Giants’ 25-Year-Old WR Isaiah Hodgins Eyed as Potential Surprise Cut After 2023 Regression
As the New York Giants gear up for their upcoming training camp, the anticipation surrounding the largest roster cutdown in sports intensifies. Each NFL team must trim their roster from 90 players to 53 after training camp and the preseason, not including practice squad members. This process inevitably leads to surprising cuts, and the Giants are no exception.
A recent article by A-to-Z Sports, published on June 27, aimed to predict the most surprising cuts for each team. For the Giants, contributor Mauricio Rodriguez identified wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins as a potential shock cut. Hodgins, a player personally drafted and developed by Giants general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll during their time with the Buffalo Bills, seemed like a roster lock at first glance.
“Hodgins might look like a roster lock at first sight but the Giants have beefed up at wide receiver and the battle for that last WR spot will be fun to monitor,” Rodriguez noted.
The Competition for Roster Spots
The Giants’ signing of Allen Robinson after the NFL Draft has added a layer of complexity to the wide receiver competition. Assuming the team favors Robinson, Hodgins might find himself on the outside looking in. Hodgins’ lack of special teams experience, with only six career special teams snaps, could work against him. In contrast, players like Gunner Olszewski or Isaiah McKenzie, who have more special teams utility, might secure the WR6 spot.
Rodriguez highlights a couple of key points: the head-to-head competition between Hodgins and Robinson and the crucial role of special teams in final roster decisions. Additionally, the battle between McKenzie and Olszewski for a wide receiver/returner role is another storyline to watch, with the possibility of a running back like Dante Miller entering the fray.
Similarities Between Hodgins and Robinson
When examining the Giants’ wide receiver corps, Hodgins and Robinson appear to have much in common at this stage of their careers. Both have emerged as red zone threats. Hodgins, at 25 years old, has demonstrated his endzone prowess with eight touchdowns in his last 27 games. Robinson, a former Pro Bowler, once notched 14 touchdowns in a single season, though that was several years ago.
Over the past two seasons, Robinson’s production has waned, with just three touchdowns across 28 games with the Los Angeles Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers. His receiving yardage during this period (631 yards) slightly trails Hodgins’ total (689 yards).
Both players have minimal special teams involvement, with Hodgins logging only three snaps and Robinson 26 snaps over a decade-long career.
Can Both Make the Week 1 Roster?
It’s conceivable that both Hodgins and Robinson make the 53-man roster, but such a scenario likely hinges on unforeseen circumstances, such as an injury to a current WR lock or an unexpected struggle from a recent draft pick like Jalin Hyatt. However, cutting a draft pick like Hyatt remains highly unlikely.
The more probable outcome is a fierce competition between Hodgins and Robinson for a backup/red zone role. While Robinson has experienced a decline in recent years, Hodgins’ youth and his ties to the coaching staff might give him an edge. A standout preseason performance by Robinson could, however, even the odds.
As training camp approaches, the Giants’ wide receiver competition promises to be one of the most compelling storylines to follow. Fans and analysts alike will be eager to see how the battle unfolds and which players ultimately secure their spots on the roster for the 2024 season.
