As we approach the start of the NFL regular season, teams are beginning to make their final roster cuts. Unfortunately, only 53 players can make an active NFL roster.
After the NY Giants made one of the more shocking moves this offseason by acquiring Arizona Cardinals linebacker/safety Isaiah Simmons on Thursday, there is seemingly one less roster spot up for grabs now. There have been some fun positional battles to follow throughout Giants training camp and it will be fascinating to see who emerges.
With that said, here are four Giants players whose spots on the roster are hanging by a thread:
4. NY Giants wide receiver Jamison Crowder
After being selected in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft as an undersized wide receiver out of Duke University, Jamison Crowder has been able to carve out a solid NFL career. Crowder was drafted by the Washington Redskins (now Commanders) and has proven himself as a slot receiver.
During Crowder’s time in Washington, he eclipsed 65 receptions and 750 yards in consecutive seasons before his last campaign with the team was cut short due to injury. He signed with the Jets in 2019 in hopes of earning a bigger role. Crowder went on to have the best year of his career for the Jets in 2019, catching 78 passes for 833 yards while scoring six touchdowns. He signed with the Bills last season and barely played, catching six passes for 60 yards in just four games.
After things didn’t go the way he’d hoped in Buffalo, Crowder decided to follow former Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll to New York. Unfortunately, Big Blue has made notable additions to the receivers room aside from Crowder. They signed Parris Campbell and Cole Beasley while also trading for tight end Darren Waller (who mostly lines up inside). Not to mention, Wan’Dale Robinson and Sterling Shepard should be ready to rock for Week 1 - Robinson is a bit of a question mark there.
Crowder has proven to be a reliable veteran receiver. His combination of quickness, burst, and route-running has enabled him to extend his career into his age-30 season, but his time with Big Blue may be coming to an end sooner than later.
3. NY Giants offensive tackle Matt Peart
When the G-Men selected Matt Peart with a third-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Giants fans thought the team potentially found their tackle of the future. Standing at 6-7 and weighing 318 pounds, Peart is an absolute mammoth of a human. However, Peart has not been able to use his enormous frame to his advantage and his spot on the roster could be in question.
Through three seasons with the team, Peart has started in just six games. He began last season on the PUP list before returning in the Giants Week 10 game vs. the Houston Texans. Upon his return, he was unable to get onto the field even though the G-Men had a rookie right tackle in Evan Neal who was notably struggling.
Big Blue invested a top-10 draft in Neal last offseason to fill their starting right tackle spot opposite stud left tackle Andrew Thomas. The decision to draft Neal despite investing a day-two draft pick in Peart not too long ago is an indication that the front office has not been confident in what they’ve seen from Peart. Not to mention, Peart is a holdover from the dreaded Dave Gettleman era.
The former UConn Husky has seen extensive action this summer and he's being looked at as the swing tackle for '23. However, his play has left much to be desired, that's for sure.
2. NY Giants wide receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton
It's always a surprise when an undrafted free agent is able to sneak his way on the roster, but this could end up what happens with former West Virginia wideout Bryce Ford-Wheaton. Several teams were interested in trying to land him after he went undrafted, but the G-Men were able to get things done with the big-bodied receiver.
Ford-Wheaton hasn't quite lived up to the hype this summer, with a disappointing showing against the Lions still being talked about. However, Ford-Wheaton has impressed both Coach Dabes and Joe Schoen with his work on special teams. With his potential for the offense and his desire to make plays on special teams, he could end up being a surprise pick for the 53-man squad.
However, there's also a good chance that he'll make his way to the practice squad. From our chair, it feels like Ford-Wheaton has a 50-50 chance to make the roster. His performance against the Jets on Saturday night very well could end up being the deciding factor.
1. NY Giants cornerback Darnay Holmes
Another play who survived the transfer of power in the front office once Gettleman was relieved of his duties, Darnay Holmes needs to turn things around quickly if he wants to remain on the roster. Holmes was a fourth-round pick in 2020 out of UCLA and was expected to be the starting nickel corner of the future for the Giants. However, Holmes has not been able to hold his own on the field when given the opportunity.
He’s struggled to the point that he’s been running with the second-team defense throughout training camp while the team has moved Adoree’ Jackson inside to defend the slot. Jackson’s move to the slot has enabled the team to start their two rookie cornerbacks, first-round pick Deonte Banks and sixth-round camp standout Tre Hawkins, on the outside.
If the G-Men opting to move their most established outside corner to the slot and giving a sixth-round rookie first-team reps over Holmes wasn’t enough of an indication that he is a cut candidate, NFL insider Ian Rapoport has reported that the team worked out free agent cornerback Will Jackson.
With defensive coordinator Wink Martindale recently saying that Banks, Jackson, and Hawkins are Big Blue’s three best cornerbacks, the writing is on the wall for Holmes. It won't be a surprise to see him released.
READ MORE: Isaiah Simmons position with the NY Giants up in the air after Brian Daboll update