After three weeks of battling for positioning, the NY Giants roster has now been reduced by five. The first round of cuts took place on Tuesday, as all 32 NFL teams lowered their roster size from 90 to 85, beginning the three week transaction frenzy in the NFL.
The Giants cut six players to get their roster down to 85; CB Gavin Heslop, WR Austin Proehl, DB Micheal Jacquet, G Josh Rivas, DB Jarrod Wilson, and FB/TE Jeremiah Hall. The Giants had to cut six players instead of five because they claimed DB Olaijah Griffin off waivers from Buffalo, the son of rapper Warren G, to add additional depth to the cornerback position.
The first round of cuts were difficult for the Giants because they are ravaged by injuries. The Giants need healthy bodies to help them get through the preseason, especially at the offensive line and defensive back positions, and the closer we get to the regular season, the less players the Giants will have at their disposal.
After the Giants form their initial 53 man roster, you can be sure Joe Schoen and Brandon Brown will be scouring the wavier wire looking to add veteran help to both the cornerbacks and offensive line positions. Here is the Giants updated depth chart after the first round of cuts.
NY Giants quarterback depth chart
QB starter-Daniel Jones
QB reserves-Tyrod Taylor, Davis Webb
This is pretty straight forward. Daniel Jones is the starter, at least for now. Tyrod Taylor is apparently going to receive some first teams reps at quarterback during practice this week, but Brian Daboll said that Taylor receiving first teams reps is not an indictment on Jones’ play.
That is hard to believe. You would think if the coaching staff was really sold on Jones this season, they would give Jones all the first team reps because of how valuable they are. The silver lining: Daboll wants to win and win in any way possible. Webb, who played well in the first preseason game will also likely be on the roster.
NY Giants running back depth chart
RB starter-Saquon Barkley
RB reserves-Matt Breida, Gary Brightwell, Jashaun Corbin, Antonio Williams
The first preseason game showed us that the Giants running back depth chart is in much better shape than expected. While Barkley is the slam dunk starter and will likely play all three downs, his backups look more than capable to play if needed.
With veteran Matt Breida out due to injury during the Giants preseason win over New England, Brightwell surprisingly took the backup reigns and performed exceptionally well. Corbin flashed his explosive speed during the second half and Williams balled out during the last drive, leading the Giants down the field for a game winning field goal.
While Brightwell is regarded as a special teams star, Corbin performed well as the kick returner and Williams made a great open field tackler as the gunner. All of the reserves are capable of contributing on special teams, so it will be interesting to see which one or two running backs get left off the initial roster, as the Giants are likely to keep three or four running backs.
NY Giants offensive line depth chart
LT-Andrew Thomas, Josh Ezeudu, Devery Hamilton, Roy Mbaeteka
LG-Shane Lemieux, Josh Ezeudu, Ben Bredeson, Nick Gates
C-Jon Feliciano, Jamil Douglas, Max Garcia
RG-Mark Glowinski, Ben Bredeson
RT-Evan Neal, Garrett McGhin, Will Holden, Eric Smith, Matt Peart
The starting five of the Giants offensive line was creating quite the buzz and optimism entering training camp. While much of the buzz still remains, it has taken a hit due to injuries. All five starters have been banged up at points this summer, thankfully mostly non-serious injuries except for Shane Lemieux, who has a toe injury that seems to be putting his week 1 availability in doubt.
Rookie Josh Ezeudu has struggled this summer, creating an opening for Bredeson to take Lemieux’s spot at left guard. The Giants may have a strong starting five, but have tremendously week depth. Look for Schoen to try and upgrade the backup positions at both tackle spots through the wavier wire after teams finalize their initial rosters. Nick Gates and Matt Peart are wild cards as they are both on the PUP list, but it is unlikely Peart will make the roster regardless of if he’s healthy or not to play.
NY Giants wide receiver depth chart
Outside WR starters-Kenny Golladay, Kadarius Toney
Outside WR reserves-Collin Johnson, Darius Slayton, CJ Board, David Sills V, Keelan Doss, Robert Foster, Marcus Kemp
Slot WRs-Sterling Shepard, Wan’Dale Robinson, Richie James, Alex Bachman
The Giants have a lot of wide receiver talent, but the position group contains lots of question marks. While Golladay and Toney have crazy talent, Golladay has struggled throughout camp and Toney is battling injuries yet again.
It remains to be seen if Shepard will be ready to start the season, but both the rookie Robinson and the veteran James have had strong camps, and would be able to adequately fill the void. Johnson has been a camp standout, and could push for early playing time.
