NY Giants 53-man roster predictions with the preseason on the horizon

We are getting into the heart of the New York Giants summer prep, and there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic. For the first time in years, the Giants offense feasted on the team's defense in training camp.

That's not an indictment on Big Blue's defense, as Brian Daboll and Mike Kafka's offense has been cooking on all cylinders. The Giants offense seems to be significantly stronger and deeper than the 2022 offense. New York ranked 18th in yards per game in 2022 (333.9), 26th in passing yards per game (185.7), fourth in rushing yards per game (148.2), and tied for 15th in points (21.5) last fall.

The wide receivers room, running backs room, tight ends room, and offensive line room are all stronger than they have been in the last decade. With that said, Joe Schoen will have to make some tough decisions in early September. Here are our 53-man roster projections with the preseason opener vs. the Lions coming on Friday night.

NY Giants quarterbacks

In: Daniel Jones, Tyrod Taylor
Out: Tommy DeVito

The Giants have one of the better quarterback rooms in football. Daniel Jones has been a monster in training camp, consistently cooking the Giants secondary. Jones, with Tyrod Taylor as his No. 2, has built solid chemistry with his new weapons, mainly Darren Waller and Parris Campbell Jr.

Jones has been walking around East Rutherford with a quiet confidence this summer. In an interview with Art Stapleton of The Bergen Record, Jones had an interesting response when asked if he was an elite quarterback.

"I'm very confident in myself. I'm very confident that I can play this game at a high level and lead this team to win a lot of games. Yeah, I'm very confident in myself."

Daniel Jones

Jones is always compared to his predecessor Eli Manning and for good reason. In August 2011, Manning was asked a similar question by ESPN New York's Michael Kay. Kay asked, "is Eli Manning an elite quarterback." Without stopping to think, the normally soft-spoken and humble Manning responded, "yeah I think I am."

Manning was bashed for that comment, as he had accomplished very little in his career up until that point (similar to Jones). Just six months later, Manning led his squad to a stunning Super Boxl XLII win over the undefeated New England Patriots and was named Super Bowl MVP. Now, we'll see what Jones will be able to get done for this team moving forward.

NY Giants running backs

In: Saquon Barkley, Matt Breida, Eric Gray
Out: James Robinson, Gary Brightwell, Jashuan Corbin

Saquon Barkley is back for his sixth season in New York. He will look to build upon a 2022 campaign in which he set career-highs in rushing attempts, rushing yards, and rushing first downs. Barkley has $909,000 in incentives available in 2023. To earn that money, the Giants running back needs to set career highs in every nearly every offensive category and the Giants need to make the playoffs.

None of the other backs have been camp standouts, though we have seen Matt Breida in two running back sets with Barkley, an indication that Breida is the leader in the backup running back competition. Eric Gray, a rookie fifth-round pick, should still get meaningful snaps this preseason and he'll be getting extra work in as a returner.

Three teams have parted ways with James Robinson in the past three years, an insight into how he is valued by the league. Gary Brightwell could make the team again if Big Blue opts to carry four running backs, especially since he provides special teams value.

NY Giants wide receivers

In: Isaiah Hodgins, Darius Slayton, Sterling Shepard, Wan’Dale Robinson, Jalin Hyatt, Parris Campbell Jr., Cole Beasley, Collin Johnson
Out: Jamison Crowder, Bryce Ford-Wheaton, Kalil Pimpleton, David Sills V, Jaydon Mickens

Isaiah Hodgins, Darius Slayton and Campbell are the Giants projected Week 1 starters at wide receiver. Jalin Hyatt has been turning heads at camp with his blazing speed, and could become a key contributor early in the season.

Sterling Shepard, one of the leaders of the Giants, is back from another ACL injury, and looked strong early in camp. Despite buzz he could be cut this spring, it appears the longest tenured Giant and favorite target of Jones will be on the field for New York in 2023.

Wan'Dale Robinson is still on the PUP list recovering from an ACL tear last fall. Joe Schoen announced on the Zach Gelb Show Monday that he'd be activated in the next week or two, to the suprise of many. That statement by Schoen indicates he'll be full go for Week 1. That could spell bad news for either Cole Beasley or Jamison Crowder.

Collin Johnson continues to make highlight reel catches in camp, and should force his way onto the roster with another massive preseason. Eight wide receivers on the roster seems like a lot, but with the slew of recent injuries to Giant wideouts, eight might be neccessary.

NY Giants offensive line

In: Andrew Thomas, Evan Neal, Tyre Phillips, John Michael Schmitz, Mark Glowinski, Ben Bredeson, Josh Ezeudu, Marcus McKethan, Matt Peart
Out: Shane Lemieux, Devery Hamilton, Jack Anderson, Wyatt Davis, Korey Cunningham

Andrew Thomas, Evan Neal, Mark Glowinski, John Michael Schmitz, Ben Bredeson and Joshua Ezeudu are all roster locks. Thomas looks better than ever, and he even threw Kayvon Thibodeaux to the ground in a viral training camp play last weekend. He was not included on the NFL's Top 100 list, which will put an added chip on his shoulder.

The main change from last week's update is the inclusion of Peart. Peart, the Giants 2020 third-round pick, appeared to be the future of the Giants right tackle position, but has been ineffective and injured in the early part of his career.

With Neal and Thomas ahead of him on the depth chart, Peart has become the Giants swing tackle, and performed admirably in training camp. With little tackle depth on the roster, Peart could also serve as the backup on both the left and right side.

