NY Giants roster breakdown: Locks, long shots, camp bubble players
The NY Giants roster will a significantly more talented one this season than last, with few jobs up for grabs during training camp and the preseason this summer
Competition is the name of the game for the players aiming to secure a spot on the NY Giants roster coming out of training camp and the preseason this summer.
NY Giants head coach Joe Judge has more familiarity with the vast majority of this roster, entering his second season, but newcomers such as wide receiver Kenny Golladay, cornerback Adoree’ Jackson and several other free agent additions will significantly cut down on the number of jobs up for grabs.
Here’s a breakdown of every player on the NY Giants roster, and whether they fall into the category of locks, bubble players, or long-shots to make the team:
Locks: 39
QB Daniel Jones
Obviously. Nothing is more important to the NY Giants’ franchise trajectory than Jones proving he can become an elite quarterback this season.
QB Mike Glennon
The NY Giants believe Glennon is an upgrade at backup over Colt McCoy, Glennon’s 6-21 record might suggest otherwise.
RB Saquon Barkley
When healthy, Barkley is one of the NFL’s premier running backs. This season will be about proving he can stay on the field.
RB Devontae Booker
Even Booker was surprised the NY Giants signed him on the first day of free agency, but the former Raiders back could play a vital role as Barkley’s change-of-pace complement.
FB Elijhaa Penny
Few teams across the league carry a fullback these days, but Penny has a role in the NY Giants’ system, and is a favorite of the coaching staff.
WR Kenny Golladay
The prize offseason addition, Golladay is two years removed from finishing as the NFL’s leading receiver, and will play a vital role in determining if Jones can be an lite quarterback.
WR Sterling Shepard
Shepard now has the chance to return to the slot, where he’s thrived in the past.
WR Darius Slayton
With the pressure now off, thanks to the addition of Golladay, Slayton doesn’t need to be the NY Giants’ top receiver. Might that lead to his most productive campaign yet?
WR Kadarius Toney
Toney has shown very little this spring and early in training camp, but the NY Giants were intrigued enough by his explosiveness and versatility to choose him No. 20 overall in the NFL Draft.
TE Evan Engram
Engram made his first career Pro Bowl in 2020, but he was also charged with eight drops. He’ll aim to build on last season’s success, after the NY Giants picked up his fifth-year option.
TE Kyle Rudolph
Rudolph caught 40 of his 48 career touchdowns in the red-zone, which should give the NY Giants, one of the NFL’s worst offenses inside the 20-yard line, a boost.
OT Andrew Thomas
The NY Giants are banking on the No. 4 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft making significant strides.
OT Matt Peart
Peart flashed plenty of promise, and versatility in 2020, giving the NY Giants hope he can develop into a bookend tackle.
OT Nate Solder
Solder returns after opting out of the 2020 season in unfamiliar territory, fighting for a roster spot. He’s easily the best option as the Giants’ swing-tackle.
OG Will Hernandez
Hernandez has been in the midst of a position change, spending his time almost exclusively at right guard this spring and summer.
OG Shane Lemieux
Lemieux was expected to be the NY Giants’ Week 1 left guard, but a knee injury suffered this week could change that.
C Nick Gates
Gates played well enough at center last season to nail down the starting job, with little competition, entering the 2021 season.
DL Leonard Williams
Williams must prove this season, after signing a massive new contract, that his career-high 11.5 sacks in 2020 weren’t a fluke.
DL Dexter Lawrence
Lawrence might be the NY Giants’ best defender, but he’s already developed a reputation among coaches and executives as a player to watch.
DL Danny Shelton
The task for Shelton will be helping the NY Giants forget Dalvin Tomlinson.
DL Austin Johnson
Johnson re-signed this offseason, and could push for a starting job at defensive end.
DL B.J. Hill
Hill enters the final year of his contract, aiming to carve out a niche and prove that he’s worth a second deal.
LB Blake Martinez
Martinez was one of the NY Giants’ premier defenders in 2020, and one of the locker room’s most respected leaders.
LB Reggie Ragland
Ragland has a chance to push for a starting job, after producing 52 tackles and one sack in his lone season with the Lions in 2020.
LB Azeez Ojulari
The NY Giants’ second-round pick is viewed by NFL executives and coaches as one of the “Steals” of the NFL Draft, and the Georgia alum could push for a starting job immediately.
LB Lorenzo Carter
Carter made it all the way back from a ruptured Achilles suffered last October to being on the field for the beginning of training camp. The next step is proving he can be a dominant edge rusher.
LB Oshane Ximines
Ximines still has plenty to prove, coming off a significant injury ahead of his third NFL season.
LB Ifeadi Odenigbo
Odenigbo could contribute starter-quality snaps immediately, and he has plenty of upside as an edge-rush presence.
LB Elerson Smith
The NY Giants are seemingly bringing the rookie along slowly.
CB James Bradberry
Bradberry made his first career Pro Bowl last season, and might be the NY Giants’ most dominant defensive player.
CB Adoree’ Jackson
Pairing Jackson opposite Bradberry completes the NY Giants’ secondary rebuild, and gives New York a pair of dominant perimeter defenders.
CB Aaron Robinson
Robinson is a sleeper to steal the starting nickel cornerback job as a rookie.
CB Darnay Holmes
Holmes looked every bit the part of a lockdown cornerback in the slot, if Williamson is going to win a starting job, he’ll have to beat out Holmes.
S Jabrill Peppers
Peppers is a Swiss Army knife of a defender, capable of making an impact up near the line of scrimmage in the box or deep in coverage.
S Logan Ryan
Ryan’s impact has been invaluable on the NY Giants’ defense, since his arrival last summer, and his veteran presence makes New York’s secondary a formidable one.
S Xavier McKinney
McKinney has the potential to be a breakout star for the NY Giants, and flashed all kinds of potential late last season.
S Julian Love
Love provides quality depth both at safety and slot cornerback.
K Graham Gano
Gano built a solid Pro Bowl resumè in 2020, and parlayed that success into a long-term contract, he’ll aim to build on that strong performance this season.
LS Carson Tinker
This job is already all but locked up by Tinker.