Despite four consecutive seasons with no postseason football, there is a lot of hype surrounding the potential the 2016 New York Giants have on their squad. There’s QB Eli Manning, who for the first time in his career will be the only Manning family member playing in the NFL, and WR Victor Cruz looks for a comeback season two years in the making. WR Odell Beckham Jr. looks for more chances to show off his golden gloves, and 2016 first-round draft pick CB Eli Apple and his mother are a hot talk subject of New York football.
But then there’s the Giants’ second 2016 draft pick, WR Sterling Shepard, who has risen quite a few eyebrows over the offseason for his work. In his senior year at Oklahoma, Shepard totaled 1288 receiving yards with 11 touchdowns. He also has football in his blood — his father, Derrick, was a member of the Super Bowl XXII Champion Dallas Cowboys, while his uncles, Darrell and Woodie, both also played college football with the Sooners.
Shepard is not the size one might hope for at the WR position, as he stands 5’10” and weighs a little less than 200 pounds.But don’t forget that Cruz and Beckham are just like him in that department. And as a fun tidbit, all three wore the No. 3 jersey in college.
In fact, Giants GM Jerry Reese has said Shepard is pretty much a younger version of Cruz.
“The one thing about this kid is he’s 5’10” and some change, but his strike zone — what we call a strike zone — is bigger than that,” Reese said. “He’s got a 41-inch vertical jump, he’s got big hands…he’s a tenacious slot receiver, run after the catch. Get the ball to him quick and he does some nice things after that catch as well.”
Shepard made quick first impressions at rookie training camp, as he was praised for being able to learn the playbook and show passion in his play. He was so impressive that he was able to spend more time with Manning and the first-team offense throughout the spring. He very well could take pressure off Cruz and Beckham.
The statistics from his senior year at Oklahoma, and the increases from his junior year numbers in receptions and yards — both as a receiver and a returner — have brought in the thought that Shepard could perhaps serve time at both wide receiver and punt returner. Beckham did that during his Rookie of the Year season.
Giants fans had hopes last season that Cruz and Beckham would be able to play at the same time, but Cruz suffered setbacks in his path to injury recovery. The picking of Shepard now gives Manning three potentially great targets to pass down the field to this season. Of course, this is as long as Cruz’s health stays in good shape. But worst comes to worst and Cruz health and ability struggles, Shepard has the opportunity to step up and be the No. 2 receiver for the team.
But when asked if all three receivers could play at the same time, Head Coach Ben McAdoo said he was excited about the potential of that idea.
And Shepard admitted he cannot wait to line up on the field with the faces of the Giants receivers.
“[Beckham is] one of the guys I look at,” he said. “I look at his game every week, and I try to pattern my game after him. I was excited to be able to get drafted by the New York Giants and be able to play alongside him, as well as Victor Cruz — another guy that I look at, too. I’m excited.”
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