Tag: Wan’Dale Robinson

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.

[anyclip pubname=”2103″ widgetname=”0016M00002U0B1kQAF_M8036″]

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.

[lawrence-related id=711342,711295,711320]

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

2 Giants wide receivers named potential breakout candidates

Jordan Schultz of The Score believes these two New York Giants wide receivers will break out in 2023.

[anyclip pubname=”2103″ widgetname=”0016M00002U0B1kQAF_M8036″]

The New York Giants loaded up on wide receivers this offseason, signing Parris Campbell, Jamison Crowder and Jeff Smith in free agency before selecting Jalin Hyatt in the 2023 NFL draft.

Shortly after the draft, the Giants signed rookie free agent Bryce Ford-Wheaton.

Sterling Shepard, Darius Slayton and Isaiah Hodgins were re-signed, adding them to a group that will also see the return of Collin Johnson and Wan’Dale Robinson.

That’s a lot of bodies and some are bound to break out. That’s simply the law of odds and Jordan Schultz of The Score believes Campbell and Robinson will be the two who shine.

Lateral quickness is paramount for Robinson, who’s coming off a torn ACL but is expected to be all systems go Week 1. We saw Robinson’s arsenal on full display when he lit up Detroit for 100 yards on nine catches in Week 10 last year. What I love most about him is how tough he plays inside the hashes – you can’t teach that. Nor can you teach his equally impressive football acumen, a la the aforementioned (Jahan) Dotson. I’ve been fortunate to spend time around Robinson and I can tell you he’s very smart – he processes information on the field at a rate that contradicts his age and lack of experience. You get a special prospect when you combine Robinson’s intelligence with his capacity to make defenders miss, a trait that will serve him well for Daniel Jones’ quick, accurate release (along with the Giants’ rapidly improving offense, as a whole).

Campbell, the former Buckeyes’ star, was the perfect addition for Big Blue. He’s a 4.3 guy with tons of untapped potential, and he’s also young and motivated. Jones will love having him deployed on quick hitters – like drags, bubble screens, and slants – where few guys can make more out of nothing. Campbell’s massive pre-snap movement threat causes defenses to become unbalanced, which will only help once he gets his touches on the perimeter.

Speed is the theme for the Giants in 2023 and that should help create some separation and improve spacing on the offensive side of the ball. If it does, everyone on the field will benefit.

[lawrence-related id=710812,710797,710793]

Follow the Giants Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

PFF names Giants’ Wan’Dale Robinson a breakout candidate

For the second time this week, New York Giants WR Wan’Dale Robinson has been highlighted as a 2023 breakout candidate.

[connatix div_id=”3f8b015acdd24c648befc5d5dac47469″ player_id=”afe1e038-d3c2-49c0-922d-6511a229f69c” cid=”7cbcea0d-4ce2-4c75-9a8d-fbe02a192c24″]

Who will be the New York Giants’ breakout star this season?

Will it be linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux, last year’s top pick who showed some pass rushing prowess? Or could it be his partner, Azeez Ojulari?

Last year, the breakout star was on offense and it was a player the Giants picked up during the season — wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins.

This year, it could be another wide receiver — Wan’Dale Robinson, who the folks at Pro Football Focus have identified as one of their ‘breakout candidates‘ in the NFC this season.

Robinson’s rookie season was cut short by an injury, and 220 of his 229 offensive snaps came in a five-game stretch between Week 6 and Week 11. However, over that span, he was targeted on 22.8% of his snaps to lead Giants receivers and rank 18th among receivers in the NFL.

Robinson appeared to be on the breakout path when he went down with a torn ACL in Week 10 against Detroit.

This year, however, the Giants will have a lot more mouths to feed on offense with the addition of tight end Darren Waller, wideout Parris Campbell and rookie Jalin Hyatt, not to mention the return of Hodgins and veteran Darius Slayton.

For Robinson, this is the second time he’s been named a breakout candidate. He was previously highlighted by The Draft Network.

[lawrence-related id=710358,710354,710350]

The Draft Network expects breakout season for Giants’ Wan’Dale Robinson

The Draft Network believes New York Giants sophomore wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson will have a breakout campaign in 2023.

[connatix div_id=”3f8b015acdd24c648befc5d5dac47469″ player_id=”afe1e038-d3c2-49c0-922d-6511a229f69c” cid=”7cbcea0d-4ce2-4c75-9a8d-fbe02a192c24″]

Prior to the injury that cut his rookie season short, wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson showed flashes of talent for the New York Giants.

