Sterling Shepard is the longest tenured Giant on the team. He is entering his 6th season in 2021. Among Giant wide receivers he is tied for 23rd most seasons on the Giants. The same number as Odell Beckham had. After next season he would be tied for eighth most seasons as a Giant wide receiver. The record holder is Amani Toomer who had 13 seasons. Here are some record positions Shepard holds now and how much he could advance in 2021 based on his averages per season. Also shown is the Giant record holder.
11th in Giant receptions (313)
could hit 5th in 2021 (62 receptions)
Amani Toomer (668)
12th streak of games with a reception (54)
could hit 5th in 2021 (16 games)
Amani Toomer (98)
12th streak of seasons with 2 receiving TDs (5)
could hit 5th in 2021 (1 season)
Kyle Rote (10)
Since 1994
9th in receiving first downs (191)
5th in 2021 (38)
Amani Toomer (478)
Since 1994
5th in 3rd/4th down receiving conversions (78)
could hit 3rd in 2021 (15)
Amani Toomer (183)
Since 1994 Shepard ranks second in receiving first downs per target percentage with 40.7% of his 469 targets making first down. That for players with 70+ targets. Only Odell Beckham ranked higher with 41.2% on 621 targets.
Since 1994 Shepard ranks fifth in 3rd/4th down to targets receiving conversion percentage with 48.5% of his 3rd/4th down targets converting. That among receivers with 50+ 3rd/4th down targets. Shepard did this on 161 targets. Only Odell Beckham was above him with more targets. Beckham had 50% on 200 targets. The year 1994 was chosen as that is as far back as the data available for those computations went.
Shepard is on contract thru the 2023 season. He will be a free agent in 2024. At that time at 8 years a Giant he would be tie with Ike Hilliard as the second longest tenured Giant wide receiver. Shepard will be 31 for the 2024 season. In this Sports Illustrated article Ike Hilliard made the list of the top ten Giant receivers at number ten. Shepard and Hilliard have similarities in their career on the Giants. They were similar in size and weight coming out of college. Like Shepard, Hilliard never broke 1,000 receiving yards in a season on the Giants. On a per game basis Shepard comes in slightly above Hilliard in receiving touchdowns, receiving yards and receptions. Hilliard was slightly better in yards per reception. Like Shepard, Hilliard was key on 3rd/4th down. Shepard comes in at fifth among Giants since 1994 with 48.5% converting. Hilliard was seventh with 44.8%. They both have had injury concerns.
Like Eli Manning said in his farewell speech – “Once a Giant, Always a Giant, For me, It’s Only a Giant”. That’s how it was for Amani Toomer. Shepard is still a young player at 27 years old. Who knows what his career may hold. However he has the potential to be a Giant for life and like Ike Hilliard to be counted among the top Giant receivers.