NY Giants tight end depth chart
TE starter-Daniel Bellinger
TE reserves-Chris Myriack, Austin Allen, Andre Miller, Jordan Akins, Ricky Seals-Jones
After missing the first couple practices of training camp, Bellinger returned to the field and has won the tight end starter competition. While the Giants don’t feature tight end heavy pass sets, tight ends are integral in the blocking game.
Bellinger thrives in that aspect, as does Myriack, which is why they currently sit at the top of the depth chart. Miller, the undrafted rookie out of Maine, shined early in camp but broke his forearm during practice last week, putting his availability to play this season in doubt.
Seals-Jones has not practiced yet this summer and Akins has failed to make an impact, which will likely lead to the two veterans being cut. If the Giants keep three tight ends, undrafted rookie Austin Allen could sneak his way onto the roster.
NY Giants defensive line depth chart
DL starters-Leonard Williams, Dexter Lawrence
DL reserves-Justin Ellis, Jalyn Holmes, DJ Davidson, Ryder Anderson, Nick Williams, Chris Hinton, David Moa
While Wink Martindale traditionally plays a 3-4 defensive front, the Giants have been deploying two man defensive fronts all of summer. Leonard Williams and Dexter Lawerence are two massive human beings who have been dominant in training camp, proving they are more than capable of handling the two man duty. The defensive line depth is not particularly strong, but Ellis and Holmes are experienced players who will back up Williams and Lawerence.
NY Giants linebackers depth chart
OLB starters-Kayvon Thibodeaux, Azeez Ojulari
OLB reserves-Oshane Ximines, Jihad Ward, Quincy Roche, Elerson Smith, Tomon Fox
Thibodeaux and Ojulari are locked in at the outside linebacker positions, and Giants fans are envisioning a Justin Tuck and Micheal Strahan like pairing. Ximines has surprisingly received second teams reps the summer ahead of Roche. Ward, who has experience playing for Martindale in Baltimore, is locked in as backup. Smith, the 2021 fourth-round pick, has flashed his explosive ability in camp, and forced what should have been a safety in the first preseason game, though the refs botched the call.
ILB starters-Blake Martinez, Tae Crowder
ILB reserves-Darrian Beavers, Micah McFadden, Cam Brown, Carter Coughlin, Austin Calitro
Blake Martinez has missed three straight practices which have made many wonder if he suffered a setback in his return from a torn ACL. Beavers has been having a very strong training camp and could push Crowder, who has struggled some, for that second starting spot. Brown is a special teams ace who has been playing well in linebacker duties as well this summer, likely once again securing his spot on the roster.
NY Giants secondary depth chart
CB starters-Adoree’ Jackson, Aaron Robinson
CB reserves-Rodarius Williams, Olaijah Griffin, Darren Evans, Khalil Dorsey, Zyon Gilbert
Slot Corner-Darnay Holmes, Cor’Dale Flott
While Jackson has been pretty much lockdown so far in training camp, Robinson has been the exact opposite. Robinson, the 2021 third-round pick, was expected to take over the second outside cornerback position but has struggled in training camp and was torched by the Patriots backups in the first preseason game.
While Robinson is still a better option than the other outside backups, you can bet Schoen will be looking to add a veteran to this group. Holmes has shined this training camp, seemingly forcing a turnover every practice. The Giants could consider moving him to the outside opposite Jackson while starting the impressive rookie Flott in the slot.
Safety starters-Xavier McKinney, Julian Love
Safety reserves-Andrew Adams, Dane Belton, Trenton Thompson, Yusuf Corker, Nate Meadors
McKinney is the Giants new defensive signal caller and the star safety will likely play every defensive snap for the Giants this season. Love is the strong side safety will also be on the field every play. The depth here is not as weak as at corner, as Adams is a proven veteran and Thompson and Corker, two undrafted rookies, have been very impressive. Belton, a fourth-round pick out of Iowa, was likely to be featured a lot in three safety packages, but broke his collarbone and will likely be out until at least October.
NY Giants special teams depth chart
Kicker-Graham Gano
Punter-Jamie Gillan
Long snapper-Casey Kreiter
None of these three players have a backup at their position, likely locking in their roster spots. The Giants could still upgrade from the Scottish Hammer at punter through the wavier wire, but Gano and Kreiter, two Pro Bowlers at their positions, are stalwarts of the Giants special teams.