Jordan Phillips trade clears path for UDFA to make NY Giants Week 1 roster

In a bit of a surprise move, a trade with a division rival has been posted by the NY Giants. In case you missed it, Joe Schoen sent veteran defensive tackle Jordan Phillips, who he signed this offseason, to the Dallas Cowboys.

The G-Men moved Phillips and a 2026 seventh-rounder and got a '26 sixth-rounder in return. Not a bad return for a guy the Giants were probably going to cut anyway. Now that we know Phillips won't be on the 53-man roster, this is great news for other guys in the DT battle.

This includes undrafted rookie free agent Elijah Chatman. The 6-0, 278-pounder has made a ton of noise at camp this summer and he also played well against the Lions in the preseason opener. This kid has put himself in a great position to stick around for the Week 1 showdown vs. Minnesota.

Elijah Chatman is in a great spot to make the 53-man roster for the Giants

Against Detroit, Chatman had one sack to his name, plus four pressures. On the flip side of things, Phillips had not been consistent in recent weeks, with younger players, including Chatman, clearly ahead of him on the depth chart.

Chatman is such an easy gut to root for too. Who doesn't love a youngster who didn't hear his name called during the NFL Draft, but didn't give up on his dreams and is now fighting tooth and nail to prove to a staff he belongs to stay in town. That's exactly what's happening in East Rutherford.

He was a standout at SMU and now he's become an under-the-radar defensive playmaker that fans are loving more by the day. Every year, there's at least one UDFA who arrives out of nowhere to make an impact for a team. Last season, it was the pride and joy of New Jersey in Tommy DeVito. This time around, it's sure looking to be Mr. Chatman.