The New York Giants wrapped up OTAs at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center with 10 days of practice under new head coach John Harbaugh. With no contact or pads allowed, it was all about getting familiar with the new schemes: Matt Nagy’s offense and Dennard Wilson’s defense.
Big Blue was seemingly just as busy off the field as it was on it, signing three veteran receivers -- Odell Beckham Jr., Braxton Berrios, and JuJu Smith-Schuster -- along with defensive lineman Josh Tupou.
The final sessions in shorts gave Harbaugh an early look at who could make the final roster before things turn mandatory.
While everyone's eyes were likely glued to the more high-profile names, there were a couple of under-the-radar guys who quiietly put together a surprising spring that deserve a little more attention. Here are five players who made a noticeable impression.
5 Giants who didn’t waste their opportunity at OTAs
Odell Beckham Jr. - wide receiver
Calling Odell Beckham Jr. "under-the-radar" is like calling a dog a cat, but he falls into the category not for his name, but for the expectations that come with his signing.
The G-Men brought the 33-year-old back on a non-guaranteed one-year deal which suggested he'd have to fight for a spot. But Beckham joined the first-team offense and impressed almost instantly.
The Giants legend caught every single pass thrown his way during 11-on-11 drills. He looked really good coming out of his breaks, like old Odell good. He was out there making the starting cornerbacks look lost. It was everything Giants fans hoping for an OBJ reunion could have asked for. The best part was how quickly he established chemistry with quarterback Jaxson Dart, catching three consecutive passes from him during one of their red-zone runs.
Deonte Banks - cornerback
After three years of struggling, Banks clearly spent the spring mastering Wilson’s new press-heavy defense. The new style is all about getting up in the receiver's face and jamming them at the line, disrupting the timing of the play. It's what Banks excelled at in college, and it looks like it might be what finally wakes him up in the NFL.
The 25-year-old spent OTAs at the line of scrimmage, getting handsy with the first-team wideouts. He walked away with three pass breakups during one-on-ones and shut down throwing windows so badly that Dart was forced to check the ball down to his running backs.
After an OTAs like that, he's shockingly right back in the mix for a potential starting spot. Who could have seen that one coming just months ago?
Calvin Austin III - wide receiver
There might not have been a bigger stock riser at OTAs than free-agent addition Calvin Austin. With Malik Nabers and Darius Slayton both out due to injuries, Austin took advantage of the first-team reps by showing he's so much more than just a vertical weapon, even though that's still his calling card.
The 27-year-old routinely beat defensive backs on intermediate routes. He became Dart’s primary deep threat, catching multiple passes over 30 yards down the field. He was able to track deep balls effortlessly, showing that his track speed actually translates on the field, unlike some of the other speedsters on the roster... cough, Jalin Hyatt, cough.
Marcus Mbow - offensive line
With Andrew Thomas still nursing his 2024 Lisfranc injury and resting a lingering shoulder, Marcus Mbow stepped up and took over the first-team snaps at left tackle.
The former Purdue standout looked surprisingly comfortable as Dart's blindside protector. Mbow stood his ground and matched the speed and strength of first-team pass-rushers Brian Burns and Abdul Carter. Clean footwork and good hand placement kept the pocket clean, giving up exactly zero would-be sacks during drills. Not bad for a second-year fifth-round pick.
With James Hudson now with the New England Patriots, Big Blue needs a reliable swing tackle. Mbow might've already called the race.
Bobby Jamison-Travis - defensive line
The sixth-round pick out of Auburn entered a filled-to-the-brim defensive line room with a lot of doubt... mainly coming from me. But the rookie was quickly forcing his way into the conversation by completely dominating third-team reps with his wingspan and power.
Jamison-Travis routinely used a powerful bull-rush to collapse the pocket from the inside. It felt like the 25-year-old was living in the backfield, routinely blowing up inside runs. Showing off underrated lateral agility and a knack for knowing when the ball was coming out, BJT even batted down two passes at the line of scrimmage.
Jamison-Travis' role is far from guaranteed. However, if he can stack an impressive showing at OTAs with a strong minicamp and training camp, he'll be one step closer to locking in a spot on the 53-man.
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