NY Giants tight end

In: Darren Waller, Daniel Bellinger, Lawrence Cager Out: Tommy Sweeney

Big Blue had quite the scare recently when Darren Waller, who has been the best player on the Giants this summer, left a practice with an injury. It was later disclosed as a dislocated finger and Waller returned back to the field. Talk about one tough dude.

Daniel Bellinger and Lawrence Cager are roster locks. Tight end depth will be pivotal this fall, as the Giants are expected to use a lot of 12-personnel sets. Tommy Sweeney, the Ramsey, N.J. native, feels like the odd man out.

NY Giants defensive line

In: Dexter Lawrence, Leonard Williams, A’Shawn Robinson, Rakeem Nunez-Roches, Jordon Riley, DJ Davidson
Out: Ryder Anderson, Kobe Smith, Brandin Bryant, Kevin Atkins

Dexter Lawrence got paid this offseason and has looked mighty good to start out the summer. His partner in crime, Leonard Williams, has been quiet to start camp, and was rested mutliple times during the last week. The best news to come out of New Jersey in the last week was Monday's news that A'Shawn Robinson was activated from the PUP list. The 28 year old will help bolster a defensive line that has the ability to be the best in football. Robinson told reporters this week he joined the Giants because he wanted to be part of something special.

DJ Davidson, the Giants 2022 fifth-round pick, remains on the PUP list (ACL tear). It is uncertain whether he will be healthy enough to be removed from the PUP list before the start of the season.

NY Giants outside linebackers

In: Kayvon Thibodeaux, Azeez Ojulari, Jihad Ward, Oshane Ximines
Out: Tomon Fox, Habakkuk Baldonado, Tashawn Bowser

Carl Banks said this week that he expects to Azeez Ojulari to have at least 15 sacks if he remains healthy. That is awfully high praise from one of the best pass-rushers in Giants franchise history. Kayvon Thibodeaux produced two highlights in practice this past week, one good and one bad. Thomas threw Thibodeaux around like a rag doll in a one on one drill. Thibodeaux did make positive headlines in New York for the comments he made to Jones after a camp practice.

The Giants lack depth at this position. Yannick Ngakoue and James Houston, two veteran pass-rushers, were signed by other teams this week. If Schoen wants to add depth to this position, he will likely have to wait until after cutdown day.

NY Giants inside linebackers

In: Bobby Okereke, Darrian Beavers, Micah McFadden, Cam Brown
Out: Carter Coughlin, Dyontae Johnson, Troy Brown

Bobby Okereke has been a standout in Giants training camp. Darrian Beavers and Micah McFadden have been duking it out to be Okereke's starting partner, and it seems McFadden has the leg up in that race through two weeks of camp.

Cam Brown and Carter Coughlin have both been rostered by the Giants the last three seasons, but given the lack of depth at other positions, it seems hard to fathom Schoen and Daboll keeping two players who are strictly special teamers on the roster.

Defensive coordinator Wink Martindale spoke highly of Dyontae Johnson, an undrafted rookie out of Toledo. Given the lack of positional depth, Johnson will have a serious chance to earn a roster spot if he balls out during New York's three preseason games.

NY Giants cornerbacks

In: Adoree' Jackson, Deonte Banks, Cordale Flott, Tre Hawkins III, Aaron Robinson
Out: Darnay Holmes, Amani Oruwariye, Zyon Gilbert, Germon Green, Rodarius Williams, Alex Cook, Darren Evans

As things stand, it is clear Adoree' Jackson is still the best corner on the roster, though it is uncertain where he will line up on the field. Rookie sixth rounder Tre Hawkins III has been one of the Giants biggest standouts so far this summer, and has been receiving reps with the first team defense alongside fellow rookie Deonte Banks.

If Wink likes what the two rookies provide his defense, Jackson could open the season in the slot. If Wink decides to start just one of the rookies, Jackson will bump back outside, and Cor'Dale Flott will slide into the starting slot position.

One player that bears watching: Aaron Robinson. Robinson is still on the PUP list recovering from a partially torn ACL. It is unclear whether he will be healthy enough to play this summer, which could open up a spot for a veteran like Amani Oruwariye or Rodarius Williams.

NY Giants safeties 

In: Xavier McKinney, Bobby McCain, Jason Pinnock, Gervarrius Owens, Dane Belton, Nick McCloud
Out: Alex Cook

Xavier McKinney is one of the leaders of the Giants defense, and has been smilling his way through camp. Jason Pinnock has produced the highlight reel plays throughout camp, but needs to produce more of those plays in the preseason. Bobby McCain may be the favorite to start alongside McKinney, though Pinnock is not far off in the competition.

Gervarrius Owens and Dane Belton, two youngsters, could push for playing time with good summers. Nick McCloud has been big and physical this summer. He seems like a roster lock at this point, and will likely see time at both corner and safety during the regular season.

NY Giants specialists

In: Graham Gano (K), Jamie Gillan (P), Casey Kreiter (LS)
Out: Cameron Lyons (LS)

If you need a fantasy kicker, draft Graham Gano. Casey Kreiter, Gano, and Jamie Gillan (the Scottish Hammer) were the three Giants specalists last campaign and will be again this fall, barring something unforeseen.

READ MORE: 3 reasons Andrew Thomas being left off NFL Top 100 is a complete joke