Football is so back. With preseason games wrapping up within the week, it’s officially roster cut time. The New York Giants must go from 90 players to 53 by August 26.
Related: Giants shake up quarterback room in updated 53-man roster prediction
It won’t be easy... in the best way possible. General manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll have had a whole offseason and two preseason games to evaluate the best 53 players to take this team from dumpster fire to frisky.
Here are three preseason darlings whose stock has risen to the point of mortal roster lock — albeit on another team.
3 Giants preseason standouts who could get cut but will find a new team instantly
Tommy DeVito - QB
Not Tommy Cutlets! Take the ravioli, take the bruschetta — whatever you do, just don’t take the cutlets!
Unfortunately, we’re putting the “cut” in Cutlets. It has nothing to do with what he has or hasn’t done — it’s just simple roster math. The Giants will carry three roster-worthy quarterbacks, and they currently have four. Two are roster locks: Russell Wilson is the starter, and Jaxson Dart is the future. Then it’s a two-person race: Mr. Charisma, Jameis Winston, and NY fan favorite, Tommy DeVito.
And Giants assistant general manager Brandon Brown might have already signaled who’s won that race by telling the media Winston is going nowhere. Tough look for the former undrafted free agent.
DeVito’s preseason has been good: 13-of-18 for 125 yards with one touchdown and one interception, with an 86.6 quarterback rating. There’s no doubt that if he were released, another team would scoop him up instantly. He’s a better backup option than what several teams have.
Thomas Fidone II - TE
6-foot-5 athletic tight ends who can stretch the field are in hot demand. Long gone are the hand-in-the-dirt, gritty, blocking tight ends. It’s all about the move tight ends. Enter Thomas Fidone.
At one point in time, the 22-year-old was the second-ranked tight end of the 2021 recruiting class. Two ACL injuries at Nebraska surely knocked his draft profile a bit, but make no mistake, there is real, raw potential waiting to be tapped. It just might not be in East Rutherford.
Theo Johnson is the only tight end roster lock. The next-closest pick feels like Chris Manhertz. Then it’s a three-way race between Fidone, Daniel Bellinger, and Greg Dulcich for the likely final spot. Much like the analysis for DeVito, Big Blue is in “too many bodies for too few spots” mode. And with the team looking to bring in the most talent possible for 2025, a developmental player like Fidone might get relegated to the practice squad, but that allows any other team to go and get him. And they will.
The seventh-round rookie’s preseason stats won’t wow the casual fan (four catches for 26 yards), but he can only catch what’s thrown his way, and he’s four-for-four in that department. His health has been the concern, and with that looking like a non-issue, expect that if he doesn't make the roster, he’ll be a hot commodity as another team’s developmental project.
Montrell Washington - WR
Montrell Washington came to New York by way of Kansas City, by way of Denver. Since he’s arrived, all he’s done is impress. Training camp showed that he could be something more than a flier. Preseason has all but solidified that he’s an NFL player. However, roster math is here to play fun police once again.
There’s a way in which the Giants keep Washington on the roster and bring seven receivers into 2025. They could do that, but it’s unlikely. There seems to be a seven-receiver or four-running-back 53-man puzzle, where Washington and Dante “Turbo” Miller feel like the two on the bubble.
Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, Wan’Dale Robinson, and Jalin Hyatt feel like roster locks. Then it’s preseason heroes Beaux Collins and Lil’Jordan Humphrey, who feel slightly ahead of him.
Washington has had a strong preseason: four catches on eight targets for 79 yards, plus one carry for three yards. Even still, don’t be surprised if the four-year vet looks to stick with someone else if he’s unable to find a place with Big Blue. He’d be a welcome addition to several receiver rooms.
Big Blue wraps up its preseason against the Patriots on Thursday at 8:00 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime.