Victor Cruz stated on Thursday's "NFL Total Access" that the Giants "definitely" needed help on the outside at wide receiver. It once again left everyone wondering what the team currently has with third-year wideout Rueben Randle. Former offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride made similar remarks last week.
"[A big-play receiver] is something we need in this offense to be successful," Cruz said when pressed into answering where the Giants should go with the 12th pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. "I think an outside guy that can do the job and that can help fuel all the other receivers in the locker room and put some fire up under them to get them where they have to be, I think it will be beneficial to us."
t sounded at the NFL Meetings last month in Orlando that coach Tom Coughlin believed Randle could be that guy. Randle led the Giants in touchdown receptions last year with six, but also has been inconsistent with his route-running and there are questions about his reliability.
"Rueben, we have great expectations, high expectations for," Coughlin said. "Rueben has to continue to develop and continue to become a better pro -- focus, concentration, consistency, day in and day out, practice in and practice out. You can see the plays he can make. He's made some great plays."
Randle himself even admitted he has significant work to do this offseason. He must prove to the coaches and quarterback that he can be a reliable option.
"Just gain the trust of the coaches, the players around me, Eli," Randle said earlier this week. "Like I said, continue to go out there and make plays and just get comfortable with the atmosphere around me."
We'll have to wait until the dust settles after the draft to determine Randle's value heading into fantasy drafts this summer. He missed early workouts with Eli Manning at Duke University for unspecified reasons. One thing's for sure -- if the Giants don't draft a wideout, Randle will have a great opportunity to produce this season.
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