Ranking the 2020 undrafted free agents for the NY Giants

“The best players will play.” That statement by Joe Judge has helped attract some high priority undrafted free agents (UDFA) to the NY Giants. Which of the new UDFA players have the best chance of making the 55-man roster?

An underrated aspect of winning football teams is filling in the backend of the roster with talented UDFA players. On the most recent NY Giants Super Bowl-winning teams, Tom Coughlin received key contributions from UDFA players like Chase Blackburn, Henry Hynoski, Jake Ballard, James Butler, and Mark Herzlich.

Players on the backend of the roster matter, and are usually key contributors on special teams. Joe Judge will likely emphasize this “other third” of a football game more than other coaches. Having quality depth during a grueling schedule is another facet of a winning football team.

It also helps to find players like Victor Cruz in UDFA. Cruz’s remarkable play during the 2011 season and playoffs catapulted the G-Men to another championship.

NY Giants Hall of Famer Emlen Tunnel was another diamond in the rough the G-Men found as an undrafted free agent. Ignored in the draft, he walked into Tim Mara’s office in 1948 and asked for a tryout. The first African American player in the team’s history still leads the New York Football Giants on the all-time interceptions list with 74.

To make a name for themselves like Victor Cruz or Emlen Tunnel, these current UDFA will have to make the team first. Which players from the current crop have the best chance of making the 53-man roster?

The amount of money allocated to the UDFA player crop could be an indication of which of the players the Y Giants prioritize the most. Despite being an important barometer, I don’t believe the money allocations are 100% indicative of which players have the best chance of making the 53-man roster.

In this article, I will separate the fifteen UDFA players into three tiers based on their chance to make the team. I will factor in their football resumes, the current depth chart, and their Pro Football Focus ranking.

Multiple UDFA players may make the 55-man roster, but it is also a possibility that none of them do. Fortunately for the UDFA players, the recent collective bargaining agreement increased the size of practice squads for NFL teams.

Case Cookus- QB, Northern Arizona

Key Measurables: 6-4, 205 pounds

PFF ranking: Unranked

What does he have going for him? He was a very productive player in the Big Sky Conference. Cookus threw for over 4000 yards and 31 touchdowns in 2019. He is considered a very accurate passer.

What could hold him back? He does not possess elite NFL arm talent. He would have to perform extremely well during the preseason to jump ahead of Colt Mccoy and Alex Tanney on the depth chart.

Christian Angulo- CB, Hampton,

Key Measurables: 6-2, 190 pounds. 4.67 40-yard dash

PFF ranking: Unranked

What does he have going for him? He is tall for a corner and is best suited to playing on the outside, unlike the two cornerbacks Gettleman drafted in 2020. He uses his size well to make plays on the ball. He had 14 pass breakups in 2019, including this one versus the taller Antonio Gandy-Golden.

https://twitter.com/_EdwardDavis/status/1224949480501534720?s=20

What could hold him back? He does not possess ideal speed for an NFL boundary corner. The competition will be fierce among defensive backs for the G-Men with so many recent draft picks at the position.

Tyler Haycraft- OT, Louisville

Key Measurables: 6’3” 293 pounds

PFF ranking: Unranked

What does he have going for him? Haycraft was overlooked playing right tackle on the opposite side of Mekhi Becton, but he played well for the Cardinals in 2019. He is known to be a hard worker and has been proving people wrong his entire football career. Haycraft made the team at Louisville as a walk-on and his offensive line coach thinks he has the athleticism to transition to center in the NFL.

What could hold him back? Haycraft is undersized and needs to add more weight to his frame. The competition at tackle will be tough, so his best way to stick would be making the difficult transition to center.

Dana Levine- Edge, Temple

Key Measurables: 6’4″ 235 pounds. 4.72 40-yard dash

PFF ranking: Unranked

What does he have going for him? Levine is an athletic edge prospect with a good motor. After mostly avoiding edge rushers in the draft, Dave Gettleman found an outside linebacker with upside. He had 5.5 sacks in 2019 and did sack the current Giants QB in 2018.

What could hold him back? Levine was more of a situational pass rusher for Temple. He isn’t as versatile as the linebackers the G-Men selected at the end of the draft.

Malcolm Elmore- CB, Central Methodist 

Key Measurables: 5-11, 185 pounds. 4.43 40-yard dash

PFF ranking: Unranked

What does he have going for him? The feisty defensive back was a playmaker for Central Methodist at the NAIA level. He recorded eight interceptions in his career and four of those came in 2019.

What could hold him back? He is undersized for a cornerback in the NFL. He will have to impress often at training camp to overcome his competition.

Dominique Ross- LB, North Carolina

Key Measurables: 6’4″, 228 pounds. 4.63 40-yard dash

PFF ranking: Unranked

What does he have going for him? Ross is another tall linebacker with range. His length and speed mean he can excel in pass coverage. He finished his career at North Carolina with 10 pass breakups.

What could hold him back? The NY Giants drafted four versatile and athletic linebackers at the end of the draft. Can Ross beat out players like Cam Brown in training camp?

