Kenny Golladay dismissed questions about his disappointing first season with the Giants as if it almost never happened.
There is little statistical evidence to show that he actually did.
Understandably, Golladay was not one of 274 NFL players to score a receiving touchdown last season, despite playing in 14 games and earning the first $18.4 million on his four-year, $72 million contract.
“It was disappointing, but a lot of things played a part in that,” Golladay said Monday as he tried to turn the page on next season. “Every offense wants to get off to a fast start, but to be honest, we haven’t even been talking about last year.”
A veteran executive added to the Giants’ front office this offseason told others around the league that Golladay’s contract size and structure for return on investment make it the “worst” he has encountered in his career. from a team perspective, multiple sources said. The charge.
In an attempt to add playmakers at the urging of then-head coach Joe Judge and with then-general manager Dave Gettleman thinking short-term, the Giants pushed back Golladay’s deal to fit the 2021 salary cap, which it means he has the highest rank among his offensive players in 2022 ($21.1 million) and 2023 ($21.4 million). The Giants have the most salary-cap dollars invested for 2022 as a wide receiver of any NFL team, according to spotrac.com.
Just like that, Golladay went from being hailed as a third-round NFL draft steal who had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and led the NFL in touchdown receptions during his third season with the Lions to being painted as a free agent. . bust. Did the expectations created by the contract put too much pressure on his shoulders?
“Not at all,” Golladay said. “It was a lot of different moving parts last year. That was last year.
Golladay, 28, missed most of last training camp with a strained hamstring that set the tone for an injury-plagued season. He never saw eye to eye with offensive coordinator Jason Garrett before a trade was made during the season. The passing game didn’t work in six games played with backup quarterbacks.
All of those factors have changed in the first year under coach Brian Daboll’s “very receiver-friendly” scheme.
“First of all, the offense is totally different,” Golladay said. “Coach is putting people in different positions at all times, keeping the defense guessing. He just gives you a lot of freedom. You don’t have to be so simple or do what’s on paper. You can go out and make the route yours.”
In a rare highlight for the offense during practice Monday, Golladay made a catch in traffic during 11-on-11. But the more encouraging sign is that Golladay is part of the development of the first team’s offensive chemistry after he wore the red jersey to signal limitations during spring training. He declined to reveal whether that was due to a persistent injury or a new one.
“I think this year is a little bit better as far as the coaching staff, the strength staff, and then the coaching staff taking care of our bodies, and then us as players doing the right things on and off the field,” Golladay said. . “I feel good. I’m in a good place right now.”
To make up for lost time, Golladay spent most of his offseason in New York so he could get in sync with quarterback Daniel Jones.
“The receivers in our system have a lot to learn, a lot of different positions to play,” Daboll said. “And I think at the beginning of camp, when you’re thinking a little bit, there’s a lot going through your head. And maybe you don’t play so fast. That’s why we’ll give it another week or two, and things will calm down a bit.”
While Daboll’s offense has speedy wide receivers Wan’Dale Robinson and Kadarius Toney, running back Saquon Barkley and even Jones running before the snap, the 6-foot-4 Golladay is fooling no one. His job is to win jump balls played on the perimeter.
“I’m just my own player,” Golladay said. “I have every faith that Dabes is going to put me in the right position. I just have to make plays. I’m pretty sure defenses around the league know I’m not going to get a finish or a setback or anything like that.”
Don’t completely rule out whether he could get Golladay back into the end zone and give the Giants more bang for their buck.