The last time we did a 53-man roster projection for the New York Giants was at the conclusion of mandatory minicamp last month. With training camp almost here, let’s see if my thinking about who will or will not make the roster has changed at all.
OFFENSE (26)
Quarterback (3) — Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, Jaxson Dart
Out: Tommy DeVito
(No change)
Brian Daboll called DeVito the “head statesman” in the quarterback room this spring because he is the only one of the four quarterbacks with experience in the Giants’ scheme. That doesn’t mean he is making the roster.
Running back (3) — Tyrone Tracy Jr., Devin Singletary, Cam Skattebo
Out: Eric Gray, Dante Miller
(No change)
Gray is a player the Giants selected in 2023 after Joe Schoen admitted that other potential kick/punt return options they had been considering were off the board. Gray never really established himself as a trustworthy option as a runner or returner. Skattebo makes him superfluous.
Tight end (4) — Theo Johnson, Daniel Bellinger, Chris Manhertz, Thomas Fidone
Out: Greg Dulcich, Jermaine Terry
(No change)
As I have thought about this position, I think Bellinger is the player to watch. He is an NFL-caliber player, no doubt, and has probably been under-utilized the last two seasons. Still, on this roster he is TE3 behind Johnson and Manhertz, and because of proven performance escalators he carries a salary cap number of $3.604 million. It would be straight out of Schoen’s playbook to strong-arm Bekl
Wide receiver (6) — Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, Wan’Dale Robinson, Jalin Hyatt, Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Dalen Cambre
Out: Bryce Ford-Wheaton, Zach Pascal, Juice Wells, Jordan Bly, Montrell Washington, Da’Quan Felton, Beaux Collins
(Change: Humphrey out)
I am on record as having said an undrafted free agent rookie receiver will make the roster. Right now, it is a coin flip for me between Cambre, Felton and Collins. Even though spring production in shorts and t-shirts doesn’t mean much, right now I am going with Cambre because of his spring performance. I was shocked by his play as a receiver this spring after getting just 10 receptions in his college career. He is a special-teamer first, and we haven’t seen him do that yet.
I have see some speculation that Smith-Marsette is on the roster bubble. Not if Schoen and Daboll have learned their lesson about cavalierly treating the returner as an afterthought.
Offensive line (10) — Andrew Thomas, Jon Runyan Jr., John Michael Schmitz, Greg Van Roten, Jermaine Eleumunor, Marcus Mbow, James Hudson III, Jake Kubas, Evan Neal, Aaron Stinnie
Out: Aaron Stinnie, Josh Ezeudu, Stone Forsythe, Jaison Williams, Austin Schlottman, Jimmy Morrissey, Brian Hudson
(Change: Stinnie in)
The biggest thing to watch in training camp is whether or not Neal can really push for a starting job. If he does, he would almost certainly push Van Roten into a backup role. At that point, the question would become how the Giants would align Neal and Runyan.
We didn’t see Thomas all spring as he works back from Lisfranc surgery, but the Giants simply to be exercising tremendous caution with an important player.
I added Stinnie as a 10th offensive lineman in this edition of the roster projection. Ten offensive linemen feels like one too many, but injuries have hurt the line so much over the years that it’s risky to cut a capable player like Stinnie. If Van Roten keeps his starting job, I wonder if Schlottman (a center) would take that 10th spot.
DEFENSE (24)
Defensive line (6) — Dexter Lawrence, Rakeem Nunez-Roches, Darius Alexander, Elijah Chatman, Roy Robertson-Harris, Jeremiah Ledbetter
Out: Jordon Riley, D.J. Davidson, Elijah Garcia, Cory Durden
(No change)
I’m adding Ledbetter over Davidson because, in talking with defensive line coach Andre Patterson recently, he seems to like the 31-year-old veteran. I think, though, that Ledbetter is going to have to earn a spot this summer. I’m keeping Chatman over Davidson and Riley and not thinking twice about it.
I believe Davidson has a chance to make the roster. Ledbetter seems like the likely odd man out if he does, but I am still curious about the status of Nunez-Roches.
Outside linebacker (4) — Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Abdul Carter, Chauncey Golston
Out: Tomon Fox, Trace Ford, Victor Dimukeje
(No change)
In my initial projection I listed Golston as a defensive lineman. He is wearing No. 57 and working with the edge defenders, though. I do think Golston will get moved around to a variety of spots during the season. Dimukeje (pectoral) did not practice all spring.
Inside linebacker (4) — Bobby Okereke, Micah McFadden, Darius Muasau, Chris Board
Out: Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Ty Summers, Dyontae Johnson
(No change)
I hate cutting Johnson, but I think the Giants could slide him to the practice squad. I hate cutting Summers, too, but if the Giants didn’t think they could upgrade his spot they would not have signed both Board and Flannigan-Fowles this offseason. Board was a special teams captain for the Baltimore Ravens last year, and has played more on defense over the years than Summers.
Cornerback (6) — Paulson Adebo, Deonte Banks, Dru Phillips, Cor’Dale Flott, Tre Hawkins, Korie Black
Out: Art Green, Dee Williams, TJ Moore
(No change)
The big question here is whether or not there is a real competition between Banks and Flott for a starting job.
Safety (4) — Jevon Holland, Tyler Nubin, Dane Belton, Makari Paige
Out: Raheem Layne, Anthony Johnson
(Change: Johnson out, Paige in)
Johnson did not practice all spring. I am keeping Paige, an undrafted free agent out of Michigan, for now. Maybe Layne wins that spot. Maybe the Giants gamble by keeping just three safeties on the 53 to open a roster spot elsewhere.
SPECIAL TEAMS (3)
Placekicker — Graham Gano
Punter — Jamie Gillan
Long snapper — Casey Kreiter
Out: PK Jude McAtamney
(No change)
At this point in their careers, McAtamney has a much stronger leg than Gano. That doesn’t mean he is a better kicker.
Final thoughts
Like I said in the spring, I think the Giants are going to cut a number of players who land on 53-man rosters elsewhere. That has not often been the case in recent years.