of some outside options.

The others will all have to have monster camps to even be considered. Collin Johnson, David Sills and rookie Bryce Ford-Wheaton are interesting names to watch but where do they fit? Jaydon Mickens, Makai Polk and Kalil Pimpleton are long shots and will have to show special teams prowess to stick.

Wide receiver will be a heavily contested unit this summer and will be a fun one to follow.

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Giants’ Isaiah Hodgins praises Daniel Jones’ work ethic

New York Giants WR Isaiah Hodgins says Daniel Jones is the hardest-working quarterback he’s ever seen and knows that will pay off in 2023.

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When the New York Giants suddenly found themselves thin at wide receiver in the middle of the season last year, general manager Joe Schoen brought Isaiah Hodgins over from the Buffalo Bills.

Hodgins made the most of his opportunity and as the season went on, his chemistry with Daniel Jones grew.

Hodgins was recently a guest on the ‘2nd Wind‘ podcast and talked about working with Jones, particularly praising his quarterback’s work ethic.

“I’m not going to lie, I definitely didn’t expect his work ethic to be what it was,”  Hodgins said. “Like, usually, with quarterbacks — they’re top guys but they’re not like the hardest workers. DJ is definitely up there. He’s always grinding, doing whatever he can to take care of his body, lift. He’ll be in the weight room power cleaning crazy weights, 275-whatever, doing all this middle of the season. Like, first one in there at 5:30, 5:45 — I sort of have to push myself like, ‘okay, I’m going to get here before him. Like, I’ve got to wake up at 5:30 and get here’ because I just see that and it inspires me.”

That inspiration has led to an improving trust and a growing chemistry.

“I think the chemistry part, it came with how often we worked in between periods and in between practices and after practice. He does that with all the guys,” Hodgins said. “He’s so critical and technical about himself that he’s like, ‘Yo, come over here. I need to work on this throw, let’s run this route’ and if he makes a bad throw, he’s like, ‘Can you run it for me one more time? my bad.’ And I’m like, ‘this is my third deep route, I can’t keep going’ and he’s just like, ‘Come on, I’ve gotta get it right.’ Then, in the game, that’s how he’s able to put it on the money because he’s done that throw a thousand times.

“I’ve got high expectations for DJ, just because I’ve seen the work, man.”

Hodgins compared his grind and perseverance through the days of being a practice squad player and knowing eventually the hard work was going to pay off. He sees the same for Jones.

“That’s the same mindset,” Hodgins said. “I see DJ has. He works so hard and I just know, it paid off at the end of last year and I know this year, next few years to come, he’s going to show he really is a franchise quarterback.”

Hodgins’ praise of Jones is telling given his time with Josh Allen in Buffalo.

Clearly, there is chemistry and trust between Hodgins and Jones and that is likely to continue after their first full offseason together in Mike Kafka’s offense.

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Rankings: Who is the best wide receiver in the NFC East?

We’re ranking the top wide receivers in the NFC East and here’s where Philadelphia Eagles A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith landed

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There’s been a changing of the guard in the NFC East quarterback hierarchy, and a major part of Jalen Hurts passing Dak Prescott centers around his dynamic duo at wide receiver.

The NFL’s most competitive division has elite talent at the wide receiver spot, with every team except the Giants have a bonafide trio of players to rely on.

With training camp quickly approaching for all 32 NFL teams, we’re ranking the best wide receivers in the NFC East from top to bottom.

PFF ranks Giants’ wide receivers near bottom of NFL

Despite their many upgrades, Pro Football Focus ranks the New York Giants wide receivers near the very bottom of the NFL.

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After the way the 2022 season played out, the New York Giants needed to upgrade the weapons around Daniel Jones this offseason.

General manager Joe Schoen and the Giants’ front office did just that — not just in free agency but via trade and in the draft as well.

The free agent market was scarce at wide receiver so Schoen got creative, making their biggest splash on a trade to acquire tight end Darren Waller.

Despite the additions, Pro Football Focus ranked the Giants’ pass catchers near the bottom of the league.

25. NEW YORK GIANTS

The Giants receiving room is deep, but the ceiling feels limited, at least compared to other teams. Isaiah Hodgins came on strong at the end of last season, earning a 74.5 receiving grade from Week 13 on. They also have Darius Slayton, Parris Campbell, Wan’Dale Robinson, Sterling Shepard and the newly-drafted Jalin Hyatt. Daniel Bellinger was a reliable tight end option but wouldn’t be categorized as a focal-point player. It’s a deep room that is still searching for its star WR1.

