Can a Six-Time Pro Bowl Free Agent Receiver Make the Giants Look Good Again?
The New York Football Giants have a lot to focus on this season. This team has spent a lot of time trying to figure out what kind of identity they want to have going into next season. Big Blue has put in all the effort to rebuild this team across all avenues. As of now, the only areas the Giants are missing are the offensive line and an offensive coaching staff. They have filled their coaching slots everywhere else but in this area. The Giants have tons of openings to fill. However, during this offseason, the Giants need to fill their wide receiver position. With the front office looking to fill this season, it might not be a terrible idea to look at veteran wide receiver Mike Evans while he is in free agency this offseason.
There are a good handful of reasons as to why the Giants should add Evans to their roster during the offseason. He is the perfect guy that Big Blue doesn't have. The Giants have a good handful of quick, explosive, and very young players. The Giants don’t have many veterans left on their team. The Giants do not have a true red zone bully on their roster. They have Cam Skattebo, but he is not in the same position as Evans. They need a jump-ball winner who is willing to take the risk to get the ball in the air. Evans can basically get the ball every time, even when his opponents are covering him.
Since entering the NFL in 2014 as a first-round pick, Evans has established himself as one of the league’s most consistently dominant wide receivers. It’s a good look, and teams will be looking into him for the next several weeks. Over 12 seasons, he has played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and hauled in more than 860 receptions for more than 13,000 receiving yards, making him a top-25 all-time player in league history. Evans has scored more than 100 receiving touchdowns, including a key role in the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl LV run. Evans is also the only player in NFL history to start his career with 11 straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons, showcasing rare longevity and elite production in an era of high competition.
Evans would be a great matchup to work with Jaxson Dart in the next season. Dart has many plans that go into motion while he is on the field. However, he has had issues finding players who can take the time to receive the ball. Evans is elite in this department. He can also catch the backthrows that come his way. One of the bigger areas where the Giants have struggled since losing their star wide receiver Malik Nabers earlier this past season due to injury. Evans also knows how to step in and bail out the team when things go their way, and that is huge for a team that has been struggling for the last several years in this area.
The last area that Evans has been really fantastic in is the red zone. The offense is instantly better. The Giants have had way too many drives that end in short gains and sacks. Some were kicked well, and some were missed, causing the Giants to fall apart. Having Evans would tilt the scales for this team and allow him to get in on the action. Big Blue would have tight ends underneath, actual slot options the Giants have struggled to find, and running-back checkdowns. Advantages that the Giants have not had in several years.
Evans would be perfect to fill the open position in New York. He brings so much already as is for this team, and the Giants haven’t gotten in on the conversation to see if he will take interest in Big Blue this coming season. He brings leadership and a Super Bowl-winning attitude to the team. He may be a bit old, and on the upper side of his thirties, but it wouldn’t be a terrible idea for the Giants to look into him.
