Wan’Dale Robinson is tracking to have a career year with the New York Giants this season.
Robinson already has a career-high in receiving yards (794), is second in receptions (66), and is tied for his most touchdown receptions (three). The 24-year-old becomes a free agent this offseason, and the Giants are in store for a hard decision on whether or not to attempt to bring him back.
What is Leading to Robinson’s Career Season?
Since he was drafted, Robinson has primarily been used as a short-yardage player, usually to convert short third downs or make a play after the catch.
This season, he has been different— he has had many opportunities downfield, which has led to his biggest production yet. His newfound deep catch ability this season has led to two career highs in yards per game.
Another reason for his improvement is the new quarterback play. He has found himself with three quarterbacks who can launch the ball downfield, something he often struggled to find with past quarterbacks. This season, he has shown a new dimension to his game that has long been sought after.
Giants’ Lack of Depth Without Him
Outside of Malik Nabers, the Giants’ receiver room needs improvement. Although they re-signed Darius Slayton last offseason, he has been a disappointment thus far and is on a movable contract. With their likely premier pick in the 2026 draft, there is a chance they will draft a wideout with their first-round pick to pair with Nabers.
Even if they decide to draft a receiver highly, Robinson is their only slot player on the team. He is a hard player to replace, and the Giants would certainly feel his absence.
What Would His Contract Look Like?
Very few players in the NFL exclusively play the slot like Robinson, making his contract difficult to predict. Another player who does, Khalil Shakir, was signed to a four-year, $60 million deal last offseason. This puts Robinson’s value at approximately $14.5 million per year, per Spotrac.com. This is a fair price for the Kentucky product.
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There are very few players in the league who can perform in the slot as consistently as he can. By the offseason, the Giants will have gotten rid of virtually all of their dead cap, leaving them nearly $29 million in cap space. This gives them plenty of space to bring him back.
Should They Want to Bring Him Back?
Robinson has his setbacks as a player, specifically his minimal catch radius. Despite this, he has shown what he is capable of with franchise quarterback Jaxson Dart and other aggressive downfield quarterbacks.
This is not their easiest decision, but Robinson provides too much to let him walk in free agency.
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