Kadarius Toney

Toney is fun to watch, until he gets hurt. The Giants took him 20th overall in 2021, three months after his 22nd birthday, wowed by the 4.39 speed and ankle-breaking jukes and not too worried about the lack of college production (it wasn't until his season year at Florida that he topped 500 scrimmage yards). It's too early to definitively say they were wrong, though the Giants gave up on him late last October when they dealt him to Kansas City for picks at the end of the third and sixth rounds. Toney showed both the good and the bad for the Chiefs, missing more time with a hamstring injury but also averaging 12.1 yards on 19 touches in the regular season (including three TDs). He reached the 20-snap threshold just once, and later took only 30 snaps across three playoff snaps -- partly on account of an ankle injury. The good news? Toney's talent is obvious, he's healthy this offseason and now has a chance to earn a starting job in an offense with good blocking, great coaching and superb QB play. The other guys competing for WR snaps are 2022 second-round pick Skyy Moore, 2023 second-rounder Rashee Rice, mediocre veteran Marquez Valdes-Scantling and bargain-bin signing Richie James.

The book on Toney coming out of college read all-athleticism, no-polish — understandable, considering he had nearly as many carries as catches through his first three seasons at Florida before breaking out in 2020. The Giants took him 20th overall last year, and while it's hard to call his injury-plagued rookie season a success, Toney never looked overwhelmed and put up 189 yards against Dallas in Week 5. He played just five more games after that, hampered by two stints on the COVID list and injuries to his quad, thigh, hamstring, ankle, thumb and shoulder. The Giants still have QB Daniel Jones, a potential limiting factor, but they ditched the old coaching staff for a new group headed by former Bills OC Brian Daboll. There's an opening for a Year 2 leap, as Toney's versatility could prove an asset for a receiving corps that's otherwise fairly specialized (Kenny Golladay, Sterling Shepard, Wan'Dale Robinson, Darius Slayton). Toney is the fastest of the bunch, with 4.39 speed, but he'll be a bit behind the others this summer after having arthroscopic knee surgery in the offseason. He should be ready for training camp, after sitting out OTAs and minicamp this spring.

The Giants traded down nine spots in the first round of the draft this year and ended up taking Toney at No. 20 overall. He arrives in a crowded receiving corps that already has Kenny Golladay, Darius Slayton and Sterling Shepard, as well as tight end Evan Engram and pass-catching tailback Saquon Barkley. But Toney is explosive after the catch — at 5-11, 193, and with 4.37 speed, he’s instantly the team’s quickest and fastest target, and the one with the most wiggle. Toney’s vertical leap (39.5 inches) and broad jump (136 inches) show the elite athleticism that propelled his senior-year breakout at Florida. With everyone healthy, Toney’s target ceiling is modest, but he could also figure into some gadget plays and should rack up yards after the catch on short throws.