DeAndre Hopkins lingers on the free agent market, but his price tag is too rich for the Giants, so it’s likely they’re done adding anything major to the wide receiver room.

The Giants’ offense will heavily feature Saquon Barkley and Darren Waller. Even though they did not add a No.1 receiver, they did improve their wide receiver group by adding Jalin Hyatt and Parris Campbell, both of whom provide additional speed at the position.

Still, there are plenty of questions regarding the Giants’ pass catchers. Can Waller stay healthy? Can Sterling Shepard and Wan’Dale Robinson come back strong from injury? Can Isaiah Hodgins improve upon his performance from his first year with the team?

The Giants offense should be improved in 2023 and the pass catchers are certainly a reason why. Still, lacking a true No. 1 wide receiver is likely the reason they are so low on PFF’s list.

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Giants’ Isaiah Hodgins named one of NFL’s most unappreciated players

Cynthia Frelund of NFL Network has named New York Giants WR Isaiah Hodgins one of the NFL’s most unappreciated players.

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Shortly after being claimed off of waivers by the New York Giants, wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins became a household name in the Northeast.

Hodgins burst onto the scene and quickly became a favorite target of quarterback Daniel Jones. In just eight games (five starts), he hauled in 33 receptions for 351 yards and four touchdowns. Then, on Super Wild Card Weekend, Hodgins dominated the Minnesota Vikings, catching eight receptions for a career-high 105 yards and one touchdown.

Despite impressing, Hodgins is still very much an unknown around the league. And that’s why Cynthia Frelund of NFL Network recently named him one of the NFL’s most unappreciated players.

Full disclosure: I have a soft spot for Hodgins after spending two preseasons with the Bills and watching him work his tail off only to endure a series of injuries and spend the majority of his time with the organization as a member of the practice squad. When he finally landed a spot on the Giants’ active roster — reuniting with coach Brian Daboll — I was thrilled for the kind young man who just wanted a real opportunity. He got one in the Big Apple and ran with it, establishing himself as a go-to target for Daniel Jones in the second half of last season and then catching eight passes for 105 yards and a touchdown in New York’s playoff win at Minnesota.

Per NGS, his 15.3 percent catch rate over expected when aligned wide ranked second-best in the NFL last season, while his 12.5 percent catch rate over expected when targeted down the seam ranked third.

Hodgins faces increased competition for targets this year after the Giants acquired tight end Darren Waller from the Las Vegas Raiders, signed wide receivers Parris Campbell, Jamison Crowder and Jeff Smith in free agency, and later added speedster Jalin Hyatt via the 2023 NFL draft. But his familiarity with the offense and rapport with Jones should go a long way in keeping him involved.

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Isaiah Hodgins named Giants’ ‘best kept secret’

Isaiah Hodgins has been named the New York Giants’ “best kept secret” but is he really a “secret” at this point?

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The New York Giants got a huge unexpected boost at wide receiver last November when they claimed former Buffalo Bills sixth-round pick Isaiah Hodgins off waivers.

Hodgins became one of their top targets in the passing game, filling a void caused by several injuries to key wideouts.

In a recent piece for Bleacher Report, Alex Ballentine listed Hodgins as the Giants’ “best-kept secret.”

Giant fans know better, however. And so do the teams they faced in the second half of the season. At one point, Hodgins had scored four touchdowns over a five-game stretch. It’s no secret he can play.

The Giants simply didn’t have much at wide receiver. Darius Slayton led the way with 724 yards while Richie James and Saquon Barkley were tied for the lead with 57 receptions apiece.

One underrated element of the passing game was Isaiah Hodgins, who was third on the team in yards with 351 on 33 receptions in just eight games.

Hodgins was released by the Bills on November 1 with the Giants successfully claiming him off waivers the next day. It took a few weeks for Hodgins to get acclimated, but by the end of the season he had some strong performances including eight catches for 89 yards and a touchdown on 12 targets against the Vikings in Week 14.

There will be more competition for the 6’3″, 201-pound receiver this fall. The Giants drafted Jalin Hyatt and signed Parris Campbell in free agency, but Hodgins has earned the right to be included in the game plan.

