As we head closer towards the end of the preseason and training camp for the NY Giants, the date that a lot of people have circled is Aug. 29. That is the date for all 32 NFL teams to make their final roster cuts and get things down to 53.
Thus far, through a month of training camp and two preseason games for the Giants, the expectations are pretty high and pretty good. However, not everyone has had a spectacular summer like others have had and not everyone can make the final 53-man team. So, which players for the Giants didn’t live up to the hype this summer?
4. NY Giants offensive lineman Mark Glowinski
Mark Glowinski was one of the Giants initial free agent signings when Joe Schoen took over as the general manager. It’s been an up and down tenure for the veteran with the team. The plus for Glowinski was that he played in all but one game for the Giants at right guard in 2022. He was durable and remained on the field, which wasn’t the case for other players at some of the other offensive line spots.
His run blocking in 2022 was decent, as Glowinski finished with a 64.5 grade from Pro Football Focus. His pass protection, though, was not as good, finishing with a 55.5. Glowinski allowed five sacks and 34 total pressures, which was why some fans were hopeful for a change at right guard heading into 2023.
Because Glowinski has an $8.65 million dead cap hit if released with no salary cap savings, it’s why he still remains on the team and wasn’t cut back in March. Glowinski was one of several players who needed to come into camp and solidify his spot at right guard heading into 2023.
This past week at practice, the Giants rotated Glowinski, Joshua Ezeudu and Ben Bredeson at both guard spots, which shows that there’s a possible open competition for both guard spots heading into the final weeks. This is not a good sign if you’re Glowinski, as he hasn’t shown the Giants that right guard is his spot like Andrew Thomas has with left tackle, Evan Neal has at right tackle and John Michael Schmitz has at center.
If the Giants don’t see Glowinski as the starting right guard in 2023, and if they don’t want to bite the $8.65 million bullet and release him, maybe a possible trade to a team in need of a veteran lineman could work?
3. NY Giants cornerback Darnay Holmes
When the offseason began, Holmes was one of the players listed that many thought the Giants would cut because of salary cap reasons. The Giants would save $2.8 million in cap space and have a cap hit of $197,000 if he's to be released.
To make the pressure on Holmes even more, the Giants focused their draft needs on cornerback and selected Deonte Banks and Tre Hawkins to go along with veteran Adoree' Jackson. Combined, Banks, Jackson and Hawkins are viewed as the starters heading into the season.
With the Giants at around $5.6 million in salary cap space according to Over the Cap, the Giants could still use Holmes salary to make other moves if needed. At this point, Holmes has been more of an afterthought in the Giants secondary battle for a roster spot.
Just like with Glowinski, Holmes could be a player who might find himself traded for a team that is in need of a cornerback with experience and doesn’t cost as much to acquire.
2. NY Giants running back James Robinson
Once upon a time, James Robinson was a 1,000-yard running back in the league. So, when he signed with the Giants during the contract negotiations with Saquon Barkley, some thought he was added as an insurance policy, especially if those negotiations with Barkley went south.
The Giants and Barkley eventually settled on a one-year deal, although Robinson was still given a chance to impress enough to improve and leap some of the others on the team as far as running back depth goes.
In the Giants 21-16 loss to the Detroit Lions at Ford Field, Robinson had just six carries for nine yards. Meanwhile, it was Jashaun Corbin who impressed with three carries for 40 yards. In the Giants 21-19 victory at MetLife Stadium, Robinson had four carries for just 10 yards. Rookie Eric Gray ended up looking more impressive as he had five carries for 16 yards and a touchdown.
With Barkley locked in as the Giants starting running back and with Matt Breida and Gray likely solidifying their spots behind him, Robinson looks like an afterthought and probably will be sent packing.
1. NY Giants receiver David Sills
In previous years, there was a time when David Sills was more deserving of playing time over a certain former player that the Giants once paid $72 million for. That was also a time where the Giants couldn’t afford to fix the offensive line and the wide receiver depth given the restrains Schoen had.
That is no longer the case now, as Schoen added plenty of depth to the wide receivers room. Players like Parris Campbell and Cole Beasley were added in free agency. Jalin Hyatt was drafted. Isaiah Hodgins was re-signed after being picked up off the waiver wire. Bryce Ford-Wheaton was signed as an undrafted free agent.
The Giants added options, which might not be good news for Sills making the final roster. Granted, he was the leading receiver for the Giants against the Lions with two catches for 36 yards. Against the Panthers, he didn’t record a single catch.
Given the amount of depth the Giants added to the team at the position and with the expectations that are on the Giants in 2023, there really was no way the Giants could let Sills be someone who gets playing time over projected starters again. This is an unfortunate because Sills works hard and embodies a player in the league who was once undrafted and made it onto a professional roster.
But in order for Sills to make the Giants in 2023, he would have had to surpass and exceed expectations even more and he hasn’t quite done that.