The New York Giants are coming off of a rough 2018 campaign in which they won just five games, and heading into 2019, it doesn't look like the Giants will be that much better.
By drafting quarterback Daniel Jones, it's clear that New York is ready to rebuild and begin a new era, and it's time for the Giants to see which players are going to be a part of their main core moving forward.
While New York probably won't be a playoff contender this coming season, it would be nice if some of its players showed some progression.
Here are three Giants players who really need to take the next step in 2019.
3. Jabrill Peppers
Jabrill Peppers was one of the assets the Giants received in return from the Cleveland Browns in the Odell Beckham Jr. trade, and people may be sleeping on how big of a pickup he was.
The Browns made him the safety a first-round pick for a reason in 2017, and while he struggled a bit during his rookie campaign, he was playing out of position at free safety for most of the season.
He rebounded at his natural position at strong safety in 2018, playing in all 16 games and totaling 79 tackles, a sack, an interception, three fumble recoveries and five passes defended.
The Giants have had some good safeties come and go over the years, and after losing Landon Collins, New York is in desperate need of some help in its secondary. Peppers needs to be able to provide that.
2. Evan Engram
With Beckham gone, Eli Manning needs to find a new No. 1 target in the passing game, and while that will almost certainly be Sterling Shepard (more on him later), Engram also has to assert himself as a big piece of the offense.
The tight end has been very impressive over his first couple of seasons and is coming off of a 2018 campaign in which he caught 45 passes for 577 yards and three touchdowns.
Also, the good news for the Giants is that Engram flourished during his rookie year when Beckham was sidelined most of the season with an injury, hauling in 64 receptions for 722 yards and six scores.
This could be the year that determines whether or not Engram is the real deal going forward, and with his freakish athleticism, he should be ready to be up for the challenge.
1. Sterling Shepard
The aforementioned Shepard had been living in the shadow of Beckham ever since he entered the league as a second-round pick back in 2016, but now, with Beckham gone, Shepard steps in as the Giants' No. 1 receiver.
Is Shepard a true No. 1? Probably not, but he is going to have a huge opportunity to show that he should be an integral part of New York's future going forward.
The 26-year-old is coming off of a solid 2018 campaign in which he hauled in 66 receptions for 872 yards and four touchdowns, but he will need to be better than that in 2019 in order to establish himself as the Giants' top guy in the aerial attack.
Shepard has always been good, but now, the spotlight is on him for the first time in his career. It will be interesting to see how he responds.
Follow Us
Subscribe
