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Kenny Golladay sees bright future with Joe Judge; Daniel Jones 'very excited'

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Giants didn't have Kenny Golladay at hello, but once the two sides got to know each other a little it, they quickly agreed a partnership would benefit both sides.

"Just hearing the vision that coach Joe Judge had and (coordinator) Jason Garrett had as far as the offense, that had me right there," Golladay said on a Saturday evening Zoom call. "And just walking around the building, everybody greeting me and with them pretty much telling me that they wanted me here and I'm expressing the same thing. It was kind of like a no-brainer and I'm glad it worked out."

So are the Giants, who signed the productive and accomplished wide receiver today to successfully complete a three-day courtship. They added a player whose presence improves their aerial attack and their scoring potential.

Perhaps no player will benefit from Golladay's arrival more than quarterback Daniel Jones, who reached out to the player destined to become one of his favorite targets.

"He just said how good of a player that he thought I was, and I pretty much said the same thing about him," Golladay said. "He also just said, 'We're trying to do something great here,' and that's what I'm all about.

"He's still kind of fresh in the league a little bit and I kind of want to grow with him. I'm still growing as a player and I feel like me and him can do some good things. We haven't gotten on the practice field yet, but me and him both are very excited."

Jones certainly is.

"I'm very excited to have Kenny," Jones said in a text. "He's been a big time playmaker in this league. When we spoke, he was interested in the culture we have in the building and the mindset of the team. I think he had heard it from coaches but wanted to hear how we saw it as players and how much we believed in it. I think finding the right fit in that sense was important to him. I can't wait to get out on the field and get to work with him."

With good reason. At 6-4 and 214 pounds, Golladay adds size and physicality to the Giants' offense. He also brings a track record of success from his four seasons with the Detroit Lions.

In 2018-19, Golladay totaled 135 receptions, 2,253 yards – exceeding 1,000 yards in each season – and 16 touchdowns. He led the NFL with 11 touchdown receptions in 2019. The Giants witnessed Golladay's gifts up close on Oct. 27, 2019, when he caught six passes for 123 yards, including second-half touchdowns of nine and 41 yards, in the Lions' 31-26 victory in Ford Field.

What will he bring to the Giants' offense?

"This team is going to get a competitor, a guy who's going to come in, work, he's going to try to push other guys and have fun with it," Golladay said. "I want to have fun while I'm doing this, that's what I'm doing it for. Just a playmaker, you know?"

In 2020, Golladay missed Week 2-3 games with a hamstring injury and the final nine games with a hip flexor strain. But he believes those injuries are no longer an issue.

"I'm good," he said. "I did a physical, I checked out. … I think it's really just they just wanted to lay eyes on me, taking a different approach about this whole process. It kind of worked out for both sides –– I was able to come in and see what they're all about, I was able to see how the facility was, they had a chance to pick my brain and I think it worked out pretty smooth."

The 27-year-old Golladay played in 47 games with 39 starts for Detroit. His career totals include 183 receptions for 3,068 yards (16.8-yard avg.) and 21 touchdowns, with a long catch of 75 yards.

He joined the Lions as a third-round draft choice (96th overall) in 2017 from Northern Illinois. As a rookie, he played in 11 games with five starts and caught 48 passes for 577 yards, including a 54-yard touchdown.

Golladay had 20 receptions for 338 yards and two scores in his injury-shortened 2020 season.

His sights are set higher for 2021.

"I know one thing for sure," Golladay said. "I'm going to go out there and do all I can to help this offense go. Whenever they need me, I'm going to be there to pretty much make a play."

View photos of new Giants wide receiver Kenny Golladay, who recently signed with the team.

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