Robinson played in just six games in 2022 — his best game coming in Week 11, which proved to be the final game of his rookie campaign.

As Robinson continues to recover from a torn ACL, he is currently targeting a Week 1 return. That may be a tad optimistic but improbable does not mean impossible.

Assuming Robinson does return early in the season, The Draft Network expects him to have a breakout campaign.

Going into his second season, Robinson has the chance to be a breakout star with the Giants. For one thing, the title of WR1 is still very much up for grabs despite the depth pieces New York accumulated in the offseason. For another, Robinson’s youth and promising, unique skill set give Jones and Kafka an exciting weapon to work with in 2023.

Whenever the second-year receiver is able to return from his ACL injury, he can be the dynamic playmaker the Giants were missing in their receiving corps late down the stretch last season. If and when he excels as he builds on the flashes of talent he showed as a rookie, Robinson will be a big reason the Giants maintain their status as playoff contenders.

Robinson has the talent and speed to be a game-changer for Big Blue, and given the talent around him in the Giants’ offense, he may be slightly overlooked by opposing defenses.

While many expected the Giants to add a true No. 1 receiver in the offseason, perhaps their belief in Robinson was a big reason why they didn’t. If Robinson makes an impact in Year 2, he’ll add an element to the offense that the team was lacking down the stretch and into the playoffs last season.

[lawrence-related id=710228,710216,710221]

3 Giants could start training camp on PUP list

Three New York Giants could begin training camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.

The official start of training camp is still several months away but speculation over who will be available for the New York Giants has already begun.

Dan Duggan of The Athletic suggests that three players — wide receivers Sterling Shepard and Wan’Dale Robinson, and cornerback Aaron Robinson — will all start camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.

Shepard suffered a torn ACL in a Week 3 loss to the Dallas Cowboys last season. He underwent surgery about a month later and of the three, is likely the closest to returning.

Aaron Robinson suffered a partially torn ACL and MCL in a Week 4 victory over the Chicago Bears and underwent surgery in November. At the time, he was given a nine-month window for recovery which puts his expected date of return sometime in August.

Finally, Wan’Dale Robinson also suffered a torn ACL with his coming in a Week 11 loss to the Detroit Lions. He underwent surgery in early December and while he’ll likely miss much of camp, he expects to be ready by Week 1 of the regular season.

All three could potentially be available to start the season but Wan’Dale, despite his confidence, seems like a long shot.

[lawrence-related id=708566,708552,708545]

[mm-video type=video id=01gxs41zvajxpvtpkj01 playlist_id=none player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gxs41zvajxpvtpkj01/01gxs41zvajxpvtpkj01-809a23d2f2d6f604ba3794c2cd087079.jpg]

CBS Sports ranks Giants’ 2022 draft class in bottom half of NFL

CBS Sports recently ranked the New York Giants’ 2022 NFL draft class in the bottom half of the league largely due to injuries.

The New York Giants and general manager Joe Schoen made 11 picks in the 2022 NFL draft knowing that all of those players would likely see significant roles.

Unfortunately for Schoen & Co., they got bit by the notorious East Rutherford injury bug. 10 of the 11 draftees missed time due to injury with five of them closing out the season on IR.

Linebacker Micah McFadden was the only rookie to see action in all 17 games.

Despite those issues, there was some notable upside. Edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux appears to be lightyears ahead of where most rookies are, while offensive lineman Joshua Ezeudu and tight end Daniel Bellinger showed enough to be optimistic about their future.

Wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson was also flashing before he went down with a torn ACL.

But because of all those injuries, it was hard to properly grade the Giants’ rookie class. And that ultimately led Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports to rank them in the bottom half of the NFL.

Thibodeaux hit the ground running after an injury delayed the start to his pro career. Bellinger, who many thought was a project, caught 30 passes in Year 1. (Cor’Dale) Flott was a part-time cornerback and chipped in with two pass breakups and a big one in the playoff win.

Over time, Schoen’s first draft class will likely look much better. They need right tackle Evan Neal to have an Andrew Thomas-like rebound and for the others to stay healthy. If that happens, there’s quite a bit of meat on the bone.

[lawrence-related id=706503,706498,706496]

[mm-video type=video id=01gsbggh1kntbe4dj5gc playlist_id=none player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gsbggh1kntbe4dj5gc/01gsbggh1kntbe4dj5gc-74324ad1bb68bb62b6d3f3ca19a21bc7.jpg]

Giants’ Joe Schoen addresses 2022 NFL draft class

New York Giants GM Joe Schoen offers brief commentary on all 11 players from the 2022 NFL draft class, which was his first-ever as GM.

