The New York Giants have a plethora of needs entering the 2020 NFL Draft, and one of those needs comes at the wide receiver position, where the team is lacking a tall, physical red zone threat.
The good news? The wide receiver pool is extremely deep and the Giants won’t have to use an early pick to land a player who meets the above criteria.
In fact, the Giants may be able to wait until Day 3 or even the undrafted free agency frenzy to find a solution to that problem. And it may even come by way of James Madison receiver Riley Stapleton.
The 6-foot-5, 230-pound Stapleton informed the Indiana Gazette on Monday that the Giants are among the teams he’s been in contact with.
“It would be a dream come true,” said Riley of potentially being drafted alongside his brother, Dylan. “It’s definitely an exciting time for us. But we’re not focused on the draft or the process. We’re focused on making a roster and showcasing our talents. I don’t think either of us have swayed from that goal.
“I’ve heard [I could be] anywhere from a third-day pick to a priority free agent deal. Obviously, that could change. You never know what will happen.”
Stapleton rose through the ranks as a special teams contributor before breaking out as a sophomore, recording 42 catches for 615 yards and a team-leading five touchdowns. As a redshirt junior, he led the team with 62 receptions for 710 yards and seven touchdowns and then finished off his college career with 65 receptions for 788 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior.
Stapleton is not squeaky clean, however.
In 2019, the James Madison wide receiver was suspended for three games after pleading no contest to a false imprisonment charge in what is a very ugly and concerning story.
Considering general manager Dave Gettleman puts a heavy emphasis on eliminating distractions, you have to wonder if Stapleton’s charges and suspension ultimately leads to the Giants passing him over.
[lawrence-related id=645102,645174,645124]