4 predictions for NY Giants first preseason game vs New England
By Zach Wolpin
The preseason has officially arrived for the NY Giants, with the New England Patriots hosting the G-Men for showdown No. 1 of the summer. This will be the first contest for new head coach Brian Daboll, as he’s been working hard at training camp to get his team ready for what’s to come.
Change is most definitely not going to happen overnight, and Daboll has a big task ahead of him. His first chance to see his players live against other NFL competition will be against the Pats – and these two teams have plenty of history against one another. Leading up to kickoff, here’s a look at four predictions for the matchup.
4. Giants rookies will make their impact felt
The Giants had two first-round draft picks this year after trading back their 11th overall pick in 2021 to Chicago, which took Ohio State QB Justin Fields. First off the board for NY was No. 5 overall pick Kayvon Thibodeaux. Two picks later at No. 7 was the All-American tackle Evan Neal. Both Thibodeaux and Neal are Day 1 starters for the Giants.
Buzz has been flying around training camp about Thibodeaux. He seems to be everything that the Giants could have wanted and more. An effective and consistent pass rush is something the Giants have lacked for a while now. The rookie from Oregon is expected to change that. As for Neal, right tackle had been a serious issue for Big Blue, and the former Alabama hoss is expected to improve the offensive line. He’s had some trouble adjusting to the speed of NFL pass rushers, and Thursday’s matchup vs the Patriots will be a good test.
Another rookie expected to make an impact is Wan’Dale Robinson, a second-rounder from Kentucky. He’s having a great training camp and preseason for the Giants. Robinson is expected to compliment the other play makers NY has. Additionally, New York drafted Daniel Bellinger, a tight end from San Diego State.
The Giants no longer have Evan Engram or Kyle Rudolph, leaving Bellinger taking most of the snaps with the first-team offense. Adjusting to the NFL is not easy, but these NY Giants rookies have a great chance to prove their worth in Thursday’s preseason game. You’ll want to keep a close eye on them.