The New York Giants bolstered their offense in a big way by signing former Lions’ wide receiver Kenny Golladay to a four-year deal.
The New York Giants entered the offseason looking to bolster the supporting cast for quarterback Daniel Jones. A star-studded free-agent class of wide receivers made this the right offseason to strike and the Giants did just that, as ESPN’s Josina Anderson is reporting that they have signed former Lions’ wideout Kenny Golladay to a four-year deal.
Golladay will receive $72 million with $40 million of that guaranteed according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. This is the richest contract a free-agent receiver has gotten this offseason, easily surpassing Corey Davis’ three-year, $37.5 million deal with the New York Jets.
What can Kenny Golladay do for the Giants’ offense?
There is no question that the Giants have been looking for a No. 1 wide receiver since trading Odell Beckham, Jr. to the Cleveland Browns prior to the 2019 NFL Draft. Golladay can fill that hole with a big-play target, allowing returning targets Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton to function more effectively as secondary receivers.
Injuries plagued Golladay in 2020, limiting him to just five games, but when Golladay played he still caught 20 passes for 338 yards and two touchdowns. Golladay was Matthew Stafford’s favorite target in each of the prior two seasons, catching a combined 135 passes for 2,253 yards and 16 touchdowns.
The 6-foot-4 Golladay should also give Jones a massive weapon inside the red zone, something that could help unlock the Giants’ offense even further. Golladay’s arrival should also force defenses to commit to defending the pass more, opening more holes for Saquon Barkley in the running game as well.
The 2021 season will be a huge referendum on Jones, making it important for New York to put him in a position to succeed. Golladay completes Jones’ best supporting cast yet, making this move a home run for the Giants.