The New York Giants handing the starting quarterback job to 10-time Pro Bowler Russell Wilson is good news for a few players, including wide receivers Malik Nabers and Darius Slayton, along with tight end Theo Johnson, but some hidden stats spell trouble for slot receiver Wan’Dale Robinson.
Trouble is looming based on the players targeted most often by Wilson this offseason. The numbers were broken down by Dan Duggan of The Athletic, who noted “Nabers led all receivers with 26 catches from Wilson in 11-on-11 periods despite the young receiver missing three of the 15 camp practices and leaving another early. Nabers, who set a rookie record with 170 targets last season, will clearly dominate the Giants’ passing game again.”
There’s nothing surprising about Nabers retaining his status as Big Blue’s go-to target. He’ll be that no matter who’s throwing the passes, but how Wilson shared targets between other receivers should concern Robinson.
As Duggan detailed, “Running back Tyrone Tracy finished a distant second with 15 catches, followed by tight end Theo Johnson (13) and wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson (12). The secondary targets are telling, as Tracy’s production confirms Wilson’s tendency to throw check downs. Robinson tallied a team-high 47 catches in camp last year — 17 more than Nabers — in a preview of his 140 targets during the season. Expect that number to come way down with Wilson, who primarily goes deep or checks down.”
Wilson going vertical or settling for a quick dumpoff puts Robinson in something of a no-man’s land ahead of a pivotal season for the second-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft.
Wan’Dale Robinson Must Redefine Giants Role
What Robinson needs is a makeover of sorts. A transformation to show he’s more than just a slot specialist who can work between the numbers.
It’s a valuable skill, but Wilson has tended to avoid targeting between the hashmarks, unless he’s throwing to tight ends. It’s good news for former Denver Broncos teammate Greg Dulcich, as well as for Johnson, who has already established a rapport with Wilson.
Muscling his way into this connection won’t be easy for Robinson after he’s failed to mature into a dynamic, after-catch playmaker. The 24-year-old earned an unwanted piece of NFL history last season, when he “put up just 699 yards on 93 receptions this season. It was the first time in NFL history a wide receiver totalled less than 800 yards on 90+ catches,” per Underdog.
Consistently struggling to turn short passes into longer gains has left Robinson wanting to pile up yards in single chunks. It’s a proposed change that fits what Wilson does best, but the Giants have other receivers better suited to take advantage.
Russell Wilson’s Core Skill Will Change Giants
Robinson is a free agent in 2026, and his chances of either getting a second contract from the Giants or landing with a new team will increase if he expands his repertoire. Especially if he proves himself a useful deep threat, and Robinson expects to get those opportunities, according to Duggan’s colleague Charlotte Carroll.
It’s a reasonable expectation when Wilson remains one of the most-gifted throwers of the long ball in the league. The 36-year-old showed off his enduring arm strength with this moon ball to undrafted wideout Beaux Collins against the New York Jets in Week 2 of the preseason.
A quarterback who can take the top off a defense like this will relish throwing to both Nabers and Slayton, who is a natural straight-line speedster able to push coverage deep. Once again though, it looks as if Robinson will be on the outside trying to force his way into what should be a key dynamic for a changing passing game.
Robinson possesses some useful skills and versatility, but Wilson’s statistical history suggests those talents may be better served elsewhere.
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