The NY Giants bolstered the talent at several positions this offseason, which could create competition for precious few jobs on the 53-man roster durning training camp
The NY Giants’ facility in East Rutherford sits dormant, following a dizzying spring of OTA and minicamp practices, ahead of what promises to be a gruelingly competitive training camp next month.
When the NY Giants’ players, coaches, and staff reconvene on July 27, there might only be a handful of roster spots up for grabs, the result of big and targeted free agent spending and an influx of high-end talent during the NFL Draft this spring.
The pressure is on quarterback Daniel Jones to make significant strides in his development, and the Giants spent like an organization hellbent on breaking a four-year postseason drought and returning to the postseason for just the second time since winning the Super Bowl following the 2011 campaign.
So, who joins Jones, Saquon Barkley, and Kenny Golladay on the NY Giants’ roster? Who’s left out in the summer heat looking for work?
Here’s an updated projection for the NY Giants’ 53-man roster, following this spring’s OTA and minicamp practices
Quarterbacks (2)
Daniel Jones, Mike Glennon
Outside looking in: Clayton Thorson
The NY Giants are all in on Daniel Jones … For now.
After spending significant resources to bolster his supporting cast, both via free agency (signing Kenny Golladay, John Ross, and Kyle Rudolph) and the NFL Draft (choosing Kadarius Toney in Round 1), the NY Giants are banking on Jones taking the kind of leap in Year 3, that most quarterbacks do in Year 2, as Josh Allen did a year ago.
Still, after watching Daniel Jones suffer hamstring and ankle injuries late last season, the NY Giants believe they’ve upgraded the backup quarterback spot by bringing in a savvy veteran like Glennon.
Running backs (6)
Saquon Barkley, Devontae Booker, Ryquell Armstead, Gary Brightwell, Corey Clement, Elijaah Penny
Outside looking in: Taquan Mizzell, Sandro Platzgummer
Six running backs seems … a lot, especially for an offense that will largely funnel through Barkley.
However, the NY Giants aim to be a run-first scheme, and need an insurance policy on Barkley being able to stay healthy for a full 16 games.
Booker will get all of the first-team practice reps until Barkley is able to return. Look for Armstead and Clement t to battle for the No. 3 spot, with Clement potentially being the odds-on favorite to be a third-down specialist. The NY Giants are among the last remaining teams to use a fullback, and if that continues, Penny’s spot on the roster is safe.
Wide receivers (6)
Kenny Golladay, Kadarius Toney, Darius Slayton, Sterling Shepard, John Ross, Dante Pettis
Outside looking in: C.J. Board, Derrick Dillon, Austin Mack, Alex Bachman
Wide receiver is the most improved position on the NY Giants’ roster, year-over-year, and a strong argument can be made that it is now New York’s deepest.
Besides landing the prize of free agency at the position, Kenny Golladay, the NY Giants also added Kadarius Toney in the first-round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Golladay’s addition should allow Shepard to return to his natural position, in the slot, and ease the pressure on Slayton to perform like a true No. 1 receiver.
Just how improved are the NY Giants receivers entering this season?
Pettis, Board, Dillon, Mack, and Bachman all played last season and should all be considered long-shots to make the roster this summer. This is what building a dynamic offense around a young quarterback looks like.
Tight ends (4)
Evan Engram, Kyle Rudolph, Kaden Smith, Levine Toilolo
Outside looking in: Nakie Griffin-Stewart, Rysen John, Cole Hikutini
The NY Giants once again hope a breakout season is in the cards for Engram, who will take the field in 2021 playing on his fifth-year option. Engram is one year removed from his first career Pro Bowl, but was charged with eight drops and was wildly inconsistent.
As a result of Engram’s struggles, the NY Giants signed Rudolph in free agency, dropping a legitimate red zone weapon into the offense. Rudolph has caught 40 of his 48 career touchdowns inside the 20-yard line.
The NY Giants hope that Toilolo can provide some value and depth as a run-blocker, and contribute on special teams.
Offensive line (8)
Andrew Thomas, Shane Lemieux, Nick Gates, Will Hernandez, Matt Peart, Nate Solder, Zach Fulton, Jonotthan Harrison
There’s a chance that some competition develops along the interior of the NY Giants’ offensive line, but if OTAs and minicamp are any indication, the line is largely set.
