Wan’Dale Robinson didn’t hesitate.
The Giants’ third-year receiver didn’t need time to think or reflect on past emotions.
He had no intention of leaving the answer vague.
He made no secret of his ambitions for the upcoming season.
Robinson doesn’t think there’s even a comparison in terms of how he’s feeling compared to this time last year.
“It’s a whole different ballgame,” Robinson said Wednesday afternoon after the Giants’ second day of mandatory minicamp practice.
This time last year, Robinson wasn’t even on the field, let alone running a route.
He was in the process of rehabbing after tearing his right anterior cruciate ligament as a rookie Nov. 20, 2022, against the Lions.
That rehab continued into the beginning of last year, causing him to miss the Giants’ first two games.
Upon his return, Robinson was no longer the player the Giants had envisioned as the 43rd overall pick in the second round of the draft and the first offensive weapon they acquired under the Brian Daboll-Joe Sean system.
Elusive. Dynamic. Versatile.
All of this was badly needed by a struggling Giants offense, but was barely provided.
“There were times last year when I wasn’t doing everything I was supposed to do,” Robinson said. “I think Green Bay was a big part of that. [Week 13] “During the game, I just did what I had to do and didn’t think about my knee. … I just didn’t feel right, especially the first few weeks of the season.”
He began to show those qualities as a rookie right before he got injured.
Robinson missed four of the Giants’ first five games as a rookie because of a knee sprain, but he had his best performance to date as a pro with nine catches for 100 yards against the Lions on Nov. 20 before tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in the fourth quarter.
Robinson’s potential was on display again late last year, catching 24 passes for 260 yards in the Giants’ final five games.
Now, fully healthy, Robinson finally feels like his old self.
He especially emphasized his explosiveness, posting numbers on a GPS tracker during OTAs and minicamp that he had never seen before, even before his ACL injury.
While he has shown flashes of flashes throughout the season, the Giants certainly have yet to see Robinson’s best.
Year three, the Giants need the full package.
Robinson has been performing well in the spring and early signs are promising.
He delivered one of the best highlights of the offseason on Tuesday, completing a long-distance touchdown catch and run followed by a Spider-Man-themed celebratory performance with Malik Neighbors and Jalyn Hyatt.
“He certainly looks healthy here and is what we expected him to be,” wide receivers coach Mike Groh said earlier this spring. “He’s had some unfortunate injuries his first two years, but he’s showing signs of being a guy that can really impact the game. You can get the ball in his hands early on downs, win third downs later on downs, things like that. He has great short-distance quickness and the lower-body strength to be in the middle of the field, which will be very helpful.”
Robinson will primarily play from the slot and could provide quarterback Daniel Jones with a reliable target in the short range and middle of the field that he has lacked thus far.
The Giants also largely missed Robinson’s running ability after the catch.
“Wan’Dale is one of those guys that we know and love and we’ve got to get him the ball,” offensive coordinator Mike Kafka said Wednesday.
Praise doesn’t just come from within.
His rivals also believe in his abilities.
Stud Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb spoke highly of Robinson earlier this offseason.
“You know who’s a real sleeper? Wan’Dale Robinson out of New York,” Lamb said on “The Edge with Micah Parsons” podcast. “He’s really fast. He’s really good. His routes are crazy.”
Off the field, Robinson has already emerged as a veteran among a young group of wide receivers, despite only being 23 years old.
The Giants took Hyatt in the third round last year and Neighbors sixth overall this year.
Just three years after Robinson joined the team, the wide receiver corps surrounding him has been almost completely revamped.
Perhaps it’s time for Robinson himself to emerge as a reincarnation.
“Smart, very smart,” Daboll said Wednesday. “They’ve done a good job in that room. He’s been hurt, he’s still a young guy, but he’s been very good with Malik. Same with Hyatt. … He knows what all five of his guys need to do, including the running backs. He’s developed well and had a good camp.”
