Alright, so I officially got the ball rolling on building out my comprehensive Giants' 90-man offseason roster breakdown on Thursday, and with 88 more players to look at, it's officially time to go Star Wars mode and jump to lightspeed.
I've already talked about linebacker Darius Muasau's three's-a-crowd dilemma with Tremaine Edmunds, Micah McFadden, and Arvell Reese all eating into his playing time. I've also discussed safety Beau Brade's reunion with John Harbaugh mattering all of none to his making the 53-man roster come August. Now, it's time to look at another fringe-roster guy, except I'm going to be much more offensive this time.
So let's talk interior offensive lineman Jake Kubas.
- Alexa, play "The Reason" by Kubas-tank
- Try your odds with the Schlott machine
- Jake Kubas fun fact extravaganza
Alexa, play "The Reason" by Kubas-tank
Coming out of North Dakota State in 2024, the odds were always stacked against Kubas. As an undrafted free agent, his initial goal was simply to survive final roster cuts. Instead, a brutal twist of fate stepped in when 2024 free-agent signing Austin Schlottmann broke his leg right before the season opener. That disaster forced the 6-foot-4, 308-pound rookie into action way ahead of schedule, paving the way for five games (three starts) down the stretch.
But the NFL is a business of constant roster churn, and UDFAs rarely get infinite priority. By 2025, Schlottmann was fully healthy and reclaimed his status as one of the team's interior swingman. Since Schlotty stayed healthy enough to play all 17 games last year, the luxury of carrying a developmental guard on the active roster vanished.
Kubas was waived during August camp cuts and spent the entirety of 2025 relegated to the practice squad, working quietly in the shadows, waiting for his opportunity. And here it is.
Try your odds with the Schlott machine
Just when it looked like Kubas might be permanently trapped in practice squad purgatory, free agency delivered a massive plot twist. Former Giants head coach Brian Daboll packed his bags for the Tennessee Titans, and he made sure to take all of his favorite guys with him, bringing the Schlott machine with him to Nashville.
Schlottmann's departure instantly created a path to the 53-man. While general manager Joe Schoen has added a bunch of short-term band-aids to the room, Schlottmann's exit leaves the door ever so slightly cracked open for Kubas to make the absolute most of a very limited opportunity. This summer presents the perfect runway for him to prove his value on the inside. His versatile skill set makes him a cost-effective, high-upside interior reserve. He's got a shot.
Jake Kubas fun fact extravaganza
Long before he was trying to stick on an NFL roster, Kubas was bullying high schoolers back home in Dickinson, North Dakota. He left such a legendary impact as the first-ever player from Trinity high school to make it to the league that his former high school coach still uses him to motivate the next generations.
His former coach frequently jokes with the current team that the "Ghost of Jake Kubas" still haunts the weight room and practice field, watching over them to make sure nobody is slacking off or skipping reps.
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