The New York Giants wide receiver is expected to test the open market as one of the top free agents available at the position.
Wide receiver stands out as the weakest position of the 2016 NFL free agency period, particularly after the Chicago Bears used the franchise tag on star Alshon Jeffery last week. That weak market is going to help New York Giants wide receiver Rueben Randle, who enters the free agency period as one of the most productive receivers available.
Vitals
Age:Â 24
Notable stat:Â Career-high eight touchdown receptions in 2015
All-Pro teams:Â 0
Pro Bowls:Â 0
Contract comparison
In a typical year, someone with Randle’s numbers would probably be looking at an AAV figure of around $4 million, but the lack of receivers available is going to help him. Randle might be the best wideout available other than Marvin Jones, and some team with a need will be willing to pay him more than that.
Odell Beckham Jr. is clearly the top receiver in New York, but Randle has turned in some solid performances opposite him as a No. 2 over the past two years, with plenty of duds as well. After approaching the 1,000-yard mark in 2014, Randle had a solid campaign last year with 57 catches for 797 yards and eight touchdowns.
The Giants might have hoped for more out of the former second-round pick four years into his career, but there’s still plenty of upside left. Randle offers good size as a red zone target, and is still very young at 24 years old.
Since Randle still has to prove some of that upside, he may be looking at a relatively short deal, but he should be able to eclipse the $6 million per year mark due to the weak market. Golden Tate’s $6.2 million AAV mark might be a reasonable number for Randle to target.
Estimate:Â 3 years/$20 million/$9 million guaranteed
Will he stay?
The Giants could use the help at wide receiver, and have the cap space to bring Randle back with over $56 million to work with. Victor Cruz’s future with the team is a question mark, and New York doesn’t have much on the depth chart behind Beckham Jr.
Still, Randle is expected to hit the open market, as the Giants haven’t shown a ton of interest in retaining him. New York may feel that Randle’s inconsistency makes him not worth the price tag, and may opt to make a run at Jones instead.
There’s still a chance Randle is back due to all that cap space the Giants have, but he’s more likely to be somewhere else in 2016.
If he leaves…
Even if New York isn’t interested in retaining Randle, he should have plenty of offers, as a few teams have a need at wide receiver to fill.
After releasing Brandon LaFell this week, the New England Patriots have some depth to fill at wide receiver, and have the offense to get the most out of Randle’s skill set. The San Diego Chargers could also use a bigger receiver to line up opposite Keenan Allen, and have a very thin depth chart at the position.
The team who most needs a wide receiver is the Baltimore Ravens, although their cap situation may prevent them from adding Randle.
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