If anyone thought the New York Giants were going to sit around and sulk about the loss of slot receiver Wan'Dale Robinson to Brian Daboll and the Tennessee Titans, they'd better think again.
On Thursday evening, the Giants signed former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III to a one-year, $4.5 million deal, per ESPN'sAdam Schefter:
Former Steelers free agent receiver Calvin Austin is signing a one-year deal worth up to $4.5 million with the NY Giants, per agents Drew Rosenhaus and Kyle Lincoln. pic.twitter.com/XPZK4QenlV
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 12, 2026
Austin has spent his entire three-year career with the Pittsburgh Steelers operating primarily out of the slot, with some punt-return experience mixed in. The soon-to-be 27-year-old might not fit the new John Harbaugh smash-mouth physique -- 5-foot-9, 160 pounds -- but he's one of the quickest and shiftiest guys in the league, clocking in around a 4.30 40-yard dash.
If anything, he gives franchise quarterback Jaxson Dart another option in a receiver room that’s still finding its way. The 2022 fourth-round pick is about as low-risk, high-reward as it gets.
Giants turn to Calvin Austin III after Wan’Dale Robinson departure
Austin isn’t coming to New York to suddenly become the focal point of the offense, and that’s perfectly fine.
What he brings is something the G-Men quietly lost when Robinson packed his bags for Nashville: speed and unpredictability out of the slot. The former Memphis standout has built his reputation on being one of those receivers who can turn a routine play into a chunk gain the moment he finds a sliver of space.
Despite his smaller frame at 5-foot-9, the former fourth-round pick has never played timid. In three seasons with the Steelers, he piled up 1,100 receiving yards and eight touchdowns on 84 catches while also proving he could stretch the field vertically. His best season came in 2024 when he averaged more than 15 yards per reception and showed he could be a legitimate deep threat when called on.
For Big Blue, this is the definition of a low-risk swing. If Austin can stay healthy and carve out a role in Matt Nagy's new offense, Harby suddenly gets a speed element that forces defenses to take a little bit of attention away from Malik Nabers. And if he doesn’t? It cost Big Blue next to nothing to try.