Roles In Giants’ New-Look WR Corps
Quite a bit has changed in New York as the Giants welcome a new staff and quite a few new players. Last year’s receiving corps was led by Wan’Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton, in the absence of Malik Nabers, with tight ends Theo Johnson and Daniel Bellinger supplementing the passing attack. Nabers returns in 2026, but the departure of Robinson in free agency opens the door for a number of newcomers to stake their claim on a significant role in New York’s offense.
The Giants know what they have in a healthy Nabers, and they know what they have in his absence. If available, he’ll be a main focus and favorite target for second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart, and if he’s not, then he won’t. Slayton, for all his limitations, has carved out a consistent role with the Giants over the years. His production has dipped a bit with better options in the system, and he’s susceptible to drops, but he can be a strong compliment to Nabers when he’s at his best.
According to Dan Duggan, free agent addition Calvin Austin III should end up being the team’s starting slot receiver. He looked primed for a potential breakout campaign last year, after a decent sophomore season for the Steelers, but a limited passing attack killed any chances of that. Duggan also notes that the Giants are not expected to utilize a slot receiver too much. The addition of free agent signee Isaiah Likely alongside Johnson could result in a good number of two-tight end sets for New York next year.
In any case, veteran Braxton Berrios also seems likely to land a roster spot in New York. The All-Pro return man has dealt with injuries recently, but with Gunner Olszewski tearing his Achilles tendon in spring ball, Berrios seems to be a strong replacement, if he can stay healthy.
If Slayton doesn’t look like he can contribute like he did earlier in his career, New York has a decent collection of options both young and old to compete for targets. The Giants traded up to secure Notre Dame’s Malachi Fields in the third round. He’ll be simultaneously competing with and learning from a diverse group of veterans in Darnell Mooney, Odell Beckham Jr., and JuJu Smith-Schuster. All have seen strong seasons in the past — Mooney, most recently — but have struggled to make a consistent impact in recent years.
Currently, the team rosters six other receivers. While Isaiah Hodgins, Jalin Hyatt, Xavier Gipson, Dalen Cambre, Beaux Collins, and Ryan Miller may have been able to make decent cases for roster spots before the influx of veteran talent in the offseason, they may now struggle to even argue for special teams usage. A few names will likely stick around on the practice squad, but the Giants can only hold on to so many receivers, and a number of opportunities in New York may be ending as a result.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/10/25
Here are today’s midweek minor moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed from practice squad: CB Tre Avery
- Signed off Cardinals’ practice squad: T Jeremiah Byers
- Waived: S Chris Edmonds
Houston Texans
- Designated for return from IR: TE Harrison Bryant, WR Justin Watson
New York Giants
- Designated for return from IR: WR Beaux Collins
- Practice window opened: OL Joshua Ezeudu
New York Jets
- Signed from practice squad: DE Eric Watts
- Placed on IR: DE Tyler Baron
Philadelphia Eagles
- Designated for return from IR: LS Charley Hughlett
- Reverted to season-ending IR: T Myles Hinton
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed from practice squad: T Dylan Cook
- Placed on IR: T Calvin Anderson
Seattle Seahawks
- Designated for return: TE Eric Saubert
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived: DT C.J. Brewer, WR Ryan Miller
Washington Commanders
- Signed from practice squad: RB Chase Edmonds
- Placed on IR: TE Zach Ertz (story)
The Texans’ offense is getting healthy at just the right time. Despite not making much of an impact in the passing game, Bryant started three of eight game appearances earlier this year for the Texans and returns to a thin position group. Watson is coming back from a 13-week absence and will hope to continue working his way into a new offense.
