The New York Giants have officially began the Ben McAdoo era. The rookie head coach is currently evaluating the talent Jerry Reese has brought in this offseason. From undrafted free agents to first round draft picks, it’s important to give every player an equal amount of attention. It’s hard to determine who may be the next Victor Cruz, who was an undrafted free agent himself. Here are four players to closely watch as training camp and the NFL preseason continues.
Sterling Shepard
Sterling Shepard is the future of the New York Giants’ offense. Odell Beckham desperately needs a talented player to be making plays alongside him. Shepard is already turning heads and he hasn’t even officially played in an NFL game yet. According to NJ.com , Shepard has been one of the best players on the practice field since the start of camp.
Quarterback Eli Manning is very fond of the rookie sensation as well. In an NFL.com video, Manning raved about Shepard saying he “caught everything thrown his way.” This is only the beginning of the new and improved Giants’ offense that has been making strides since Ben McAdoo implemented a west coast-style offense. Shepard’s impact will be fully evaluated in his first few preseason games.
Paul Perkins
New York Giants’ running back coach, Craig Johnson , recently implied that he is not going to continue the “running back by committee approach” the team used last year. The Giants had a tandem of Shane Vereen, Rashad Jennings, and Andre Williams. The three running backs couldn’t find their groove in the offense, with the exception of Shane Vereen’s involvement in the passing game.
This is where rookie running back Paul Perkins comes in. Perkins is going to battle Andre Williams for playing time. Williams hasn’t shown much improvement since last season and Perkins’ skills are yet to be determined. If he happens to become the most productive running back the Giants have, Perkins may even become a first string player. After all, former Giants’ star running back Ahmad Bradshaw was a seventh round pick.
Will Tye
Will Tye is facing some pretty tough competition for the first time in his career. The former Stony Brook athlete is going to have to compete with Larry Donnell and Matt LaCosse for a roster spot. While there is no doubt that Tye will make the final cut, becoming the permanent starter will be a more difficult task.
Tye’s highlight reel last season was too good to ignore. He continues to prove he is a playmaker and became a security blanket for Eli Manning. When called upon, Tye showed that he can be a steady “go-to” option. This is something that Larry Donnell has lacked in his tenure with the New York Giants. If Tye does come out of training camp with a starting role, he may be an important piece of the Giants’ juggernaut offense in 2016.
Myles White
Former Green Bay Packers’ wide receiver Myles White is a player who’s flying under the radar. White has seen limited playing time with the New York Giants, but this year he may have a more increased role in the offense. Ben McAdoo has praised what Myles White has done in training camp so far. White has to compete with a very talented group of wide receivers and it will only bring out the best in him.
White has steadily shown an increase in progress since his tenure with the New York Giants’ began. He made his way off the practice squad and onto the Giants’ roster in only a month of being with the team. When White did see playing time last season, he made the most of it by catching his first career touchdown . The coaches clearly are keeping tabs on White, despite the fact that they have a very talented group of receivers in the first place. That alone speaks volumes about Myles White as a player.
[Photo by Elsa/Getty Images]