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Giants 2022 UFA Primer: WR/PR Dante Pettis

Dante Pettis was once the best return specialist in college football. But will this new coaching staff, whose special teams coordinator (Thomas McGaughey) remains the same, want to give Pettis another chance?

Olivier Dumont

In this story:

Dante Pettis, WR/PR

Height: 6’1”
Weight: 195 lbs.
Age: 26
NFL Exp.: 4 seasons
College: Washington

The New York Giants acquired wide receiver Dante Pettis off waivers following his release from the 49ers midway through the 2020 season. In 2021, the Giants signed Pettis to their practice squad before eventually promoting him to their 53-man roster.

Unfortunately for Pettis, he contracted COVID-19 which he later admitted had such an effect on his stamina that he couldn't contribute at a level he thought himself capable of contributing.

Because the Giants wide receiver unit was so deep this season, Pettis didn’t receive any snaps on offense until Week 6 against the Rams. Although Pettis played in the next two games against the Panthers and the Chiefs, he suffered a shoulder injury pursuing a muffed punt against the Chiefs that ended his season.

2021 Recap

In his first game after being called up from the practice squad, Pettis reeled in five receptions on eleven targets for a total of 48 yards. The following week against the Panthers, Pettis delivered his best outing of the season, catching all five of his targets for 39 yards and a touchdown.

However, the following week against the Chiefs, Pettis only logged in one snap on offense before getting hurt. Following C.J. Board’s injury against the Rams, Pettis took over some of the returning duties on special teams and completed five returns before his season-ending shoulder injury.

New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard (87) and safety Nate Ebner (43) hug as the Giants defeat the Dallas Cowboys, 23-19, at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, January 3, 2021, in East Rutherford.
iants 2022 UFA Primer: DB Nate Ebner :: Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com via Imagn Content Services, LLC
New York Giants running back Eli Penny (39) rushes against the Las Vegas Raiders in the second half at MetLife Stadium. The Giants defeat the Raiders, 23-16, on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021, in East Rutherford.
Giants 2022 UFA Primer: FB Eli Penny :: Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK
Giants 2022 UFA Primer: ILB Reggie Ragland / Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Giants 2022 UFA Primer: DL Danny Shelton / Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Giants 2022 UFA Primer: QB Mike Glennon / Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports
Austin Johnson-New York Giants Training Camp Preview
Giants 2022 UFA Primer: DL Austin Johnson
New York Giants tight end Evan Engram (88) takes the field before kickoff of an NFL Week 12 football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati.
Giants 2022 UFA Primer: TE Evan Engram :: Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer via Imagn Content Services, LLC
Giants 2022 UFA Primer: OT Nate Solder :: Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com via USA TODAY NETWORK
Levine Toilolo
Giants 2022 UFA Primer: TE Levine Toilolo / Giants.com
Giants 2022 UFA Primer: OL Billy Price / Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

 

Giants 2022 UFA Primer: DB Keion Crossen / Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
New York Giants safety Jabrill Peppers (21) participates in drills during the last day of mandatory minicamp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday, June 10, 2021, in East Rutherford.
Giants 2022 UFA Primer: S Jabrill Peppers :: Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com via Imagn Content Services, LLC
Giants 2022 UFA Primer: LS Casey Kreiter / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Giants 2022 UFA Primer: OT Korey Cunningham / Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Giants 2022 UFA Primer: OLB Lorenzo Carter / Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
New York Giants guard Will Hernandez (71) runs onto the field to play a snap against the Philadelphia Eagles in the second half. The Giants defeat the Eagles, 27-17, at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020.
Giants 2022 UFA Primer: OG Will Hernandez :: Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com via Imagn Content Services,

Why Giants Should Keep Him

Pettis will probably not be anything more than a WR4 or WR5 and, as such, will have to make his living on special teams. But after excelling in that area in college, he hasn't been able to replicate that success, having recorded two punt returns for no yardage and one fair catch in 2021. In addition, as a receiver, he has caught 14 out of 26 pass targets for 163 yards and two touchdowns in his two-year Giants career.

Why Giants Shouldn't Keep Him

The Giants are likely to have numerous options to fill in the bottom of the receiver depth chart and, subsequently, the punt returner role with someone with fresher legs who would come on a less expensive rookie contract.

Keep or Dump?

Pettis, whose father Gary is a coach for MLB's Houston Astros, has talent and speed. Still, with him having had limited productivity for his opportunities, it’s best if the Giants moved on from him and maybe look to replace him via a Day 3 draft pick or UDFA looking to break in with an NFL team as a WR4 or WR5.

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Olivier Dumont
OLIVIER DUMONT

Olivier Dumont is a graduate of SUNY Rockland Community College, where he was the Sports Editor of the Outlook. After obtaining his Associate of Liberal Arts degree, he transferred to both Hunter and Baruch Colleges as part of the CUNY Baccalaureate Program for Unique and Interdisciplinary Studies. He graduated with a BA degree with a concentration in Sports Journalism.  

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