Odell Beckham Jr: The Giants’ Key to Future Success?

Odell Beckham Jr: The Giants’ Key to Future Success?

Antonio D'Amore, Writer

In the 2014 season, the New York Football Giants have been nothing short of a disappointment. At one point, the Giants had won three straight games and appeared to be a threat. That dream was shattered in the following weeks after losing seven consecutive games. Whether it is the offensive line, Eli Manning’s questionable throws, or the defense’s lack of aggressiveness, many things went wrong for Big Blue in 2014.

However, there has been a star in the making in the past few weeks and his name is Odell Beckham Jr.

A first round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, the wide receiver has been hot ever since he stepped foot on the field on October 5. His rookie year has consisted of touchdowns, miraculous catches, and impressive end zone celebrations. The LSU rookie is a breath of fresh air for the Giants, but is he the piece they needed to succeed in the future?

The New York Giants had the 12th pick in the draft after going 7-9 in 2013. Since their Super Bowl win in 2011, the Giants have yet to make the playoffs and have a combined record of 21-25. They decided to acquire some offensive weapons this year and Beckham was the obvious choice.

He immediately made a statement in his debut against the Atlanta Falcons. Odell caught a touchdown pass from Eli Manning then proceeded to hit his signature “The Whip” dance. From that point on, Giants fans fell in love with the star and wanted to see more of his athleticism.

His greatest moment so far came against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. Odell went up for a jump ball and with one hand he caught the ball and fell into the end zone. Some are calling it the greatest catch in NFL history and they have a right to. This was a wakeup call for the Giants saying that Odell Beckham is a superstar. His superb athleticism has been spotted on every ball he catches which gives him a legitimate shot at the Rookie of the Year Award.

Rookie wide receivers have been extremely impressive this year. Mike Evans of the Buccaneers, Kelvin Benjamin of the Panthers, and Sammy Watkins of the Bills are all standout rookies who are looking to become pro-bowlers in the future. For Odell Beckham Jr., he was immediately established as the Giants’ star who will hope to carry them to the playoffs in the upcoming years.

As a Giants fan, I believe Beckham is the missing piece that the Giants have been lacking for years. In his prime, Victor Cruz was the answer and they won the Super Bowl in 2011. However, Beckham is much more athletic and a bigger deep threat than Cruz. The Giants need to give him a long-term contract because their postseason success will depend on Odell Beckham Jr.