If you’re still riding the high from the New York Giants’ 28-20 season-opening win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night, you’re not alone.
It was the perfect way to kick off the John Harbaugh era and gave Giants fans a glimpse of what this team could be this season. There’s clearly potential for a good year, something Big Blue Nation has been starving for for the better part of the last decade. There’s also a whole lot of potential in the rookie class.
Trust me, it’s really hard not to read too much into one game, but for the Giants rookies who played Sunday night, it’s even harder not to feel excited about how they can help make this team better this season. Of the eight rookies on the roster, six saw playing time.
Here’s how their NFL debuts shaped out.
Giants rookie grades following season-opening win over the Cowboys
Arvell Reese, LB
Grade: A
The No. 5 overall pick certainly looked like it Sunday night. Reese played a team-high 58 defensive snaps and finished second on the team with five tackles. He also added a tackle for loss and a QB hit while allowing just three receptions for 20 yards in coverage. Not too shabby for a 21-year-old making his NFL debut in primetime against a division rival that's absolutely dominated them recently.
Reese helped the defense hold a supposedly daunting Cowboys offense to just 244 total yards, including only 69 on the ground. There will be bigger tests ahead, but this was about as encouraging a start as you could ask for.
Francis "Sisi" Mauigoa, OL
Grade: A+
What do you call a rookie who played 35-plus snaps in Week 1 without giving up a single pressure – the first rookie to do so since 2018? Sisi Mauigoa.
The 6-foot-6, 330-pound lineman looked like a future star at right guard against the Cowboys. Pro Football Focus wasn’t kind to him. He earned a 46.9 overall grade on the day, reinforcing the fact that advanced stats only tell part of the story. Sometimes, the eye test tells a much bigger part.
I watched a 21-year-old dominate the line of scrimmage and look every bit like the player the Giants were hoping he’d be when they essentially swapped Dexter Lawrence for him in the pre-draft trade with the Bengals.
Colton Hood, CB
Grade: C
Colton Hood’s getting a C because he didn’t really do much with the limited snaps he got, and it feels unfair to rank him any higher or lower.
He played six defensive snaps in the second half after starting cornerbacks Greg Newsome II and Deonte Banks briefly left with injuries. Both eventually returned, leaving Hood without much of an opportunity to make his presence felt.
Malachi Fields, WR
Grade: B+
The 6-foot-4, 220-pound receiver played well under the lights, catching two of his four targets for 25 yards, including a 19-yard catch-and-run that teased how good the rookie can be.
He didn’t light up the scoreboard by any means, but the talent is clearly there. His most impressive catch of the game actually wasn’t a catch. He was ruled out of bounds, but just look at this sweet diving grab.
The most impressive part of his debut might’ve been his work in the blocking game. It became obvious pretty quickly that he’s a willing and able blocker, which is a good way to keep yourself on the field in Harbaugh’s offense. This guy is going to be something special.
Bobby Jamison-Travis, DL
Grade: N/A
Bobby Jamison-Travis was among the Giants’ inactives before kickoff, leaving him on the sidelines for Week 1. We’ll have to wait at least another week for the sixth-rounder’s NFL debut.
J.C. Davis, OL
Grade: N/A
J.C. Davis was also among the Giants’ inactives before kickoff and didn’t get a chance to make his NFL debut.
Jack "Cannonball" Kelly, LB
Grade: B+
Jack Kelly didn’t see much time on the defensive side of the ball. I guess that’s what happens when the two starting linebackers don’t miss a defensive snap. Even though Kelly didn’t see any snaps at LB, he did see plenty of work on special teams. He played 14 snaps across multiple third-phase units, posting an impressive 84.2 overall grade ($) from PFF.
He didn’t finish the game with anything in the box score, but as long as he continues to produce as a special teamer, he’ll have a role on Harbaugh’s squad.
Dominic Zvada, K
Grade: A
While he didn’t attempt a field goal Sunday night (major bummer), Dominic Zvada gets an A for putting all four extra-point tries through the uprights. That’s called taking care of business.
If the 22-year-old can continue doing what he’s supposed to -- Giants fans know better than most that’s easier said than done -- he just might be the answer for the next decade-plus at a position that’s been in flux for the past several years.
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