Braxton Berrios didn’t exactly arrive in New York with fireworks attached to his name. When the Giants went on their post-draft spending spree at wide receiver, the spotlight landed on Odell Beckham Jr., while Berrios slipped into the background.
That’s been the story around him for a while now. Once viewed as a useful slot option with real juice on offense, Berrios has spent recent seasons more as a return man than a receiver. His role has narrowed, and his offensive production has gone with it.
Still, the Giants didn’t bring him in just to fill a lane on special teams, even if that’s the most obvious path onto the roster. The 30-year-old has a real shot to make this camp interesting because the receiver depth chart behind the top names is wide open.
At his best, Berrios has shown he can do both jobs. In 2021 with the New York Jets, he piled up more than 1,200 total yards between offense and returns and saw 60 targets. That kind of dual-threat value is what helped him build a seven-year NFL career.
But the numbers since then tell a different story. After leaving the Jets, Berrios has become much more of a specialist. He didn’t catch a pass for the Miami Dolphins in 2024 and was targeted only eight times for the Houston Texans in 2025.
For the Giants, though, the special teams piece matters. Their kick return job is open after Ihmir Smith-Marsette’s departure, and Berrios will be in the mix with Calvin Austin III, Deonte Banks, and Devin Singletary for kick and punt return duties.
The bigger question is whether he can offer enough on offense to stick. Austin is currently expected to start in the slot, but the 162-pound receiver’s ability to handle a full-time role is far from settled.
That opens the door for another slot option, and the competition there appears to be Berrios against JuJu Smith-Schuster. Smith-Schuster also joined late and has worked both inside and outside at previous stops.
Smith-Schuster has the edge, especially with two seasons alongside Matt Nagy in Kansas City. Even so, Berrios still has a path. If he turns in a strong training camp, he could push his way onto the 53-man roster and make the Giants think twice.
The message for Berrios is simple: return work alone won’t be enough. If he wants to stay in the picture, he has to prove he can still help as a rotational receiver.
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