Tag: Kenny Golladay

Giants get failing grade for obviously horrible 2021 free agent decision

In a free agent re-grade of the last decade, the New York Giants get a failing mark for this undeniably horrible 2021 decision.

When the New York Giants signed wide receiver Kenny Golladay to a four-year, $72 million deal in 2021, there were high hopes that the offense finally had a play-making target for Daniel Jones.

Instead, Golladay was one of the biggest free agent busts in Giants history, joining names fans would like to forget, such as Lavar Arrington and Brandon Marshall.

Matt Holder of Bleacher Report re-graded 10  of the biggest free agent signings of the last 10 years and Golladay’s Giants stint made the list:

As a third-round pick by the Detroit Lions in 2017, the Northern Illinois product made some noise as a rookie with 477 yards and three touchdowns while making only five starts and receiving just 48 targets. That led to back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns and 16 touchdowns the following seasons combined, including a league-leading 11 scores in 2019.

Golladay suffered a few injuries that kept him to just five games during his last season in Detroit. However, he was still one of the most coveted free-agent-wideouts during the 2021 offseason, listed as the fourth player overall on Pro Football Focus’ rankings and the top receiver who didn’t get franchised-tagged.

That led to the New York Giants giving him a four-year, $72 million ($28 million guaranteed) contract in the offseason. At the time, that was tied with Tyreek Hill and Odell Beckham Jr. for the sixth-richest contract at the position on a dollar-per-year basis. However, it’s safe to say Golladay didn’t live up to expectations in the Big Apple.

His first season with the Giants was a bust, hauling in just 37 passes for 521 yards while being kept out of the end zone in 14 games. The following year was even worse with just six grabs and 81 yards after getting benched with just four starts in 12 contests.

Golladay’s tenure in New York came to a comedic ending when he scored his lone touchdown with the club during his final game.

Grade: F

The poor grade is certainly warranted given his lack of production in a Giants uniform. After just 37 receptions in his first year with the Giants, Golladay had just six receptions and failed to gain 100 yards in 2022.

Golladay scored just one touchdown in his Giants tenure in a meaningless regular season finale in 2022. Coincidentally, that was the last catch Golladay made.

Although it was not a free agent signing, the Giants may soon look back at Darren Waller’s Giants tenure in a similar fashion.

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17 WRs the Vikings can sign with Justin Jefferson on IR

The Vikings need to add a veteran wide receiver and there are plenty of options in free agency and on practice squads

The Minnesota Vikings were dealt a crushing blow on Tuesday when they placed wide receiver Justin Jefferson on injured reserve.

Sitting at 1-4, the Vikings are in an odd spot. They have played much better than their record, but a -9 turnover differential has been a major factor in their lack of success.

Without Jefferson, that will change how defenses will approach the Vikings. They will be able to play more aggressive coverages without Jefferson on the field.

The likes of Jordan Addison and K.J. Osborn will need to step up and T.J. Hockenson is going to become the top option for the Vikings. They will need to add a wide receiver to the roster to fill Jefferson’s roster spot and there are 17 intriguing candidates.

11 free agents the Seahawks should consider for added WR depth

While Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf remain untouched and Jake Bobo is blossoming into a real threat, the Seahawks could use some help while these guys are out.

The Seattle Seahawks might have the best and deepest wide receiver room in the entire league this year. However, a rash of injuries can bring down even the greatest units and right now this group is a little bit thin.

To recap the slew of injuries at the wide receiver position, first-round draft pick Jaxon Smith-Njigba fractured his wrist in Saturday night’s win over the Cowboys and could miss the next 3-4 weeks according to head coach Pete Carroll. Super-athletic second-year wideout Dareke Young is also out with a hip injury that may require surgery and to top it off Dee Eskridge will be suspended for the first six games of the regular season.

While stars Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf remain untouched and undrafted rookie Jake Bobo is blossoming into a real threat, the Seahawks could still use some help while these guys are out. Here are 11 free agents who would at least add some more depth.

List of notable free agents after first week of training camp

There are some big-name options still available in free agency.

It’s usually slim pickings on the free agent market around this time of the year, but surprisingly, there are still several big-name players out there that remain unsigned.

Most of the notable talent is at the running back position with at least two or three potential NFL starters on the list. The Patriots could certainly use help at that position with Ty Montgomery going down with an injury.

They have mostly leaned on Kevin Harris and Pierre Strong Jr. as their top options behind Rhamondre Stevenson. Harris looks the most improved of the two, and they could make the decision to stick with him in the end.

However, they have visited with a few players on this list, including Ezekiel Elliott, Darrell Henderson and Leonard Fournette.

They’ve also reportedly considered a future visit with Dalvin Cook.

But there are more than just running backs on this list of NFL talent. Let’s take a look at some of the more notable unsigned free agents.

10 free agent wide receivers Broncos should consider signing

Going forward without Tim Patrick and KJ Hamler, the Broncos will need more depth at WR. Here’s a quick list of 10 free agents to monitor.

