Wide receiver is a pressing need for the New York Giants heading into the 2023 offseason as they try to build off a successful 2022 campaign.
The Giants exceeded all expectations by finishing 9-7-1 to end a six-year playoff drought. The magical run continued with an upset win over the Minnesota Vikings on Super Wild Card Weekend, but the Giants were soundly eliminated by the Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional Round.
Darius Slayton was the only Giants’ pass-catcher to exceed 600 receiving yards (724 yards) in 2022. Running back Saquon Barkley was actually tied with Richie James for the team lead in receptions with 57, too.
A WR1 is the Giants’ main need by far heading into free agency and the trade market. Over at NFL Analysis Network, Kenneth Teape proposed a massive trade that would see New York fill the void by landing San Francisco 49ers superstar Brandon Aiyuk:
“New York is desperate for wide receiver help after Richie James Jr. tied for the team lead in receptions and Darius Slayton, who was nearly cut before the season, led the team in yardage.
Brandon Aiyuk is exactly what the Giants need at the wide receiver position. He would become their No. 1 receiver and has shown that he can fill that role whenever Samuel was sidelined in San Francisco.
What would it cost the Giants to land Brandon Aiyuk? A suggested trade offer would be their first-round pick, No. 25 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft and a third-round pick. That would seem to be the baseline for burgeoning wide receivers as that is what the Philadelphia Eagles traded to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for A.J. Brown during the 2022 NFL Draft.”
Aiyuk is coming off a career year in which he posted 78 receptions for 1,015 yards and eight touchdowns. Those stats are especially impressive when you consider that he had to share targets with three bonafide stars in wide receiver Deebo Samuel, running back Christian McCaffrey and tight end George Kittle.
There aren’t any firm indicators that the 49ers are looking to deal Aiyuk. But it certainly wouldn’t hurt the Giants to at least inquire.
