Fresh on the heels of moving on from OBJ news is coming out of a big new contract extension for Wide receiver Sterling Shepard who is entering the final year of his rookie contract. in round 2 in 2016, Shepard has until now played second fiddle to Beckham and has mainly been used in the Slot. However, you don’t hand out a four-year, $41 million extension unless you have bigger plans. This would make him the highest paid receiver on the team and although the Giants have signed Golden Tate in free agency they may now envisage him
Like Tate, the 5-foot-10, 203-pound Shepard does most of his damage out of the slot.
The Giants, however, clearly view Shepard as more than a slot receiver given the extension and the absence of Beckham on the outside could signal a bigger role in the passing game. At 5’10 he is slightly shorter than some no 1 wideouts, but Brandin Cooks has proved that size is no impediment even in the modern game. So far Shepard career-wise has 190 catches for 2,286 yards and 14 touchdowns, and we expect this to rise rapidly this season as he gets more of the ball.
We currently have the Giants using their two 1st round picks in the draft strengthening the OL with Jawaan Taylor & DL with Rashaan Gary, and this move gives us no reason to change this view.
