Cover 3: Memorable Giants debuts by an incoming veteran

Matt Citak: For my choice, you have to go back nearly 20 years to the 2005 offseason. The draft class typically garners the most attention when talking about that offseason, as the four-person group included Corey Webster, Justin Tuck, and Brandon Jacobs. But prior to the draft, the Giants made several veteran additions that would go on to play significant roles in either Super Bowl XLII, Super Bowl XLVI, or both. Right tackle Kareem McKenzie was signed that offseason, along with inside linebacker Antonio Pierce. However, I’m going with the acquisition of wide receiver Plaxico Burress.

With Eli Manning entering his second NFL season (and his first full year as the starting quarterback), the Giants wanted to get their young franchise quarterback another target in the passing game to go with wide receiver Amani Toomer and tight end Jeremy Shockey. This was especially important following the departure of wide receiver Ike Hilliard, who signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after eight seasons with the Giants. Enter Burress, who immediately stepped in as Manning’s No. 1 option.

Burress was targeted a then franchise-record 166 times in his first season with the Giants, 45 more than any other player. The 6-foot-5 wideout caught 76 of those passes for 1,214 yards and seven touchdowns, all of which led the team (Shockey and Toomer matched Burress with seven receiving scores that year). The 1,214 receiving yards ranked as the second-most in franchise history at the time (it currently sits at seventh on the team’s all-time single-season list), while the 76 receptions were the fifth-most (it is now tied for the 14th-most in Giants history). The addition of Burress helped the Giants produce one of the league’s top offenses that year, ranking third in points and fourth in yards, as they went 11-5 and took home the NFC East crown.