Isaiah Hodgins Looks to Grow in Giants Offense

New York Giants receiver Isaiah Hodgins has quite the story. A former sixth-round pick of the Bills, Hodgins battled injuries and fell victim to a stacked Buffalo wide receiver room. He played two games with the Bills last season before being cut, intending to bring him back to the practice squad provided he cleared waivers.

But he didn’t. The Giants picked up Hodgins due to the connection with general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll. He was immediately inserted into the game plan, playing 62 percent of the offense’s snaps in his first game with the Giants in Week 10. 

From there, it snowballed into Hodgins becoming one of Daniel Jones’ favorite targets, snagging four touchdowns in his final five regular season games.

To add to his storybook season, Hodgins also had an eight-catch, 105-yard, and one-touchdown performance that helped propel the Giants past the Vikings in the Wild Card round. 

Not bad for a guy that came in midseason. So imagine what Hodgins might be able to do now that he's had a full off-season under his belt.

“I feel very comfortable in the offense and the scheme," Hodgins said Monday after practice. "Just being able to take a different approach to my game and knowing that I’m not just thrown into the fire like last year. 

"(I) get to work on some mental stuff for me. Kind of like looking at coverages and disguising stuff and seeing stuff that I give away and can work on in my game. So, I’m trying to take that next step myself.”

Fans often underestimate just how beneficial a full offseason with one team can be for a player. As Hodgins said, he was thrown into the fire last season and could still make a huge impact down the stretch. 

He’s been spotted working out with teammates Saquon Barkley and Parris Campbell multiple times during the offseason, getting the chance to build chemistry. The Giants should be excited that Hodgins had time to work and focus on being a playmaker for the team in 2023 and hopefully beyond.

“It was beneficial. Just being able to compete against top teams, play in huge games and playoff games, and be in the grit and grind with this team," he said. 

"Coming back from being down or a big divisional game. It was good to see the character in that locker room, and whether we take a hit or win big games, just never change and keep working throughout the week. I love the guys in the locker room, and it made me feel more a part of the team being in those moments with them.”

The most important teammate Hodgins had been able to connect with in the offseason was quarterback Daniel Jones. Jones and Hodgins immediately clicked last season and hope to ride that momentum in 2023. 

Hodgins had an interesting take on his perception of Jones before they were teammates, including comparing him to his former quarterback in Buffalo, Josh Allen.

“We knew that he was a tall, strong quarterback. We used to always talk about him and compare him to (Bills quarterback) Josh Allen," Hodgins said. 

"We knew he had the physical traits and stuff, and coming here, I was able to see the mental side and the preparation and work ethic. He’s the full package, and I think he’s a great quarterback, so I’ll ride or die about him.”

His teammates have been saying ride or die with Daniel Jones countless times throughout the offseason. Jones is arguably one of the most scrutinized players in the media, and even among some former players. It’s hard to tell if Jones has respect around the league, but Hodgins is confident in his quarterback.

“I feel like some people do (and) some don’t (respect Jones)," he said. "That’s with a lot of guys in the NFL, but I know one thing, he doesn’t worry about that, so that’s all credit to him. 

"Whether he has a good game or a bad game or people praise him or not, he keeps the same mindset of working every day. So that’s something that influences the entire locker room. That’s what you like to see from your quarterback.

“People have a lot of questions, for sure. I think he put a lot of the league on notice last year, so those conversations start to come up when you have good performances like he did. 

"A lot of people were probably talking bad, and then he has the season that he had last year, and now people are trying to debate if he’s good or not if he’s top this or whatever. That’s going to come with performances like he’s had. I know he’s not worried about it (and) I know as a wideout room and as a team, we’re not either. We’re focused on what we can do to win games every week.”

Speaking of the wideout room, Hodgins is part of a loaded unit. The Giants are currently carrying over a dozen wide receivers, hoping to not just find their starters but also solidify depth that they didn’t have last season. Hodgins recognizes that there’s a ton of talent surrounding him now and is excited about the potential of the wide receiver room.

“It’s a competitive room, and I think coaches want that, but as players, you want that too. You don’t want to just get handed a spot, and you don’t want to just sit there and not compete. You want to be able to sit here and know that you got to work day in and day out because you got people all around you who can make plays, and I feel like that’s what I love about our room," Hodgins said. 

"When you have a team with a lot of talent, it’s 'pick your poison'--you just have so many weapons. I think we have a lot of unselfish guys on our team that can take on that role and understand that every day you may not have five catches, but you just have to be ready for when it does come your way.”