The start of the 2022 NFL season is almost here. For certain players, not making the 53-man roster has not even crossed their minds. Then there are those who have to fight in every rep, snap, and practice to show why they deserve a chance to play for the New York Giants. Cutting the team down to 53 players will be a difficult task for the front office and coaching staff combined.
Preseason football is officially over for all 32 teams and the Giants lost a close one to the Jets on Sunday, 31-27. Backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor took a big hit from a Jets defender and never returned to the game. Taylor was brought in as insurance for Daniel Jones, so Big Blue will hope he is ready as backup for Week 1. The NFL’s roster deadline is coming on Tuesday. With that being said, here are three under-the-radar players who deserve to make the NY Giants 53-man roster.
3. LB Quincy Roche
It’s not an easy time for players or coaches right now getting ready to trim things down. Relationships and trust have been built in the previous weeks and months, and some of those familiar faces may not be around come Week 1. Deserving of making the final roster cut is second-year pro from Miami, Quincy Roche.
Roche played in 14 games for the Giants last season with three of those as a starter. He finished the season with 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble, five tackles for loss, five QB hits and 38 combined tackles. Unofficial depth charts have Roche behind a very intriguing prospect drafted by the Giants in 2021, Elerson Smith. Drafted in the fourth round out of Northern Iowa, Smith has a huge 6-7 frame and weighs 255 pounds. He was injured to begin last season, but did play in eight games for the Giants.
Smith does have some upside for the Giants, and maybe both will make the roster. If only one could stay, Roche proved his worth last season more than Smith. That may just be the deciding factor on why one makes it over the other. We’ll find out tomorrow.