The New York Giants wrapped up the 2022 season on Monday with year-end press conferences from general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll.

Multiple topics were discussed throughout the dual presser, including Schoen’s take on the 2022 NFL draft class — an 11-player group that contributed heavily throughout the year.

As a reminder, here’s a look at each of those picks:

  • Round 1: No. 5 – Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, Oregon
  • Round 1: No. 7 (from CHI) – Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
  • Round 2: No. 43 (from ATL) – Wan’Dale Robinson, WR, Kentucky
  • Round 3: No. 67  – Joshua Ezeudu, G, North Carolina
  • Round 3: No. 81 (from MIA) – Cor’Dale Flott, CB, LSU
  • Round 4: No. 112 (from CHI) – Daniel Bellinger, TE, San Diego State
  • Round 4: No. 114 – Dane Belton, S, Iowa
  • Round 5: No. 146 (from NYJ) – Micah McFadden, LB, Indiana
  • Round 5: No. 147 – D.J. Davidson, DT, Arizona State
  • Round 5: No. 173 (from KC via BAL) – Marcus McKethan, G, North Carolina
  • Round 6: No. 182 – Darrian Beavers, LB, Cincinnati

Although many of these rookies played significant roles, injuries were the theme. All missed time over the course of the 17-game season with the exception of linebacker Micah McFadden.

Some missed the entire season.

Here’s what Schoen had to say about each member of his first-ever draft class.

Giants’ 7 most disappointing players of 2022

The New York Giants provided many reasons for optimism in 2022 but these seven players most certainly disappointed.

The New York Giants had a banner season under the first-year combo of general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll, going 10-8-1 overall and qualifying for the postseason for the first time since 2016.

That was satisfying for many Giant fans but the season wasn’t without its disappointments. Here are seven disappointing players from the 2022 season.

Giants’ Wan’Dale Robinson expects to be ready by Week 1 of 2023 season

New York Giants wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson (ACL) says he’s targeting a Week 1 return in 2023.

New York Giants wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson was lost for the year when he suffered a torn ACL in Week 11, ending his rookie campaign.

The receiving core took a massive hit with the loss of Robinson, leaving the Giants thin for the remainder of the season.

Robinson played in just six games but showed flashes of talent during his time on the field. He had recorded nine catches for 100 yards, his best performance of the season, in the game that landed him on IR.

With the offseason now underway for the Giants following their blowout loss in the divisional round, players met with the media at the team facility on Sunday — bag day. Robinson was among them and said he’s ahead of schedule in rehab and is targeting a Week 1 return in 2023.

The Giants entered the season with depth at wide receiver but that quickly went away after losing Robinson and Sterling Shepard to injury, trading away Kadarius Toney and Kenny Golladay earning his way out of the rotation.

Isaiah Hodgins came in as a midseason pickup and was a viable receiver for Big Blue during their run to the playoffs, likely earning himself a spot with the team next season.

With the Giants likely to part ways with Golladay and Shepard potentially leaving via free agency, the Giants will look to add talent at the position whether it be through free agency or the draft, where the Giants are slated to select 25th overall.

If Robinson is able to return to the player he was trending toward being, the Giants could have a solid couple of pieces to build around between Robinson and Hodgins as they try to improve the weapons around Daniel Jones, assuming the Giants retain him.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbx61yex5whq8aq player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

[lawrence-related id=705459,705466,705420]

[listicle id=705432]

Giants’ Wan’Dale Robinson undergoes successful ACL surgery

New York Giants rookie WR Wan’Dale Robinson has undergone successful ACL surgery and promises to return stronger than ever.

New York Giants rookie wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson has confirmed that he has undergone surgery to repair his torn ACL. Already on IR, he will miss the remainder of the season.

Robinson was a second-round selection of the Giants in this year’s NFL draft out of Kentucky (43rd overall) and was injured in the team’s Week 11 loss to the Detroit Lions.

The 5-foot-8, 185-pound Robinson had been dealing with various injuries, including knee and hamstring issues, that limited him to just six games this season, but had started the most recent three before getting hurt.

It’s a shame because Robinson was having a monster game against the Lions before being forced out, catching nine passes for 100 yards. He finished the year with 23 receptions for 227 yards and one touchdown.

[lawrence-related id=702970,702975,702948]

[listicle id=702945]