NY Giants better hope rookie class’s dismal preseason is an aberration

Kadarius Toney and the NY Giants rookie class have done little to inspire confidence they’ll be able to contribute in 2021, following a dismal preseason 

Few teams got less out of their 2020 NFL Draft class during preseason than the NY Giants.

The next time Kadarius Toney walks onto the MetLife Stadium turf in uniform will be the first time.

Promising second-round pass-rusher Azeez Ojulari was limited to only 35 total exhibition snaps.

Elerson Smith has battled injuries all summer.

Gary Brightwell won the No. 3 running back job, in part because of the fact that the NY Giants invested a sixth-round pick in the Arizona alum, but he could have very easily been left on the chopping room floor in favor of journeyman Corey Clement.

With all of the adversity the Giants’ rookie class has dealt with this summer, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that the highest-graded rookie on New York’s roster — according to Pro Football Focus — is currently on the practice squad.

"Highest: TE Jake Hausmann, 70.0Lowest: RB Gary Brightwell, 51.1There’s not much to write home about here. First-rounder Kadarius Toney didn’t play a down, and second-rounder Azeez Ojulari played a non-descript 35 snaps. Hausmann earned the highest grade on the back of his run-blocking and ended up on the practice squad."

It’s certainly far too early to panic about Toney, but this summer has not gone the way the NY Giants would have hoped, in terms of getting him up to speed and building chemistry with third-year quarterback Daniel Jones.

If Toney winds up being a playmaker, and Ojulari a disruptive force along the front-seven, they’ll find key roles with the NY Giants.

But, the Giants can’t be happy with what this class has done — or more aptly, not been able to do so far.

Matt Lombardo is FanSided’s National NFL Insider and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday. Email Matt: Matt.Lombardo@FanSided.com.