Solder returns after opting out last season, and will likely serve as the NY Giants’ swing-tackle and provide veteran leadership behind the scenes. Meanwhile, Fulton and Harrison have experience and versatility playing all three interior spots, which could prove a rock-solid insurance policy on center Nick Gates possibly regressing or Lemieux not making strides in his second season.
Defensive line (5)
Leonard Williams, Dexter Lawrence, Danny Shelton, Austin Johnson, B.J. Hill
Outside looking in: R.J. McIntosh, David Moa, Raymond Johnson, Niko Lalos
The backbone of the NY Giants’ defense the past several seasons, the defensive line remains among the deeper and more talented positions on the roster, even after wholesale upgrades at cornerback and wide receiver.
Bringing Williams back on a long-term extension was one of the NY Giants’ top offseason priorities, now executed, but the pressure is on Williams at this point to prove his career-high 11.5 sack 2020 campaign wasn’t an aberration.
Lawrence is one of the NFL’s more athletically gifted interior defensive lineman and in addition to being a stout run-stuffer can generate an interior pass-rush, as well.
Shelton and Johnson will look to soften the blow of Dalvin Tomlinson’s departure via free agency to the Minnesota Vikings.
Linebackers (10)
Blake Martinez, Lorenzo Carter, Oshane Ximines, Reggie Ragland, Ifeady Odenigbo, Azeez Ojulari, Elerson Smith, Cam Brown, Tae Crowder, Carter Coughlin
Outside looking in: T.J. Brunson, Devante Downs, Garrett Cale, Trent Harris
A case can be made that Martinez was a Pro Bowl snub in his first season with the NY Giants, but there’s no mistaking the fact that in 2020 he emerged as one of the roster’s most vocal and respected leadership voices.
The NY Giants are banking on Carter and Ximines both coming back from serious injuries and making serious strides in their developments as an edge presence.
Many view Ojulari as a steal of the NFL Draft, and there’s a chance that he could vault to the top of the outside linebacker depth chart with a strong summer. Look for Ragland to be the odds on favorite to start alongside Martinez in the heart of the NY Giants’ defense.
Cornerbacks (5)
James Bradberry, Adoree’ Jackson, Darnay Holmes, Aaron Robinson, Isaac Yiadom
Outside looking in: Montre Hartage, Madre Harper, Chis Milton, Quincy Wilson
Not only is the NY Giants’ cornerback room easily the most improved over the past two seasons, but it might be one of the five most gifted collections of cornerbacks in the NFL.
Bradberry is coming off a Pro Bowl season, and will be joined on the perimeter by Jackson, who finished the 2019 campaign, his most recent fully-healthy season, with a 75.2 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus.
The NY Giants loved what they saw from Holmes in 2020, and are optimistic he’s able to build on a strong rookie campaign in which he held opposing quarterbacks to a 91.2 passer rating when targeting him. Robinson could push for immediate playing time.
Safeties (4)
Jabrill Peppers, Logan Ryan, Xavier McKinney, Julian Love
Peppers and Ryan struck an instant chemistry on the backend of the NY Giants’ defense last fall, despite Love arriving having never played the position before in his career.
While Ryan signed a long-term extension on Christmas morning, Peppers still has much to prove, entering 2021 on a fifth-year option.
Meanwhile, McKinney has the potential to be the NY Giants’ breakout star in 2021. McKinney arrived with much promise, as the NY Giants’ second-round pick in 2021, but a foot injury derailed his rookie campaign. Over the final five weeks, once healthy, McKinney produced 25 total tackles, intercepted a pivotal pass in a victory over the Dallas Cowboys in the season finale, and broke up another.
NY Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham frequently deploys looks with three safeties, which will undoubtedly increase McKinney’s playing time.
Specialists (3):
Graham Gano, Carson Tinker, Ryan Santoso
Outside looking in: Riley Dixon, Casey Kreiter
Not much change here, save for Santoso over Dixon, after Dixon seemed to regress in 2021.
Matt Lombardo is FanSided’s National NFL Insider and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday. Email Matt: Matt.Lombardo@FanSided.com, Follow Matt on Twitter: @MattLombardoNFL