The Eagles waived replacement long snapper Cal Adomitis yesterday, so it stands to reason that Hughlett will find himself back on the 53-man roster soon. Hinton’s 21-day practice window closed today, so he’ll add insult to injury in Philadelphia as he reverts to injured reserve without the ability to be activated while still using up one of the team’s eight allotted activations, since they designated him to return before final roster cuts.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/8/25
Several teams around the NFL made tweaks to their rosters on Saturday in preparation for Sunday’s slate of games. Here are all the latest moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed from practice squad: RB Michael Carter
- Elevated: LB Jared Bartlett, CB Darren Hall
Atlanta Falcons
- Elevated: CB Keith Taylor, OL Joshua Gray
Baltimore Ravens
- Elevated: DT Taven Bryan
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: CB Dane Jackson, LB Baylon Spector
Carolina Panthers
- Signed from practice squad: DT Jared Harrison-Hunte
- Elevated: WR Dan Chisena
- Waived: QB Mike White
Chicago Bears
- Elevated: TE Stephen Carlson
Detroit Lions
- Activated from IR: S Daniel Thomas
- Elevated: OL Michael Niese
- Waived: S Jammie Robinson
Houston Texans
- Signed from practice squad: CB Damon Arnette, K Matthew Wright (story)
- Elevated: DB Myles Bryant, OL Sidy Sow
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed from practice squad: WR Laquon Treadwell
- Elevated: DE Durell Nchami, DT Tim Smith
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Elevated: WR Tim Jones
Los Angeles Chargers
- Activated from IR: LS Josh Harris, CB Deane Leonard, DL Da’Shawn Hand
- Elevated: RB Jaret Patterson, RB Trayveon Williams
Los Angeles Rams
- Elevated: LS Jake McQuaide, K Harrison Mevis (story)
Miami Dolphins
- Signed from practice squad: TE Hayden Rucci
- Elevated: LB Quinton Bell, CB Isaiah Johnson
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed from practice squad: CB Fabian Moreau
- Elevated: RB Corey Kiner
- Placed on IR: CB Jeff Okudah
New England Patriots
- Elevated: LB Darius Harris, RB D’Ernest Johnson
New Orleans Saints
- Elevated: WR Dante Pettis, T William Sherman
New York Giants
- Elevated: K Younghoe Koo, WR Ray-Ray McCloud
- Placed on IR: WR Beaux Collins, LB Darius Muasau
New York Jets
- Elevated: OL Kohl Levao, DT Payton Page
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed from practice squad: RB Trey Sermon
- Elevated: LB Mark Robinson
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed from practice squad: WR Cody White
- Elevated: WR Ricky White
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: WR Robbie Chosen
Week 10 will mark the debut for both players the Chargers gave the IR-designated for return label during roster cutdowns in August. Their activations had already been accounted for, but Hand’s had not. With those three now back in the fold, the Bolts have three IR activations remaining on the season.
Giants Looking More At Depth Than Impact At WR
After losing star second-year wide receiver Malik Nabers to a season-ending ACL tear, no one would blame the Giants for aggressively pursuing a replacement, but so far, no such efforts have been made. In fact, the team came out earlier this week to say that they are unlikely to pursue any additions at the position. 
Seeming to go against that claim, though, New York hosted a number of pass catchers this week for tryouts, per Pat Leonard of NY Daily News Sports. These were not veteran free agents that were getting their tires kicked. The visitors included Michael Woods, Rakim Jarrett, Brandon Johnson, and Samori Toure, who ended up signing to the Broncos practice squad today.
So, based on the lack of interest in impact veterans available on the free agent market or on other teams’ practice squads and based on the lack of trade talks for impact receivers, it seems clear that the Giants have faith in the abilities of their current receiving corps; they’re more concerned with depth. With Nabers, Da’Quan Felton, and Bryce Ford-Wheaton all on injured reserve, the Giants only have five wideouts on the 53-man roster: Wan’Dale Robinson, Darius Slayton, Jalin Hyatt, Beaux Collins, and Gunner Olszewski. New York also rosters veterans Lil’Jordan Humphrey and Ihmir Smith-Marsette and rookie Dalen Cambre on the practice squad.
Even with the options on the taxi squad, the Giants decided not to utilize one of their two allotted standard gameday practice squad elevations on the position, shocking Dan Duggan of The Athletic, who expected Humphrey’s name to get called. While Robinson and Slayton have shown their ability to be impact players on the offense, this situation is being viewed as an opportunity for the former third-round pick, Hyatt, to step up in a big way. Over his first two seasons, Hyatt has disappointed with only 31 catches for 435 yards and no scores.
Duggan, though, has put forth a theory that Collins, an undrafted rookie out of Notre Dame, will get the majority of looks at WR3. Collins had a couple more snaps than Hyatt in Week 3, while Hyatt just edged out Collins for more snaps last week. Either way, it appears New York is intent on utilizing what it has on hand to run their passing game, while looking to replenish the back end of the group with potential practice squad additions.
Giants Rumors: Miller, Robinson, UDFAs
Technically an undrafted signee in 2023, Dante Miller made his NFL debut last year for Big Blue in two games off the practice squad. According to Dan Duggan of The Athletic, there’s a chance he could work his way on to the active roster in 2025.
Miller was an interesting case study in last year’s offseason. Starting as an Ivy League running back at Columbia, Miller was one of the common cases we see of Ivy Leaguers transferring for their fifth year of play — Ivy League schools don’t allow players to remain longer than four years. Miller’s 2019 season had been forfeited to COVID-19, so transferring to South Carolina, the school and student believed that he had two years of eligibility remaining.
