With New York Giants training camp beginning in late July, BigBlueInteractive.com (BBI) breaks down each of the team’s positional groups until the players report at Quest Diagnostics Training Center.
FIND A COMPLETE LIST OF ALL BREAKDOWNS HERE
POSITIONAL BREAKDOWN: Wide Receivers
2024 YEAR IN REVIEW: Like other offensive positions, any discussion or analysis of the New York Giants wide receivers is seriously impacted by the limitation of the team’s quarterbacks. In fact, this is likely more true of the wide receivers. Not only did the wideouts have to contend with a quarterback who was benched and cut after starting the first 10 games, but the remaining two subpar quarterbacks suffered three injuries combined, causing a constant rotation at the position. To be blunt, it was mess.
Given this background, it is truly stunning that Malik Nabers accomplished what he did. Despite a somewhat injury-plagued rookie season, Nabers broke the single-season franchise record for receptions, catching 109 passes for 1,204 yards (11.0 yards per reception) and seven touchdowns. Fifty-five of his catches went for first downs and 462 of his yards came after the catch. Nabers missed two games with a concussion and was also limited by knee, groin, hip, foot, and toe injuries. In all, he played in 15 games with 13 starts, being targeted an astounding 170 times in the passing game. He did drop nine passes.
In his third NFL season, Wan’Dale Robinson had his most productive year, playing in all 17 games and catching 93 passes for 699 yards and three touchdowns. Thirty-six of his catches went for first downs and 361 of his yards came after the catch. He saw his target totals nearly double to 140, but his yards per reception fell to 7.5. He also dropped six passes.
Combined, Nabers and Robinson were targeted by New York Giants quarterbacks a stunning 310 times out of 554 attempts (56 percent of all passes).
In terms of raw numbers, Darius Slayton had his second least-productive season in sixth year in 2024. He caught 39 passes (on 71 targets) for 573 yards (14.7 yards per reception) and two touchdowns. His yards after the catch (124) noticeably declined and he also dropped four passes.
2024 was a terrible season for Jalin Hyatt. He played in 16 games with three starts, being a healthy scratch in another game, and finished the season with just eight catches for 62 yards. This despite playing in one-third of all offensive snaps. He was targeted just 19 times and had two drops.
Bryce Ford-Wheaton saw virtually all of his playing time on special teams as a gunner in 14 games, missing three games with shoulder and Achilles issues.
The Giants signed Ihmir Smith-Marsette in September 2024. He ended up playing in 15 games, virtually all on special teams. Smith-Marsette returned 29 punts for 228 yards (7.9 yards per return). He only returned 11 kickoffs, but one of them went for 100 yards and a touchdown in Week 17.
Isaiah Hodgins spent the year on the Practice Squad but was elevated for three games. He caught two passes for 12 yards.
ADDITIONS/SUBTRACTIONS: Everyone returns except for Isaiah Hodgins who signed a reserve/future contract with the San Francisco 49ers in January. It should be noted that Slayton was re-signed to a 3-year, $36 million contract. Smith-Marsette was also re-signed to a 1-year deal.
Montrell Washington was signed from the Chiefs to a reserve/future deal in January. The Giants also signed Lil’Jordan Humphrey from the Broncos and Zach Pascal from the Cardinals to minimum deals in free agency. The Giants did not draft a wide receiver but did sign five undrafted rookie free agents at the position after the draft: Antwane Wells, Da’Quan Felton, Beaux Collins, Jordan Bly, and Dalen Cambre.
TRAINING CAMP STORY LINES: Malik Nabers has missed the entire spring with a toe injury that has supposedly been hampering him since his college days, but did not require offseason surgery. Will he be full-go for training camp, the preseason, and the regular-season? If healthy, his yards-per-catch and touchdown numbers should increase with Russell Wilson at the helm.
Hopefully, the same is true for Darius Slayton, Wan’Dale Robinson, and Jalin Hyatt. Slayton and Hyatt in particular should see more deep balls, which is the strength of their games. On the other hand, Robinson may see his targets drop since Wilson is known more for throwing to outside targets. Robinson is also in his contract year. We’re about to get a much better read on all of these receivers.
