Training camp is finally over in New York. After a a long stretch of tough sessions, brutal conditioning, chippy joint practices, and three preseason games, the NY Giants' sights are now set on the season opener against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium, less than two weeks away.
One major event remains on the calendar before the season-opener: cutdown day. All NFL teams must reduce their rosters from 90 to 53 before 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Giants general manager Joe Schoen began reducing the roster Sunday morning, parting ways with plenty of players. Things are only going to continue leading up to the deadline. With that said, here's our final 53-man roster projection for the '23 season.
NOTE: As of this writing, the Giants have already waived Zyon Gilbert, Wyatt Davis, Jack Anderson, James Robinson, Collin Johnson, Jaydon Mickens, Rodarius Williams, Darren Evans, Korey Cunningham, Julian Davenport, Tashawn Bower, Brandin Bryant, Kevin Atkinds and Donovan Jeter. More cuts from Schoen will be on the way Tuesday to get down to 53.
NY Giants quarterbacks
In: Daniel Jones, Tyrod Taylor Out: Tommy DeVito
Jones was given a four-year, $160 million extension this offseason. He has played like a $40 million a year quarterback this offseason. Danny Dimes played just one series in the preseason, completing eight of his nine passes for 69 yards and a touchdown on the opening drive against Carolina.
NBC Sunday Night Football analyst Cris Collinsworth has noticed Jones' strong summer, prompting him to compare the Giant quarterback to Patrick Mahomes. Danny Dimes is poised for a monstrous 2023 campaign.
Taylor had a strong camp and will be an excellent insurance policy for Jones. DeVito, the Cedar Grove, N.J. native, has looked like an NFL quarterback this summer. Though it was just preseason, PFF gave the undrafted rookie a 70.1 grade, considered starter quality. DeVito likely won't crack the final 53, but should be secured of a practice squad spot and could be Big Blue's backup next fall, as Taylor's two-year contract expires at the end of this season.
NY Giants running backs
In: Saquon Barkley, Matt Breida, Eric Gray, Jashuan Corbin Out: Gary Brightwell
Barkley was the only healthy Giant not to play a preseason snap. He should be rested and ready to explode against Dallas. Breida played with Big Blue's starters during the Carolina game, making it obvious he is the No. 2 option.
Gray received 17 carries this preseason and rushed for 36 yards and a touchdown. The 2023 fifth-round pick is Big Blue's lead kick and punt returner. If the Oklahoma product wants to see extensive time this year, he must clean up his pass protection, which was noticeably bad this summer.
I have long been on the Corbin bandwagon. The 2022 undrafted free agent has created the most explosives of any Giant back this preseason. He rushed for 51 yards on 16 attempts, which included a 33-yard burst in Detriot. His ability to play special teams could push him on the roster.
Brightwell was third on the pecking order to begin the summer, but an injury allowed Gray and Corbin to surpass him. Robinson was released by Big Blue on Sunday too.
NY Giants wide receivers
In: Isaiah Hodgins, Darius Slayton, Parris Campbell Jr., Sterling Shepard, Wan'Dale Robinson, Jalin Hyatt, Cole Beasley
Out: David Sills V, Jamison Crowder, Kalik Pimpleton
In rather unfortunate news, undrafted rookie wideout Bryce Ford-Wheaton, who was in line to claim a roster spot due to his special teams prowess, tore his ACL during the preseason finale Saturday Night and was placed on the injured reserve, ending his season.
Beasley may stand to benefit the most from Ford-Wheaton's injury. The veteran, who has been dealing with a leg injury, is likely back on the right side of the bubble. Beasley will join Shepard, Campbell Jr., and Robinson as slot wideouts.
The widespread expectation is Robinson will be activated from the PUP list (ACL recovery) before Tuesday. If he is not, he will be forced to miss the Giants first four games. Crowder is a tough cut for the Giants, as the veteran had a productive preseason, averaging 11.2 yards per catch. Fans were also high on Johnson, but he was released on Sunday. He just couldn't stay healthy with NY.
NY Giants offensive line
In: Andrew Thomas, Evan Neal, Tyre Phillips, John Michael Schmitz, Mark Glowinski, Ben Bredeson, Josh Ezeudu, Marcus McKethan Out: Shane Lemieux, Sean Harlow, Matt Peart
No changes here from last week. The roster locks are Thomas, Neal, Schmitz, Glowinski, Bredeson, and Ezeudu, though it is still undetermined which combination of Glowinski, Bredeson, and Ezeudu will start at the two guard spots.
Phillips did not play Saturday night, but the Athletic's Dan Duggan noted, "he is close to 100 percent." That is key because Phillips can play both guard and tackle. McKethan, the 2022 fifth-round pick, made his Giants debut Saturday. He seems destined to stay on the active roster and develop this fall, but he will likely be inactive on game days.
