Bottom Line

Hodgins supplied one of the top underdog stories of 2022. A mid-season waiver add, the former Bill posted four top-30 weeks over his final five games.

The Giants overhauled their pass-catching corps this offseason, adding TE Darren Waller as the likely target leader.

Still, there’s a starting role for Hodgins if he maintains his 2022 level of play. We just wouldn’t count on him remaining a weekly WR3.

What We Learned Last Year

• New York used a waiver claim on Hodgins last November.
  • He was coached by HC Brian Daboll when Daboll held the OC role with Buffalo.
• Daboll praised Hodgins for his work with the Giants. "I think he’s smart, tough, dependable," Daboll said in season. "He works extremely hard. In between periods, he’s usually throwing there with Daniel on a variety of routes, or they’re talking about things that we’ve installed and make sure that he sees it through the eyes of a quarterback. So, he’s done a good job for us since he’s been here."
• The former Round 6 pick, standing 6'4, 210 pounds, quickly became a go-to target for Daniel Jones.
• From Week 13 to Week 17, Hodgins tied for 17th among WRs in catches, ranked 32nd in yards, and tied for second in TDs.
  • He tallied a massive 80.6% catch rate on 31 targets.
  • His target share? A healthy 21.1%, albeit for a Giants’ pass-catching group lacking talent.
  • Hodgins functioned more in the short range with an average depth of target (aDOT) of 9.3
  • He tallied poor marks of 1.40 yards per route run; 2.6 yards after catch per reception.
• An ankle injury limited him in the postseason, but he’s back at 100%.

What to Expect in 2023

• Hodgins was an exclusive-rights free agent this offseason but returned on a one-year deal.
• QB Daniel Jones, HC Brian Daboll, and OC Mike Kafka return for an offense that ranked just 25th in pass attempts per game; 26th in pass rate.
• There’s plenty of change elsewhere. The Giants added TE Darren Waller, WR Parris Campbell, WR Jamison Crowder, and rookie WR Jalin Hyatt.
  • WR Darius Slayton returned on a two-year deal with nearly $5 million guaranteed. Following 2022 trade rumors, he revived his career with 46-724-2.
  • WR Sterling Shepard is on track to return following a September ACL tear.
  • WR Wan'Dale Robinson suffered an ACL tear in November and is a PUP candidate.
  • Waller’s received plenty of buzz this offseason and looks like the clear target leader. Health is key, though. Since a career-best 2020, Waller has missed 14 games over the past two seasons.
  • Campbell has durability issues, but he’s coming off a personal best 2022. He’s due only ~$3 million guaranteed on a 1-year contract.
  • Crowder knows Daboll from their time in Buffalo. But he’s now 30 and doesn’t profile as anything more than a part-time slot – if he makes the team.
  • Hyatt brings exciting downfield speed, but his game lacks polish. Slipping to Round 3, he’s unlikely to make a major Year 1 impact.