The Giants have brought in a productive element to their special teams unit. The team is signing returner/receiver Richie James to a one-year contract, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo (Twitter link). 
James, 26, spent the first three seasons of his career in San Francisco. He held a modest role in the team’s offense for his first two campaigns, recording just 15 catches. In 2020, however, he was on the field for 54% of the team’s offensive snaps, making a career-high 23 receptions for 394 yards.
The former seventh rounder is best known, though, for his ability as a returner. During his trio of seasons with the 49ers, James totalled 32 punt returns, averaging 7.3 yards per attempt. He also ran back 47 kickoffs at a clip of 23 yards per return, including a 97-yard touchdown in his rookie season.
James was set to continue in San Francisco for another year, but a knee injury – and subsequent surgery – led to his release this past August. The Middle Tennessee alum missed all of last season as a result. In New York, he will get the opportunity not only to operate as a return man, but also potentially to serve as a deep threat on offense.
San Francisco’s interest in a reunion with James dissipated when they signed former Steeler Ray-Ray McCloud to take over their return duties. Now both they and the Giants will hope to see improvements in the third phase of the game in 2022.
Has the Giants signed any pass rushers this off-season? That’s a huge weakness and hopefully the Giants get someone in the draft.
I think they’re hoping one of the big guys in the draft fall to them. Hutchinson probably won’t, but Walker and Thibodeaux might.