Rysen John- WR/TE, Simon Fraser University (Canada)

Key Measurables: 6’7″, 227 pounds . 4.68 40-yard dash,  81-inch wingspan

PFF ranking: Unranked

What does he have going for him? The Canadian Sensation impressed scouts at the Hula Bowl. John has the potential to be the ultimate red zone target with his measurables. He scored 10 touchdowns for Simon Fraser University in 2019. He list’s himself as a TE on his personal twitter page. 

https://twitter.com/Jadenfootball23/status/1190733995610271744?s=20

What could hold him back? Can he handle the jump from Division 2 to the NFL? He will need to prove that he has enough speed to play receiver or enough strength to hold up at tight end.

Kyle Markway- TE, South Carolina

Key Measurables: 6’4″, 250 pounds. 4.8 40-yard dash

PFF ranking: Unranked

What does he have going for him? Markway is a well rounded tight end that can do a little bit of everything. Despite Evan Engram coming off an injury, the NY Giants did not draft a tight end in 2020. Jason Garrett liked tight ends that could block in Dallas.

What could hold him back? Markway had 31 catches in 2019, but just six catches in his career before that. He had to redshirt his second season because of injury issues.

Niko Lalos- Edge, Dartmouth

Key Measurables: 6’5″, 269 pounds. 4.97 40-yard dash

PFF ranking: Unranked

What does he have going for him? The Ivy Leaguer is a very intriguing prospect for many reasons. After playing basketball at Lebron James’ alma mater, he recorded 24 sacks during his time at Dartmouth. Giants coaches love his versatility and think he can play on the edge.

What could hold him back? The economics major played well in the Ivy League, but can it carry over to the NFL? He will have to overcome his athletic traits.

Javon Leake- RB, Maryland

Key Measurables: 6’0″, 215 pounds. 4.65 40-yard dash

PFF ranking: PFF Sleeper to Watch For

What does he have going for him? Leake was explosive for Maryland. He averaged 7.9 yards per carry and scored a touchdown on nearly 12% of his carries. He didn’t play much in a talented backfield, but when he did he took advantage.

What could hold him back? Scouts expected him to run a much better 40-yard dash. He only carried the ball 145 times at Maryland. Despite being a priority free-agent for the G-Men, he has a lot to prove in a deep and under-valued position.

Binjamen Victor- WR, Ohio State

Key Measurables: 6’4″, 200 pounds. 4.6 40-yard dash

PFF ranking: 213

What does he have going for him?  Victor was a highly regarded 4-star recruit coming out of Coconut Creek, Florida.  At Ohio State, he scored 27 touchdowns and made plays among a very talented group of receivers. He is the kind of tall receiver that many NY Giants fans expected Dave Gettleman to target during the draft.

What could hold him back? His critics will argue that he is too skinny and needs to bulk up for the NFL. Players with his body type have succeeded in the NFL, but they are usually faster.

Austin Mack- WR, Ohio State

Key Measurables: 6’2″, 215 pounds. 4.59 40-yard dash

PFF ranking: 198

What does he have going for him?  Mack was another highly regarded 4-star recruit that got lost in the shuffle a bit at Ohio State. Known for being an excellent route runner, Mack uses his size and strength to make himself an easy target.

What could hold him back? Mack has great potential, but he battled injuries and inconsistency at THE Ohio State University. His style is similar to Sterling Shepard and Golden Tate.

Derrick Dillon- WR, LSU

Key Measurables: 5’11”, 186 pounds. 4.29 40-yard dash

PFF ranking: Unranked

What does he have going for him?  You can’t teach speed. Dillon will forever live in LSU lore for making a 71-yard game-saving touchdown catch vs. Auburn in 2018. Playing among elite receivers, Dillon still found ways to make plays for the Tigers (NY Giants’ wide receiver’s coach Tyke Tolbert is an LSU guy too.)

https://twitter.com/DerrickDillon4/status/1248600714592616448?s=20

What could hold him back? Dillon is fast but was not invited to the Senior Bowl or combine to show what he can do. He will have to prove himself in camp after not always playing for LSU.

Oluwole Betiku- Edge, Illinois

Key Measurables: 6’3″, 250 pounds. 4.7 40-yard dash

PFF ranking: Unranked

What does he have going for him?  The USC transfer had nine sacks in 2019. Despite not having a ton of football experience, he has all of the traits the G-Men could ever want in a pass rusher. He entered USC as a promising 5-star recruit.

What could hold him back? Athleticism and size will not hold Betiku back during training camp. He will have to overcome a lack of football experience and other promising edge players during camp.

Kyle Murphy- Center/Guard, Rhode Island

Key Measurables: 6’3″, 316 pounds. 19 Bench Press Reps

PFF ranking: 199

What does he have going for him?  Kyle Murphy enjoys pancaking people. He did so at Rhode Island at every position on the line, displaying his versatility. The team captain has plus athleticism as well.

He’s also played center in his career and could be looking to make the jump if coaches agree, as the team needs one and it would give him his best shot to make the team.

What could hold him back? Murphy hasn’t played against a high level of competition at Rhode Island. The competition at training camp will be crowded as well, especially after the NY Giants took three hog mollies in the draft.