New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz tore his patellar tendon back in Week 6 against the Philadelphia Eagles and has been on the road to recovery ever since. If he's not ready for Week 1, will the Giants look for some insurance with the No. 9 overall pick in the upcoming draft?
Head coach Tom Coughlin spoke to reporters on Wednesday and addressed Cruz's current rehab process. It was said the receiver is on track to be cleared for training camp, but there's much uncertainty surrounding the injury because of its significance and rarity. Cruz is a unique player in terms of his explosiveness and quick cuts, which could affect when he's ready to return.
"I think he'll be the player that he was, and hopefully better," Coughlin said during the NFC coaches' breakfast, via Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post. "But as far as when, I would be careful. Hopefully, it's the first [regular-season] game. But if it isn't, we've done that before. We just went through it."
Forget about being ready for Week 1 - what about his overall performance throughout the season?
"It's a crapshoot right now what they're going to get from Cruz in 2015. Nobody, not even Cruz, knows what to expect this season," writes Jordan Raanan of NJ.com. "...Cruz has a more difficult grind. Patellar tendon injuries require months and months of rehabilitation. It has already been five months since Cruz had surgery and he's nowhere near ready for football action."
If the Giants aren't confident Cruz is going to return to form the season following his unfortunate injury, it's possible they use the No. 9 overall pick on one of the draft's perennial talents - Alabama receiver Amari Cooper. New York has needs on the offensive line and a number of areas on the defensive side of the ball, but at this point general manager Jerry Reese's strategy is clear: "I am taking the playmaker," he said earlier in the offseason.
Cooper is indeed a playmaker. He hauled in 124 receptions in 2014 (led NCAA) and amassed 1,727 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns in just 14 games. He's ranked as the No. 3 overall player on the draft big boards of ESPN Insiders Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay, but the two experts have the receiver falling to the St. Louis Rams at No. 10 overall. They project the Oakland Raiders to select West Virginia wide receiver Kevin White with the No. 4 overall pick after his impressive combine performance.
If New York is concerned about Cruz's ability to get back on track in 2015 then Cooper could very well be on their radar. They'll need to address the receiver position after the season anyway, since Rueben Randle, Preston Parker, Kevin Ogletree and others will be free agents.
If Cooper falls to the Giants don't be surprised if Jerry Reese adds even more talent to the receiving corps.
