:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49062185/usa-today-9048640.0.jpg)
At first blush, the New York Giants should be spending all of their offseason resources on the defense. It was one of the worst in the league, and historically bad.
On the flip side, they had one of the top offenses in the league, powered by (arguably) the most electric playmaker in the league -- Odell Beckham Jr.
However, OBJ is only one player, and when he wasn't on the field, the offense was a non-functional mess. And with Rueben Randle a free agent and Victor Cruz a mystery, they need another playmaker on the field. The answer could come from the absolutely stacked Ohio State Buckeyes' roster, and a former quarterback in particular, Braxton Miller.
Measurables
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 201 pounds
Arm Length: 31 3/4"
Hand Size: 9 1/8"
40 Time: 4.50 (4.36sec at Pro Day)
3 - Cone: 6.65 sec
Short Shuttle: 4.07 sec
Vertical Jump: 35.0 inches
Broad Jump: 10'3"
Bench Press: 17 reps
Pros
- Fast twitch athlete. Miller is both quick and fast on the move, able to suddenly explode in any direction
- Great vision. A former option quarterback, Miller is no stranger to reading defenses or running with the ball in his hands. He has a knack for making defenders miss and is a big-play threat whenever he touches the ball.
- Versatile player, he can work out wide, in the slot, out of the backfield, in motion in flies or sweeps, or in the screen game. Could also line up as a "Wildcat" quarterback.
- Very high upside, perhaps the highest of any receiver in this draft class. He has only been a receiver for one season and is only scratching the surface of his potential there.
- Highly competitive player, but also (reportedly) a great teammate.
Cons
- Unpolished at the position. There will likely be a learning curve as he is coached on the finer (and even some of the rougher) points of being a receiver, and whichever team takes him will need to have a plan.
- Miller's injury history, which opened the door for JT Barrett and Cardale Jones to become OSU's quarterbacks and forced him to the receiver position, will need to be evaluated.
Prospect Video
Big Board Rankings
Big Blue View - 35th
Mocking The Draft - 81st
CBS - 70th
Draft Tek - 58th
Does He Fit With the Giants?
Miller could fit with the Giants, if they're willing to put in the work to develop him into a complete receiver.
His raw playmaking ability could even have an immediate impact if they come up with a dedicated package of plays designed to get the ball into his hands. However he will need some development before he is an "every down" receiver who has the whole play book open to him.
While his brand of quick-twitch athleticism reminds of Odell Beckham Jr, Miller has nowhere near the polish that the Offensive Rookie Of The Year had coming out of LSU, and that could initially hold him back in the Giants' precision, timing based offense. That being said, the pay-off could be the best and most dangerous receiver in the draft.
Final Thoughts
Braxton Miller is a blast to watch. He is one of those guys who just plays at a different speed than everyone else, and has the ability to be special. However, it's going to take some work to get him there, and right now he might be better described as an "Offensive Weapon" than a "Wide Receiver".
The raw talent is undeniable, but he will only go as far as he is willing to push himself. But perhaps that could be a good thing. The Giants have a quarterback who has helped develop three different superstar receivers, and Odell Beckham's position coach from LSU.