Giants fans and every draft pundit under the sun clamored for them to go out a get a “No. 1” receiver this offseason and they may have done that with the addition of Hyatt and Campbell not to mention tight end Darren Waller, who lines up as a wideout in many formations.

But they also have a short memory when it comes to Hodgins’ accomplishments last season. He sure looked the part in the small sample of games in 2022.

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Giants’ Isaiah Hodgins recalls ‘surreal’ 2022 season

New York Giants wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins recalls his “surreal’ and divine journey from Buffalo to East Rutherford in 2022.

When the Buffalo Bills informed wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins that he would be cut following an impressive preseason, he was heartbroken. He had worked diligently throughout the offseason and expected a spot on the 53-man roster.

Instead, Hodgins hit the open market and went unclaimed.

“We were expecting baby No. 2, so I was like, I’m going to be on the active roster and I’m going to buy a house with this money,” Hodgins told the Sports Spectrum Podcast. “I had all of these plans…”

Hodgins chalked it up to God having a plan for him, which is something that would eventually be reinforced in a rather divine way.

After being re-signed to the Bills’ practice squad, Hodgins anxiously awaited his turn. The first month came and went without an activation but that changed in Week 5 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Bills needed an extra wide receiver for the game and Hodgins got the nod. He was signed to the active roster and responded with four receptions for 41 yards and two first downs.

But that was about it for Hodgins. He was used sparingly over the next several weeks before heartbreak found him again. Ahead of Week 10, Bills general manager Brandon Beane called the wide receiver into his office and informed him that he would again be cut. The hope was that they’d be able to sign Hodgins back to their practice squad.

Around that same time, Hodgins was attending a Church in Buffalo and he was one of three who were prophesized over. The pastor, who was unaware that Hodgins played professional football, informed the receiver that bigger and better things were just around the bend.

“He said, ‘Listen, you got brought here to be sent. Buffalo isn’t your finishing place,'” Hodgins recalled. “He was like, ‘I see your face on TV and in media but don’t let it get to your head.'”

That provided Hodgins comfort but he didn’t need to lean on it for too long. Almost immediately after getting cut by the Bills for a second time, and just a week after the pastor told him change was coming, Hodgins’ phone lit up.

First, it was his agent. Then it was New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen. And lastly, it was head coach Brian Daboll.

Hodgins was, in fact, on his way out of Buffalo and would soon find himself plastered all over the television and throughout the media just as the pastor has prophesized. He landed on the Giants’ active roster and played a significant role for a playoff team.

Hodgins appeared in eight regular-season games for the Giants and started five. He hauled in 33 receptions for 351 yards and one touchdown, and then had the best performance of his entire career on Super Wild Card Weekend against the Minnesota Vikings (eight receptions for 105 yards and one touchdown).

“It was a surreal year,” Hodgins said.

Although nothing was guaranteed heading into the offseason, the Giants were quick to re-sign Hodgins. He is expected to take on an even larger role in 2023 with eyes on landing a long-term contract.

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Daniel Jones, Giants teammates gather in Arizona for workouts

Daniel Jones, Saquon Barkley and a large contingent of New York Giants players have gathered in Arizona for workouts and training this week.

In what has become an annual tradition, New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones and a collective of his teammates gathered in Arizona this week for some workouts and training.

In addition to Jones, those reportedly in attendance include quarterback Tyrod Taylor, wide receivers Parris Campbell and Sterling Shepard, and tight end Lawrence Cager.

Also among the contingent were wide receivers Isaiah Hodgins, Makai Polk and David Sills, and tight end Daniel Bellinger. However, the most notable appearance belongs to running back Saquon Barkley, who has not yet signed his franchise tender.

Shortly after signing with the Giants as a free agent, Campbell revealed that he was out in Arizona working with Hodgins and Jones had already begun planning a trip.

“I’m actually out in Arizona training right now in the offseason, and he’s like, ‘I’ve got to get out to Arizona. Let’s get to work.’ That’s what you want. You’re a new guy coming in, a new piece to the offense, and the quarterback is already like, ‘Let’s go. Let’s get some work together.’ That’s just so welcoming,” Campbell said. “That’s so promising. Obviously, I’m ready to build on a relationship with him and create a rapport with him. So, just super excited.”

The Giants will return to East Rutherford when their offseason program begins on Monday, April 17.

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