It is a make-or-break season for Hyatt who has been a huge disappointment since being drafted two years ago. Russell Wilson has clearly taken him under his wing. The Giants brought in Gabe Davis for a visit and it is still possible that he signs. If so, that does not bode well for Hyatt since both offer similar skill sets. However, Hyatt says he added over 20 pounds this offseason without impacting his speed and quickness. He also has been receiving reps in the slot, which could help his releases off of the line.
The belief by many is that Ihmir Smith-Marsette has one of the final spots locked up as the return specialist. If so, that probably leaves on spot on the 53-man roster among the other nine players. Obviously, some of these guys will be retained on the Practice Squad. It is interesting to note that all of the undrafted rookie free agents have made noise in the spring. Some will likely continue to impress, others will likely fade.
ON THE BUBBLE: Barring injury, Malik Nabers, Wan’Dale Robinson, and Darius Slayton will be the top three receivers. If the Giants do not sign Gabe Davis, Hyatt will likely be the #4 receiver. Ihmir Smith-Marsette will likely make it as the return specialist. Everyone else is on the bubble.
FROM THE COACHES: Brian Daboll on if he has any concerns about Malik Nabers being ready for camp: “No.”
Brian Daboll on Jalin Hyatt: “He’s done a nice job for us this camp. He’s trying to improve the things that we set out for him to improve… I think Russ has done a nice job of developing a relationship with Jalin… There’s a lot of good communication flow with those guys and he’s done a nice job of trying to improve the things that we ask him to improve on.”
Brian Daboll on undrafted rookie free agents: “Our young receivers have done a good job. I coached receivers for a long time and we’ve got some undrafted free agents that have done a really nice job since they’ve been here of absorbing it and then being able to play fast so you get some type of evaluation of their skillset.”
Wide Receivers Coach Mike Groh on Wan’Dale Robinson: “We have a lot of confidence in Wan’Dale and I think all of the quarterbacks do. He’s one of the smartest guys on the team. He knows where he’s supposed to be, when he’s supposed to be there, knows the entire system, can plug him in anywhere. He’s a really valuable member of the offense.”
FINAL THOUGHTS: The Giants have been both blessed and cursed at the wide receiver position in the last 20 years. Plaxico Burress, Steve Smith, Victor Cruz, Hakeem Nicks, Odell Beckham. Tremendous careers disrupted by injury and self-inflicted stupidity. Fingers crossed that Malik Nabers can avoid this absurd pattern. You may still be upset that the Giants did not address the quarterback position in the 2024 NFL Draft, but drafting Nabers was not a mistake.
I’ve said for months that I want to see ALL of the New York Giants wide receivers with a REAL NFL quarterback. That includes Nabers, Robinson, Slayton, and Hyatt. Nabers should be averaging way above 11 yards per catch. Even though Robinson’s targets may go down, his yards per catch should also elevate from a ridiculously low number. We may see shades of Slayton’s rookie season, when he caught eight touchdown passes. The wild card here is Hyatt. He may still be stuck behind Slayton, but he should get his chances with Russell Wilson. As I’ve said, if Gabe Davis signs, that would be really bad news for Hyatt.
The early news on the undrafted rookie free agents is very encouraging. That may change as the pads come on, but each has provided glimpses of something to offer, earning first-team reps. Brian Daboll, who rarely offers praise to rookies, has done so. Giants media staff have even said publicly, “We’re not supposed to talk about this guy” on at least two occasions. It’s anyone’s guess right now who will impress the most or who will fade. But it will be fun to watch.
How the receiving corps does in 2025 will very much determine the team’s offseason plans in free agency and the draft in 2026. Do the Giants re-sign Robinson? Is it time to part ways with Hyatt? Should the team try to upgrade over Slayton opposite of Nabers? Are there any hidden gems in the among the undrafted rookies? Negative answers to these questions will lead the team to making major moves at the position in 2026.
FINAL DEPTH CHART: Malik Nabers, Wan’ Dale Robinson, Darius Slayton, Jalin Hyatt, Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Dalen Cambre
