New York Giants WR Sterling Shepard Showing Why He Was A Draft Steal

New York Giants WR Sterling Shepard has had an impressive first two games of his NFL career. After eight catches for 117 yards against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, Shepard is proving he was a steal from the 2016 NFL Draft.

It’s only been two games, but New York Giants rookie wide receiver Sterling Shepard is already proving that 31 teams shouldn’t have passed on him in April’s NFL Draft… Some of them twice.

The second-round pick from Oklahoma had eight catches for a team-high 117 yards in the Giants’ 16-13 win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. In his first game as a pro, Shepard had three grabs and a clutch touchdown catch in the corner in New York’s win against the Dallas Cowboys.

The Rookie of the Year talk during the preseason was more of a murmur, but his teammate Odell Beckham Jr. is stirring the pot going into Week 3. “Lights out every game. Comes up with the big catch, makes the big plays. He’s going to be Rookie of the Year.”

Shepard as Rookie of the Year?

If anyone knows what a Rookie of the Year looks like, it’s OBJ. But Shepard doesn’t seem to be the flashy, big play receiver that Giants fans saw from Beckham when he entered the league. From what we’ve seen thus far, Shepard works mostly out of the slot, runs crisp routes and is sure handed. He’s caught all but one of his targets in his first two games.

That one target was a mistake by Shepard that led to an Eli Manning interception. But Shepard learned his lesson, according to NJ.com and moved on. “Last week I had a few mistakes that I wanted to clean up this week. I was able to do that. Just focusing in practice, staying in a little bit later for meetings. But I feel like I’m picking it up and getting more comfortable. I see that progressing as the season goes on.”

Sep 11, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard (87) celebrates in from of Dallas Cowboys cornerback Anthony Brown (30) after catching a touchdown pass at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports

Shepard has done enough in the first two games of 2016 for Giants fans to start believing the preseason hype. Victor Cruz is coming back from his 700-day injury and showing some production. The league knows very well what Beckham can do and now they are starting to notice the Giants wide receivers as a whole.

Top Notch Receiving Corps

“That’s one of the best receiving corps in the league,” Saints coach Sean Payton said according to ESPN.

The future is bright for Shepard and, just two games into the season, it’s safe to say one of the other 31 teams that passed on him in April would go back and add him to their roster if they had the chance.