Reviewing New York Giants UDFAs, who stands out?
By Henry Buggy
The New York Giants officially locked up three of their six draft picks at the start of their rookie minicamp on Friday and announced the signings of 11 undrafted free agents.
Will Hernandez, Lorenzo Carter, and Kyle Lauletta were the three drafted players to ink their rookie contracts on Friday. All eyes were on Saquon Barkley as he hit the field for the first time as a member of the New York Giants.
All six of New York’s draft selections have received plenty of attention over the last two weeks, especially Barkley. But there are now 11 new members to the franchise, who are also looking to leave their mark.
Chase Blackburn and Victor Cruz are two recent examples of undrafted free agents that have shined for Big Blue. Both players helped the franchise hoist its fourth Lombardi Trophy with crucial plays in Super Bowl XLVI.
Secondary Help
Four of New York’s undrafted free agents are defensive backs. The Giants were expected to address their secondary at some point during the draft but elected to put a bigger emphasis on their front seven.
Georgia’s Aaron Davis, Penn State’s Grant Haley, and Duke’s Bryon Fields will all have a chance to make Big Blue’s roster given New York’s need at cornerback. Davis may have the best chance to compete for a spot on the team’s 53-man roster.
The former Bulldogs cornerback helped Georgia reach the National Championship in 2017, starting all 15 games. At 5-foot-11, 194-pounds, Davis could compete for New York’s starting slot cornerback position. Pro Football Focus listed Davis as the No. 195 overall player on their Top 250 Big Board.
Haley is also worth keeping an eye on. The Nittany Lions 5-foot-9, 185-pound cornerback can make an impact on special teams and can also compete for the starting slot role. NFL Network’s Chad Reuter listed Haley as the No. 11 undrafted rookie in a favorable situation.
New York Giants
The G-Men also added competition to the safety position, signing Temple’s Sean Chandler.
Giants general manager Dave Gettleman already signed free safety and special teams ace Michael Thomas in free agency earlier this offseason. New York’s front office is clearly looking to challenge Darian Thompson as he enters his third season.
Chandler has experience playing both safety and cornerback at the collegiate level. He amassed 23 passes defended and 10 interceptions in four seasons. He started all 13 games at free safety in his senior year.
The Giants also signed former Penn State defensive lineman Tyrell Chavis and former Tennessee-Chattanooga linebacker Tae Davis.
Offensive Additions
On offense, the Giants signed five undrafted free agents, including three offensive linemen.
Nebraska’s Nick Gates is arguably Big Blue’s top offensive undrafted free agent. Former NFL scout Dan Shonka gave the 6-foot-5, 295-pound offensive tackle a third- to fourth-round grade, making him a steal as an undrafted free agent.
Gates started 25 consecutive games at left tackle for the Cornhuskers. He is projected to bump inside to guard at the next level. Giants fans are hoping Gettleman has found another offensive line steal from the Big Ten, similar to his signing of Andrew Norwell after the 2014 draft.
The Giants also signed Missouri offensive tackle Tyler Howell and SMU center Evan Brown. The Mustangs 6-foot-2, 302-pound offensive lineman logged 35 starts at both center and right guard. Brown could potentially provide some much-needed depth at center behind Brett Jones.
East Carolina tight end Stephen Baggett and Bethune-Cookman wide receiver Jawill Davis round out New York’s undrafted free agent signings.
Next: New Life After Gettleman's Draft
It’s unknown if any of Big Blue’s undrafted free agents will make a significant impact on the field this upcoming season. But all 11 signings are surely noteworthy, especially the additions of Davis, Haley, Chandler, and Gates.
Those four may have the best chance to make New York’s roster but in the NFL nothing is given.