The Gamecocks played him infrequently, as a result, letting him get garbage time snaps while prepping for a larger role in Year 2. Six games into the season, though, they learned that they had misunderstood his eligibility status and that he didn’t have two years of eligibility, he had two years to play one season. Two games past the four-game limit for redshirting, South Carolina halted Miller’s participation and immediately filed an appeal with the NCAA. Not only did the NCAA deny the appeal, but they also waited to announce their decision until after the deadline to declare for the 2023 draft, forcing Miller to continue sitting out for no reason and preventing him from getting to the NFL in 2023.
Regardless, he signed with the Giants and saw game action as a rookie in 2024. Now, in 2025, he could have more of an impact for New York. Part of the reason Miller drew NFL interest after barely participating in his final year of play was a 4.27-second 40-yard dash at his South Carolina pro day that would’ve bested any back that ran at the combine that year. Duggan predicts that, with kickoffs being moved to the 35-yard line in the offseason, Miller could make a significant impact as a return man. The running backs group is loaded in New York, with Tyrone Tracy, Devin Singletary, and Eric Gray being joined by rookie Cam Skattebo, but Miller may be able to stand out with his explosive speed on special teams.
Here are a couple other rumors from the G-Men’s offseason:
- Despite seeing the 12th-most targets in the NFL last year, wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson expressed dissatisfaction with his role. Playing mostly in the slot in 2024, Robinson’s yards per catch was only 7.5, as most of his targets came on short routes. Duggan says that Robinson wants more opportunities to make plays downfield in 2025, and he expects to get more snaps on the outside. The Giants didn’t indicate that move with his usage in spring, but with Robinson playing on a contract year, they may want to appease him if they hope to retain him long-term.
- The Giants did an interesting thing when signing three undrafted receivers this offseason. All of Beaux Collins, Da’Quan Felton, and Juice Wells received a $234K salary guarantee when they signed as undrafted free agents. Per Duggan, that number was by design, as it’s the full-season salary a rookie makes on the practice squad. By guaranteeing that portion of the contract, New York was saying that even if they don’t make the 53-man roster, they’re essentially certain to earn a practice squad spot, or at least get paid like it. That being said, Collins earned first-team reps in the spring and could have the opportunity to make his full salary of $840K. Wells was a teammate of rookie first-round quarterback Jaxson Dart, but the expected connection between the two didn’t materialize in the spring. Felton, on the other hand, likely needs development and could benefit from a year on the practice squad.
Giants Sign 13 UDFAs
MAY 21: In addition to Paige, a number of the Giants’ undrafted rookies received significant guarantees upon signing, according to The Athletic’s Dan Duggan. Wide receiver seems to have been the team’s priority after the draft; Collins signed for a team-high $270k in guarantees, while Felton and Wells got $264k and $259k, respectively. In addition, Williams and Fortune each received $165k in guaranteed money.
Felton’s main asset is his 6-foot-5, 213-pound frame with 32.25-inch arms. His lack of lateral agility limited his separation before and after the catch in college; he never crossed 700 receiving yards across four years as a starter in college (two at Norfolk State, two at Virginia Tech). Wells had excellent production in 2021 at James Madison and 2022 at South Carolina, but a fractured foot sidelined him for most of the 2023 season. He had a quiet 2024 season at Ole Miss will likely struggle to make plays with tighter margins against NFL coverage.
MAY 13: After acquiring seven first-year players via the draft, the Giants aren’t finished adding to their rookie class. The team announced the signing of 13 undrafted free agents:
- Rushawn Baker, RB (Elon)
- Jordan Bly, WR (Gardner-Webb)
- Dalen Cambre, WR (Louisiana)
- Beaux Collins, WR (Notre Dame)
- RJ Delancy III, CB (Wisconsin)
- Da’Quan Felton, WR (Virginia Tech)
- Trace Ford, LB (Oklahoma)
- O’Donnell Fortune, CB (South Carolina)
- Tommy McCormick, S (Idaho)
- Makari Paige, S (Michigan)
- Jermaine Terry, TE (Oregon State)
- Antwane Wells Jr., WR (Ole Miss)
- Jaison Williams, OL (Youngstown State)
“I’m excited to see how this team comes together,” GM Joe Schoen recently said about his young players (via the team’s website). “I like the players that we have. I like the makeup of the players. I’m confident in the coaching staff, and I’m excited for the 2025 season.”
Makari Paige got a chunk of change to catch on with the Giants; ESPN’s Jordan Raanan reports that the safety got $150K in guaranteed money and a $15K signing bonus. The Michigan product earned a pair of All-Big Ten selections during his college career, and he won a championship in 2023 while contributing 41 tackles. His experience at safety and nickelback could help him earn a spot on the squad.
After skipping the wide receiver position in the draft, the Giants added five players at the position via free agency. Beaux Collins brings the most collegiate experience, with the wideout averaging more than 30 catches per season across three years at Clemson. He spent the 2024 campaign at Notre Dame, where he finished with a career-high 41 catches.
