Does UDFA WR Ayir Asante have a chance to stick with New York Giants?

If undrafted rookie wide receiver Ayir Asante is going to stick with the New York Giants, perhaps the league’s revised kickoff rules will be a big part of the reason.

Let’s look at Asante as we continue our player-by-player profiles of the Giants’ 90-man roster.

The skinny

Height: 6-foot
Weight: 178
Age: 23
Position: WR
Experience: Rookie
Contract: Three years, $2.831 million | 2024 cap hit: $795,333 | Guaranteed: $4,000

Career to date

Asante, 6-foot, 178 pounds, is a Jersey City, N.J. kid who went to Holy Cross and then transferred to Wyoming for his final season of collegiate eligibility. He had just 21 catches for Wyoming in 2023.

Here is a scouting report from Emory Hunt’s Football Gameplan Draft Guide:

Strengths:

– Very good quickness and shiftiness for the position. Does a strong job on option routes where he’s able to combine the two & get open.

– After the catch he has the ability to make a defender miss, maximizing YAC opportunities. Slips a lot of tackles out there on the field.

– Can be used in the WR run game because of his elusiveness

– Has experience as a KR, which gives him a chance to hit the field immediately and make an impact.

Areas of Improvement:

– A short area burst guy but not necessarily a long speed burner type. So separation deeper downfield will be tough to come by on a consistent basis.

– Has to continue to get stronger which would better help him as a pro get off press coverage. Right now, more physical defenders can keep him occupied.

Career Accolades:

– 2024 Tropical Bowl

– 3x 2nd Team All-Patriot League

– Wyoming Stats: 21 Rec, 372 Yds, 17.7 YPC, 6 TDs

– Wyoming KR Stats: 8 KR, 20.8 YPR

– Holy Cross Stats: 117 Rec, 1,718 Yds, 14.7 YPC, 16 TDs

– Holy Cross KR Stats: 26 KR, 485 Yds, 18.7 YPR

2024 outlook

If he sticks with the Giants, the practice squad seems like a likely destination.

The Giants have Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, Wan’Dale Robinson and Jalin Hyatt as roster locks. Isaiah Hodgins, Allen Robinson, Gunner Olszewski, Isaiah McKenzie and Miles Boykin are all proven NFL players. Asante will be fighting to get into that mix.