The NFL is as pass-happy as it has ever been, and as teams have put more and more emphasis on launching the ball downfield, wide receivers have seen their production — and compensation — go through the roof.
Giants pass-catcher Kenny Golladay is perched between Mike Evans, Tyler Lockett and Michael Thomas in the salary pecking order, but he sticks out like a sore thumb. Not because he isn’t talented: Golladay’s proved with the Lions in 2018 and 2019 that can hang with the best of them.
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It’s because his numbers with his new team lag way behind those around him. Golladay posted 521 yards and zero touchdowns in 14 games last year. This season, his numbers are nonexistent: through two games, Golladay has two targets. That makes for ugly reading.
Golladay once seemed like one of the brightest young wideouts in the league. Now, he’s barely getting on the field. The Sporting News details why.
What happened to Kenny Golladay?
Golladay came to the Big Apple with big expectations. The Northern Illinois alum showed flashes of being special while in the Motor City. He eventually became then-quarterback Matthew Stafford’s No. 1 target.
The numbers proved it: Golladay posted back-to-back 1,000 yard receiving seasons in the blue and silver. One look at his frame, and you can understand why.
At 6-4 and 213 pounds, he is one of the most physically imposing wideouts in football. He had a penchant for snagging jump balls in red-zone situations, which earned him the nickname “Babytron” — a nod to Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson.
Golladay turned that production into a four-year, $72 million deal with the Giants prior to the 2021 season.
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That’s when things started going south.
He hasn’t been able to string together success in the City that Never Sleeps. He has nabbed a little less than three receptions per game when healthy.
“I mean, of course, it’s been kind of frustrating, just for the ups and downs, not being able to be available for the entire season,” Golladay said, per NorthJersey.com’s Andrew Tredinnick. “Yeah, I mean it’s frustrating, but I’m just going to continue to come to work each and every week.”
To be fair, there were a number of extenuating circumstances last year. Golladay dealt with hamstring and knee injuries. Saquon Barkley was getting back to fitness after tearing his ACL in 2020. Daniel Jones was being Daniel Jones. It’s not as if a whole lot of good was going on in former coach Joe Judge’s offense.
Nonetheless, Golladay entered 2022 with heightened expectations for himself. New coach Brian Daboll had different plans, however, as he was determined to hold an open competition for the starting spot at the X receiver position.
“It’s a continual competition at receiver. I’ve said it since, when? I’m not being a jerk, I’ve said it since the middle of camp, right?” Daboll said, per ESPN’s Jordan Ranaan. “It hasn’t changed. It’s going to be a continual competition.”
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That means high-profile options like Golladay or 2021 first-rounder Kadarius Toney were going to have to fight for their spots on the depth chart.
Golladay didn’t stand out in the preseason despite playing a healthy amount. He played 42 snaps in Big Blue’s final preseason game but reeled in just two passes for 22 yards.
The struggles have persisted in the regular season. Golladay saw the field for just two plays in Week 2 against the Panthers.
And he wasn’t happy about it.
Kenny Golladay on playing 2 snaps vs. Panthers. Accepted the coach’s decision but …
“I don’t agree with it. … I should be playing regardless,” he said. “That’s a fact.”
More Golladay:
“I didn’t like the decision whatsoever.”
“Little confusing.”
“I came here to play.”
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) September 21, 2022
To his credit, Daboll praised Golladay for his passion:
“I’ve been in the NFL a long time. I don’t know if I’ve ever been part of any team where someone is not happy about something. I have a great respect for Kenny. I’m glad he’s [not] happy that he didn’t play. It shows competitiveness. But he’s been a pro, and we’ll see how it goes this week.”
Nonetheless, Golladay’s stats through the first 16 games of his Giants contract make for poor viewing:
Kenny Golladay has caught 39 balls in 16 games with the #Giants, who in turn have paid him $24.2M.
— Spotrac (@spotrac) September 19, 2022
A divorce seems to be in the cards, and it almost certainly would be expensive for the Giants. With his trade value dwindling and his contract looking more and more onerous, Golladay is quickly becoming one of the biggest free-agent busts in recent memory.
Highest-paid wide receivers
The 20 highest-paid receivers entering the 2022 NFL season (all figures provided by Spotrac):
| Player | Team | 2022 Salary |
| Tyreek Hill | Dolphins | $30 million |
| Davante Adams | Raiders | $28 million |
| Cooper Kupp | Rams | $26.7 million |
| AJ Brown | Eagles | $25 million |
| DK Metcalf | Seahawks | $24 million |
| Stefon Diggs | Bills | $24 million |
| Deebo Samuel | 49ers | $23.85 million |
| Terry McLaurin | Commanders | $22.788 million |
| DJ Moore | Panthers | $20.628 million |
| Mike Williams | Chargers | $20 million |
| Chris Godwin | Buccaneers | $20 million |
| Amari Cooper | Browns | $20 million |
| Michael Thomas | Saints | $19 million |
| Brandin Cooks | Texans | $19.882 million |
| Diontae Johnson | Steelers | $18.335 million |
| Kenny Golladay | Giants | $18 million |
| Christian Kirk | Jaguars | $18 million |
| Tyler Lockett | Seahawks | $17.25 million |
| Mike Evans | Buccaneers | $16.5 million |
| Robert Woods | Titans | $16.125 million |
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