The New York Giants are about to wrap up a very successful preseason. With their final game against the New England Patriots on Thursday night, roster cuts are officially moving to the forefront.
The G-Men will have to trim their roster from the offseason 90-man to the regular season’s 53-man by August 26 at 4:00 p.m. ET. That’s 37 players whose NFL dreams will be put on pause... for now. Some will be cut outright, while others will land on the practice squad to hone their skills.
Roster spots come at a premium, and for these three undrafted rookies, their final preseason game might be the difference between taking the field on Sundays or watching from the couch.
3 undrafted Giants rookies who must step up against Patriots in final preseason game
Dalen Cambre - WR/ST
Unlike the other two undrafted guys below, Dalen Cambre has been talked about a lot this offseason. The former Louisiana Ragin’ Cajun has been one of camp’s more interesting names, but it was his electric 34-yard catch against the Jets that really turned heads.
Jameis DEEP ball to Cambre 💪
— New York Giants (@Giants) August 17, 2025
📺: NBC4 pic.twitter.com/dEl3MlJtXp
Not only was it an incredible catch, it also stirred up some Jameis Winston trade chatter... but we digress.
Football Focus. Cambre finished the game with two catches on four targets for 45 yards and earned an 81.8 Pro Football Focus grade. The wide receiver room won’t be kind to Cambre. He’s likely facing the steepest climb of the three. Four spots are already locked up, and that leaves Cambre, Montrell Washington, Beaux Collins, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Ihmir Smith-Marsette, and Zach Pascal fighting for two or three more.
His special teams work as a gunner and blocker could help him sneak in, but no game looms larger for the 24-year-old than Thursday night against New England.
Makari Paige - SAF
Makari Paige has a lot going for him. He’s got ideal size (6-foot-4, 208 pounds), a track record of forcing turnovers, and he’s in a position group that’s relatively thin.
Paige is coming off a very strong showing in preseason Game 2 against the Jets. His 87.1 PFF grade ranked second only behind Dee Williams. His interception of Adrian Martinez all but confirmed he's fully in the running for a spot. It was a much-needed bounce-back for the former Michigan Wolverine, as his first preseason showing against the Bills left a lot to be desired.
The 23-year-old offers versatility and special teams value. He’s likely in a battle with K’Von Wallace and Raheem Layne for the final safety slot behind Jevón Holland, Tyler Nubin, and Dane Belton. Another strong game against the Patriots could be enough to lock him in.
O'Donnell Fortune - CB
The Giants have a cornerback problem. Paulson Adebo and Dru Phillips are the only starters locked into place. Everything else is up in the air.
While Deonte Banks and Cor’Dale Flott battle it out for CB2 bragging rights, the bench is full of question marks. O’Donnell Fortune comes to East Rutherford by way of South Carolina. He’s got good size (6-foot-1, 185 pounds) and was one of the more intriguing UDFA signings. He was never a Day 1 or Day 2 guy, but going undrafted still raised some eyebrows.
His outlook is... tricky. He's not the most athletic or physical corner. And he hasn't done enough to separate himself from a seemingly endless pack of contenders. The former Gamecock is coming off a rough showing against the Jets, earning a 65.5 PFF grade. That came after getting burned by the Bills the week prior. Not a great start.
With Tre Hawkins III, Nic Jones, Art Green, Korie Black, T.J. Moore, and Dee Williams all fighting for three or four spots, Fortune's going to need to turn his fortunes around fast.