Following the losses of wide receivers Tim Patrick (Achilles) and KJ Hamler (pericarditis) on Monday, the Denver Broncos will likely sign at least one receiver in the coming days.

Hamler might be able to return to the team later this year, but Patrick is set to miss the entire 2023 season.

The biggest name free agent available is Julio Jones, but he is 34 years old and coming off a quiet season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Other big-game players available are Jarvis Landry (30) and T.Y. Hilton (33), who have both seen their production drop in recent seasons.

One unflashy name to watch is Nick Williams, who has had two different stints with the Broncos this spring. Williams is a local prospect who played high school football at Cherry Creek and started his college career at CSU-Pueblo before later transferring to UNLV ahead of the 2022 college football season.

With those names in mind, here’s a quick look at the full list of 10 free agent wide receivers the Broncos should consider signing.

The NFL’s best available free agents as training camps begin

As training camps begin, and the preseason is nearly upon us, here are the best free agent players left in the NFL.

Rookies and veterans are reporting to training camps around the NFL, which means that our long national nightmare of life without professional football is nearly over. Yay, but for a lot of veterans in the league, there’s still an element of waiting by the phone to hear from their agents regarding interests from NFL teams.

Not every veteran — even veterans who are still playing at a high level — have homes when training camps start. A lot of the players listed below will find those homes before preseason games begin in early August, and some will have to wait longer. (Yes, there are veterans who would prefer to eschew training camp entirely, and that has something to do with it).

So, as we head into the pre-preseason, here are the best players who, at this point, are still looking for their new NFL destinations.

5 free agent receivers to help Patriots fill DeAndre Hopkins void

Here are five free agent receivers that could still help the Patriots

The DeAndre Hopkins sweepstakes is over, and as usual, the New England Patriots are left with the option of going bargain bin shopping for whoever is left on the free agent market.

To no one’s surprise, it’s slim pickings when it comes to upgrading the way the Patriots’ wide receiver room needs upgrading. However, there are a few veteran wideouts out there that might have a few big plays left in the tank.

Of course, there’s no replacing a player like Hopkins, a five-time All-Pro that’s still clearly one of the best in the game. But if the Patriots are looking for receiver depth, they can still find it on the open market.

Here are five receivers that could still help New England:

Best available NFL free agents ahead of training camp

We’re looking at the best available NFL free agents for the Philadelphia Eagles to target ahead of training camp

The Eagles are always doing their due diligence on potential roster additions.

With training camp just 15 days away, we wonder if any of the top remaining NFL free agents would fit in Philadelphia.

The Birds are stacked at almost every position.

With so many talented players available on the open market and only many roster spots, here are the best remaining NFL free agents.

Breaking down the Giants’ $22.74 million in dead money in 2023

The New York Giants are carrying roughly $22.74 million in dead cap in 2023, and here’s how that amount is broken down.

The New York Giants continue to overhaul their roster in Year 2 under general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll. They’ve added several big pieces this offseason to go along with a solid haul in the 2023 NFL draft.

Where things currently stand, the Giants have just $3.82 million in salary cap space, which is sixth-least in the NFL. However, a potential long-term deal for running back Saquon Barkley remains possible, as do potential extensions or adjustments to the contracts of defensive lineman Leonard Williams and cornerback Adoree’ Jackson.

The Giants continue to poke around some remaining free agents and could be in the market for an edge rusher, so clearing additional space is likely.

According to Over the Cap, the Giants are also carrying $22.74 million in dead cap, which is the 15th-most in the NFL. That’s still a long distance away from teams like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who leads the NFL with $75.32 million in dead cap.

Here’s a look at the current and former Giants who are contributing to the $22.74 million in dead cap:

Could ex-Giant Kenny Golladay return to Lions?

Could Kenny Golladay, one of the worst free agent signings in New York Giants history, find his way back to the Detroit Lions?

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With the Detroit Lions’ wide receiver corps getting hit with a barrage of suspensions, a reunion is possible with former New York Giants wide receiver Kenny Golladay.

Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports speculates:

Almost nothing went right for Golladay once he cashed in on his Detroit emergence back in 2021 free agency. But the ex-Giant’s big frame would be welcome as more of a secondary option now that the Lions have their sights set on a playoff run, especially with Jameson Williams suspended to start the year.

The Lions are desperate for some receiver depth to start the season due to the suspensions of players like Jameson Williams. Golladay is now a free agent after his $72 million deal with New York came to a disastrous end.

Golladay ended up completely removing himself from the rotation with his subpar play and finished his career in blue with just 43 catches, 602 yards, and one touchdown in 26 games.

However, in Detroit, Golladay was a completely different player. In his first four seasons, Golladay recorded 183 catches, 3,068 yards, and 21 touchdowns. He was a dangerous red zone threat earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2019 while leading the league in receiving touchdowns despite Matthew Stafford falling to injuries midway.

While it seems unlikely that Golladay will find himself back in Detroit as there is a completely different culture and regime there, it would be something to see for a possible revival in his career.

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