NY Giants 53-man roster projections from the first week of training camp
By Zak Musso
NY Giants running backs
In: Saquon Barkley, Matt Breida, Eric Gray
Out: James Robinson, Gary Brightwell, Jashuan Corbin
Barkley is back in New York on a revised contract, and Giants fans love it. Barkley’s new one-year, $11 million contract includes $909,000 in incentives, all of which rely on Barkley setting multiple career highs and the Giants making the playoffs. For that to happen, Barkley will need to be on the field a lot, and it could result in a career-high in touches.
Breida was a serviceable backup to Barkley last fall, and even scored the G-Men's only touchdown in the Divisional Round loss to Philadelphia. Breida and Barkley were on the field together numerous times last fall, and we've already seen these formations again in training camp. Gray, a 2023 fifth-round pick, is locked into the roster and could fight Breida for the backup role.
The Giants kept four running backs in 2022 to start the season, but by the end of September, only rostered three. With Barkley on the field for virtually every down, there’s no reason to keep four.
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, Jeff Smith, Bryce Ford-Wheaton, Kalil Pimpleton, David Sills V, Jaydon Mickens
The Giants currently have 14 wide receivers on their 90-man roster. Big Blue values depth at the wide receiver position, which could lead to seven or eight wideouts being kept. Hodgins, Slayton, Hyatt, Campbell Jr., Shepard, and Robinson are locked onto the roster.
The Giants signed Beasley on July 22, and he’s been receiving a lot of time with the Giants No. 1 offense. Johnson has made some highlight reel plays during camp, and has a solid chance to make the roster. Johnson stands at 6-6 and is three inches taller than any other wideout for New York. He would provide a completely different, necessary element to the offense.
Crowder missed the first week of practice, which puts him behind the eight ball. He may not recover from that. Ford-Wheaton should be stashed on the practice squad. Pimpleton is an impressive returner, and could impress the Giants brass with solid showings during the preseason.