The New York Giants surprised much of the football world when they traded back twice in the second round of this year’s NFL draft to select Kentucky wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, a 5-foot-8, 178-pound ‘gadget’ player.
With a lot of the more conventional wideouts still on the board, many felt the Giants reached for Robinson at pick No. 43. Why did they target him at this point of the draft? Experts had not expected Robinson to get drafted until Round 3 at the soonest.
The reason is becoming clearer as the Giants assemble their rookies at a minicamp this weekend.
Robinson could be the Giants’ version of Tyreek Hill, the dynamic wide receiver who became a star for the Kansas City Chiefs, where new Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka served as Patrick Mahomes’ quarterback coach.
Robinson, who will wear No. 17 for the Giants, told reporters on Friday that he is prepared to do whatever the team needs him to do.
“Whatever they want me to do, whether that be run the ball, catch the ball, catch a bunch of screens, sweeps, whatever they ask me to do, I’ll be able to do it. That’s just what I want to do,” Robinson said.
Pretty much the way we’ve seen the Chiefs use Hill and how other wideouts, such as San Francisco’s Deebo Samuel, are being deployed these days.
Robinson actually relished having an undefined role. He is seen as a wild card in this Giants’ offense, which has been as stale in recent years as any offense in the league.
“That’s something I’ve always liked to be able to do, just kind of contribute on both sides of the game with the running game and passing game,” Robinson said. “So whatever they choose and want to use me as, then I’ll do that.”
Robinson’s small stature and ability to move around will assist him in getting defenses to lose him off the line of scrimmage.
“Just my quickness and my versatility,” he said of his strongest traits. “You never really know where I’m going to line up. Just being able to do a lot of different things, a lot of different things with the offense is what I try to do.”
The Giants hope this new ‘jack knife’ of a weapon can help jump start this dormant offense and help turn the team back into a competitor.