Peart was terrible Saturday night, playing his way off the roster. PFF gave him a dreadful 33.9 pass-blocking grade. He gave up two sacks, four hurries, and two pressures. The Giants can find better options on the wavier wire for tackle depth.
NY Giants tight ends
In: Darren Waller, Daniel Bellinger, Lawrence Cager Out: Tommy Sweeney, Chris Myarick, Ryan Jones
Waller and Bellinger are No. 1 and No. 2 on the depth chart and will spend most of their time on the field this fall. Cager, the uber-athletic Miami product, has yet to do anything to play his way off the roster and will be No. 3.
This week, Sweeney suffered an undisclosed medical event during practice, leaving his roster status unknown. Myarick, the longtime Giant, broke his hand on Saturday night and was placed on the IR, ending his 2023 season.
NY Giants defensive line
In: Dexter Lawrence, Leonard Williams, A'Shawn Robinson, Rakeem Nunez-Roches, Jordon Riley, Ryder Anderson (IR) Out: DJ Davidson, Kobe Smith
The only real battle this summer has been Riley vs. Davidson. Riley, the 25-year-old rookie, really turned heads this summer with his strong play. The monstrous human being also made a big 4th-and-1 stuff against Carolina. As he is recovering from a torn ACL, Davidson has yet to play in a preseason game. The Giants will try to sneak him onto the practice squad.
Ryder Anderson is a fascinating watch this week. The 2022 undrafted rookie has been battling a triceps injury since week one of camp but is a candidate to start the season on the IR, according to the Athletic's Dan Duggan. Anderson must be included on the initial roster and placed on the IR after 4 p.m. Tuesday to be eligible to play this fall.
NY Giants outside linebackers
In: Kayvon Thibodeaux, Azeez Ojulari, Jihad Ward, Tomon Fox, Oshane Ximines Out: Habakkuk Baldonado
Thibodeaux, Ojulari, and Ward are firmly entrenched as the top three. Fox has outplayed Ximines this summer, but both failed to record pressure in Saturday night's loss. Baldonado was actually PFF's highest-graded Giants OLB this preseason and could be a surprise addition to the 53. If not, he will definitley be on the practice squad. This could be a position that adds some new faces this week.
NY Giants inside linebackers
In: Bobby Okereke, Micah McFadden, Darrian Beavers, Isaiah Simmons, Carter Coughlin Out: Cam Brown, Dyontae Johnson, Ray Wilborn
The Giants traded a 2024 seventh-round pick for the uber-athletic Simmons last week. Simmons played five snaps Saturday night and nearly sacked Aaron Rodgers. He likely won't start but should play many positions this fall. The starting nod next to Okereke should go to McFadden, PFF's highest-graded Giants defender this summer.
Coughlin and Brown have been special team stalwarts for New York, but there doesn't seem to be room for both on the roster. Brown is not currently healthy and does not provide any value to the Giants defense. Coughlin is healthy and looked the best we have ever seen him at middle linebacker this summer.
NY Giants cornerbacks
In: Adoree Jackson, Deonte Banks, Cor'Dale Flott, Tre Hawkins III, Darnay Holmes Out: Amani Oruwariye, Germon Green, Aaron Robinson
Jackson, Banks, and Hawkins did not play Saturday night. That indicates those are the three who will start the season opener. Flott was expected to be the Giants starting slot corner this fall, but struggled this summer, forcing the Giants to look elsewhere.
The 22-year-old Flott has room to grow and should be the first corner off the bench. Holmes has a $2.9 million cap hit, but according to the Athletic's Dan Duggan, he has agreed to a reduced salary to remain with the Giants. That is a win for Schoen as he gets to keep one of their better depth options on the roster, and has money to spend to bolster depth at other positions.
NY Giants safeties
In: Xavier McKinney, Jason Pinnock, Dane Belton, Gervarrius Owens, Nick McCloud Out: Alex Cook, Bobby McCain
McKinney, Pinnock, and Belton have established themselves as one, two, and three on the depth chart. Owens has shown a lot this summer and could see meaningful snaps. McCloud has been battling a groin injury, but will steal a roster spot if healthy. McCloud's versatility to play both safety and corner and his elite special team abilities lock in his place.
Cook, an undrafted rookie out of Washington, impressed this summer and should find his way to the practice squad. McCain was destroyed by Jets wideout Randall Cobb on a borderline illegal hit on Saturday night and suffered a concussion. He could be on the outside looking in for the final roster.
NY Giants specialists
In: Graham Gano (K), Jamie Gillan (P), Casey Kreiter (LS) Out: Cameron Lyons (LS)
Gano nailed a 57-yard and 56-yard field goal without breaking a sweat Saturday. This begs the question, is Justin Tucker the only NFL kicker better than Gano? He was 3-for-3 on the night. Gillan and Kreiter round things out for the specialists.
READ MORE: 3 players the NY Giants must make room for on the final 53