One of the most exciting aspects of NFL training camps every year are the position battles on both sides of the ball for teams. Whether it be between two rookies, or a veteran and young player, they're consistently entertaining to watch.
This season, the NY Giants will be no stranger to positional battles. While most spots on the depth chart look set and ready to go for 2023, there are a few positions with major question marks about who will start.
As of now, it seems as if these three Giants should be slated to start Week 1. However, this won't stop their backups from coming for their jobs during training camp and the preseason. If these guys underperform early on in the season, they very well could be replaced:
3. LB Darrian Beavers
While Bobby Okereke is the clear choice for LB1 on the Giants defense this season, it's rather unknown as to who will play next to him. Some say it's Jarrad Davis, others think it could be Micah McFadden. However, according to ESPN, Darrian Beavers is the current LB2 on the Giants depth chart. Obviously, this isn't the be-all-end-all, but we understand why many think he should start day one for Wink Martindale. Will he win the job?
It may have just been the preseason, but the instincts and abilities in coverage Beavers showcased prior to his injury looked special. Now, he has the chance to steal the LB2 spot from more experienced guys like the aforementioned McFadden and Davis. However, if Beavers underperforms early on in training camp, he could easily get pushed down the depth chart.
Throwing a coverage specialist like Beavers alongside a run-stopper like Okereke could make for a near-perfect pairing. Hopefully, the ACL tear Beavers suffered last season doesn't slow him down at all once camp arrives. The Giants likely can't afford to have an underperforming McFadden or Davis playing the majority of snaps at linebacker.
Beavers has the chance to make a massive impact on the Giants' defense as a sixth-round pick. If he pans out, Joe Schoen will already have done a better job drafting in the later rounds than Dave Gettleman ever did.
2. OG Ben Bredeson
Similar to the Giants' defense, there is only one really big question mark on the teams' offense - left guard, which has seen a plethora of players man the position over the last couple of years. This season, though, the Giants have some truly intriguing players that could start at the position.
Among the candidates for left guard are Ben Bredeson, Josh Ezeudu, and Shame Lemieux. Of these three, it seems like the most likely to start Week 1 is Bredeson. Lemieux has had too many injury concerns and unless Ezeudu makes a big jump, it would be hard to realistically place him over Bredeson on the depth chart.
However, if Bredeson underperforms and Ezeudu continues to progress, the tides could shift in his favor. Bredeson may also have some slight injury concerns like Lemieux. However, unlike Lemieux, Bredeson is a pretty solid player when healthy,
Through 322 pass blocking snaps last season, Bredeson allowed just 11 pressures and three sacks while being a rather solid run-blocker. Hopefully, the 25-year-old hoss can remain healthy this season, as the Giants cannot afford to have a turnstile at left guard anymore.
1. S Dane Belton
With the departure of Julian Love this offseason, the Giants need to find a new safety to play alongside Xavier McKinney. While they signed a solid veteran in Bobby McCain and have been running Nick McCloud at safety in mini-camps, neither of these guys have the upside of Dane Belton.
Belton may have been a fifth-round pick last season. However, there's no doubt that he flashed star potential in coverage during his rookie year. While his run-stopping abilities need severe improvements, coverage is by far more important for a safety, especially when you factor in the Okereke signing.
If he wishes to earn his job as the starting safety on the Giants, Belton must play his heart out in training camp and the preseason. McCain and McCloud are no studs, but they are both solid in coverage and much better against the run than Belton. Obviously, a coverage safety is the more ideal player type in the modern NFL. However, Belton was a liability against the run last season and this cannot continue.
Belton has a chance to be a major contributor on a playoff team next season. Pairing two elite coverage safeties is a dream come true in the modern NFL. He may not be a star just yet, but what Belton brings in coverage could be incredibly useful alongside McKinney in the secondary next season. He just has to put it all together in training camp.