4 NY Giants veterans who could be in danger of losing their jobs to a rookie
While the NY Giants centennial season is right around the corner, the team will have many new faces and look different this year. Big Blue was active throughout the offseason during free agency and the NFL Draft to fill several positional needs.
New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen and the organization's front office improved significantly in many areas, like defense, with the addition of veteran pass-rusher Brian Burns. The team also added offensive line help, which was a weakness last season, but the Giants' rookie class stands out the most heading into the summer and fall.
The Giants added six new players in this year's NFL Draft class, all showing promise and potential to succeed immediately in New York. Let's look at four rookies who could replace these veterans and take their jobs in '24:
4. Tyrone Tracy Jr. replacing Gunner Olszewski
It will take several players to replace a player like Pro Bowl running back Saquon Barkley, who left for the NFC East Rival Philadelphia Eagles in free agency. The Giants added veteran running back Devin Singletary to replace Barkley and run the backfield, but also added more depth in the NFL Draft with fifth-round pick Tyrone Tracy Jr. out of Purdue.
While many Big Blue fans believe Tracy could be the sleeper of this year's NFL Draft, he is not quite ready to become New York's starter over Singletary. The Giants rookie played wide receiver for the Iowa Hawkeyes for four seasons but switched to running back when he transferred to Purdue, where he played the last two years. After transitioning to the position, Tracy emerged as one of the top running backs in the conference, boosting his draft stock significantly. Last year, Tracy led the Big Ten in yards per carry (6.3) and had eight rushing touchdowns.
The Giants' fifth-round pick has undoubtedly had an interesting path to the NFL. Still, his ability to play wideout, running back, and serve as a returner makes him valuable to the team in his rookie campaign. We can expect to see Tracy mainly as a returner in 2024, potentially Gunner Olszewski. Last season with the Boilermakers, Tracy had 408 yards and a touchdown on 16 kick returns.
His experience on special teams makes him a good fit in New York and even a starter on offense in the future. Keep in mind that Olszewski limped off the field in anger at OTAs. We can only hope it's not a serious injury, but Tracy could help fill the void if he misses time.