Anquan Boldin Should Be New York Giants' Next Free Agent Target

By Christopher Gamble

The New York Giants have spent more money in free agency than any other team, but all of that spending has gone towards fixing the NFL‘s worst defense. Meanwhile, holes still remain on offense, especially at wide receiver and on the offensive line. Yesterday, the Giants lost Rueben Randle to the Philadelphia Eagles and he will need to be replaced. The remaining options at wide receiver aren’t very appealing, however.

Randle was the Giants’ best option at wide receiver, but the team showed zero interest in bringing him back despite the fact Randle signed a one-year, $1.5 million deal with the ability to make $3 million. The Giants obviously have their sights set somewhere else after Randle frustrated them time and time again with inconsistency.

The free agent market is very thin right now. Aging veterans Anquan Boldin, Roddy White, Marques Colston, Andre Johnson, Greg Jennings, Brandon LaFell, Nate Washington and Hakeem Nicks are out there, but none of them seem overly appealing given their age and almost all are coming off down years. They could wait to see who is released closer to training camp but that isn’t a wise gamble. The best available wide receiver right now is Boldin, who still possesses some of the best hands in the game and runs some of the best routes despite the face that he will be 36 this season.

The Giants could use the 2016 NFL Draft to fill the void. Many draft experts have the Giants taking Laquon Treadwell with the No. 10 overall selection. The problem with that is Treadwell is far from a guarantee. He would be a gamble, just like counting on Victor Cruz to come back and resemble the player he was before missing almost two years with a torn meniscus and a calf injury. Wide receiver is not an easy position to learn in the NFL, so counting on a rookie would be a mistake. There is also the issue of passing on better talent to reach for a receiver with the tenth pick. No receiver in this draft is worth a top-10 pick.

Boldin is one year removed from a 1,062-yard season. Last year, in an awful San Francisco 49ers offense, he posted 69 catches for 789 yards and four scores in 14 games. Even though he is the oldest free agent on the market, Boldin can still produce. He would serve as a mentor for Odell Beckham Jr. while giving the Giants a reliable pair of hands to help move the chains. Although he lacks the upside of someone like Randle, he is proven and should be more consistent.

If the Giants want to add a reliable wide receiver who can get things done in a workmanlike fashion, then Boldin is the man they should sign. Relying on a rookie to step into a possible starting role would be a mistake. Hoping some talent gets cut in a cost-saving move is too risky. The Giants need to add a wide receiver, and Boldin should be their guy right now.

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