The New York Giants selected wide receiver Rueben Randle of Louisiana State University in the second round of the 2012 NFL draft with the 63rd-overall selection.This addition to the team bolstered depth at the position, filling the vacancy left by Super Bowl hero Mario Manningham after he departed to the San Francisco 49ers during free agency.
Randle’s collegiate career lacked good quarterback play and this limited his production. But he still did enough to impress many scouts, earning him the second-round selection. Blessed with prototypical size (6-foot-2, 208 pounds) and talent, he needed to prove he could stay focused while playing alongside one of the league’s top quarterbacks, Eli Manning. It took the rookie some time to catch on, but when he did, he showed flashes of brilliance that foretell a very promising career in the NFL.
Not displaying great breakaway speed, Randle is best-suited as a possession receiver. He runs crisp, solid routes and excels when thrown to in the middle field. He is not a downfield threat by any means and would not succeed if used as such.
The Giants know this and, when he was on the field, tailored their game-plan to his strengths. Fortunately, they had fellow wide 0ut Domenik Hixon, along with starters Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz. Their presence allowed Randle to take the time he needed to develop and earn his place on the field.
After catching 11 passes (six of which came in one game) for 158 yards over the first 10 games, the LSU alum recorded eight catches for 140 yards and three touchdowns in the final six games of the season.
The 21-year-old receiver is also a spectacular blocker — an unquestionable bonus playing for disciplinarian head coach, Tom Coughlin. It’s the little things that earn Coughlin’s respect.
Randle’s first year in New York doesn’t look like much on paper (19 receptions for 298 yards and three touchdowns), but his late-season progress almost certainly resulted in some lofty expectations for bigger things in 2013.
With Hixon unlikely to return to the team, Randle may be called on to step up and fill the void as the third receiver. He has enough talent to succeed in New York. The former Tiger should see plenty of opportunities to contribute for the Giants in 2013 lined up on the outside, opposite the lethal duo of Nicks and — unless something out of the ordinary happens in free agency — Cruz.
Much like running back David Wilson, Randle’s last few games of the season should be a great indication of what is to come from this great, young talent. New York has done a wonderful job of developing receivers in recent years and, being in the company of two of the game’s best in Nicks and Cruz, Randle should benefit substantially.
Right now it’s difficult to gauge the career ahead for Rueben Randle. But if he keeps his head on straight and lives up to his potential, he could be a solid second or third option in the New York Giants’ passing game for quite some time.
Grading the Selection: B+
Louis Musto is a writer for the Sports Journey Broadcast Network. You can follow him on Twitter @LouisMusto.