The Giants entered the season with Sterling Shepard and Wan’Dale Robinson expected to be their top receivers. The hope was that the steady veteran and dynamic rookie would be able to complement one of their disgruntled pass catchers — Kenny Golladay and Kadarius Toney — to give the team a solid receiving corps.
That plan didn’t pan out.
Shepard and Robinson both got hurt and missed a majority of the season while Toney never played before being traded to the Chiefs. Golladay has remained with the team, but he was effectively benched due to his year-long struggles.
Even still, the Giants have managed to build a decent receiver room. Daniel Jones has found success throwing to a couple of overlooked veterans, Darius Slayton and Richie James Jr., and a midseason pickup who is quickly becoming his favorite target.
That would be Isaiah Hodgins.
Hodgins has enjoyed a breakout in the second half of the Giants’ season and put his talents on display in an impressive outing against the Vikings in the wild-card round of the playoffs. He will look to build on his momentum as Brian Daboll and the Giants try to keep their improbable playoff season alive.
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But who exactly is Isaiah Hodgins? Here’s what you need to know about the third-year pro as he looks to establish himself as the Giants’ best receiver.
Who is Isaiah Hodgins?
Isaiah Hodgins is a 24-year-old receiver who plays for the Giants. He was claimed off waivers from the Bills in the middle of the season and has since developed into a key part of the New York passing attack.
Hodgins (6-4, 210 pounds) played collegiately at Oregon State, where he established himself as a talented, big-bodied receiver. The Bills selected him in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, and he spent the first two-plus seasons of his career in Buffalo.
Hodgins — the son of James Hodgins, a fullback who won a Super Bowl with the Rams — shined in the preseason with the Bills. He recorded 16 catches for 126 yards in three preseason games in 2022 but played just 20 total offensive snaps during the regular season in Buffalo.
Since joining the Giants, Hodgins has played in nine games, playoffs included, with six starts; he has played at least 43 snaps in every game and recorded his first 100-yard game against the Vikings in the wild-card round of the playoffs.
It certainly looks like Hodgins is becoming one of the Giants’ better receivers. At the very least, he appears to be Daniel Jones’ favorite target and a true red-zone threat just like he was in his college days at Oregon State.
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Isaiah Hodgins college stats, career
Hodgins played three seasons of college football at Oregon State. The consensus four-star receiver recruit from Walnut Creek, Calif., had several offers from schools that included Oregon, Boise State and Nebraska but he ultimately chose to join the Beavers.
“I felt comfortable here,” he said of joining Oregon State per the school’s athletic website. “I knew some of the coaches and players personally and felt like I can make an impact early.”
Hodgins’ instinct proved correct. He was able to play in 11 games and make six starts as a freshman. He developed into a full-time starter by his sophomore season and improved his statistical production in each of his three seasons with the Beavers.
| Year | Games | Receptions | Yards | Yards per catch | TDs |
| 2017 | 11 | 31 | 275 | 8.9 | 2 |
| 2018 | 11 | 59 | 876 | 14.8 | 5 |
| 2019 | 12 | 86 | 1,171 | 13.6 | 13 |
Hodgins ultimately declared for the 2020 NFL Draft despite having eligibility remaining. His production was good enough to get him mid-round looks, but his scouting process was impacted by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a result, Hodgins wasn’t drafted until the Bills selected him in the sixth round. From there, he fought for a roster spot. He largely toiled on the practice squad for the first two years of his career until the Bills promoted him to the active roster on Oct. 8.
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Why did the Bills release Isaiah Hodgins?
Ironically, Hodgins’ promotion to the active roster on Oct. 8 is what helped pave the way for the Giants to get him.
The Bills needed Hodgins on the active roster due to injuries to Jake Kumerow and Jamison Crowder. The team was thin at receiver, so Hodgins dressed for two games in October after his promotion. He played sparingly and then was rendered inactive in Week 8 once Kumerow returned.
The Bills made more roster moves following that contest to beat the 2022 NFL trade deadline. They acquired running back Nyheim Hines from the Colts and safety Dean Marlowe from the Falcons and had to create two roster spots to add them.
Among the corresponding moves was the decision to release Hodgins. He was subject to waivers given that the trade deadline had passed, and the Giants put in a claim for him to add to their thin receiving corps.
Hodgins had familiarity with Giants head coach Brian Daboll thanks to the latter’s time as Buffalo’s offensive coordinator. So, the receiver was able to adapt to the New York offense quickly and make an impact.
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Isaiah Hodgins stats with the Giants
Hodgins has played in nine games since joining the Giants and has established himself as one of the team’s top receivers. He quickly overtook Kenny Golladay in the receiver rotation and has become one of the team’s top three receivers in addition to Darius Slayton and Richie James Jr.
Hodgins finished the regular season as the Giants’ third-leading receiver in yardage despite playing in half as many games as Slayton and James. Below is a look at his numbers — and team ranks — for the 2022 NFL season.
| Stat | Total | Rank (on Giants) |
| Targets | 42 | 4th |
| Receptions | 33 | 4th |
| Receiving yards | 351 | 3rd |
| Yards per catch | 10.6 | 6th |
| Receiving TDs | 4 | T-1st |
If Hodgins’ regular-season performance wasn’t enough, he got off to a great start in the postseason, recording eight catches, 105 yards and a touchdown against the Vikings. It was the first 100-yard game of his young career.
Hodgins is clearly establishing himself as a weapon in New York’s passing game, so it will be interesting to see how the Giants plan to use him in the rest of the 2023 postseason and beyond.
