In what has been an unreal past few months for the NY Giants, the offseason program has wrapped up and now we must wait for training camp to arrive. After a busy spring that saw a slew of faces both join and depart Big Blue, the G-Men are looking like a team to be taken seriously.
Throughout the various offseason programs, Giants Nation got their first look at Deonte Banks, John Michael Schmitz, Jalin Hyatt, Eric Gray, Parris Campbell Jr., Darren Waller, Jamison Crowder, Bobby Okereke, A’Shawn Robinson, Rakeem Nunez-Roches and many others in blue.
After last season’s success and Joe Schoen’s elite offseason, the vibes are astronomically high in East Rutherford. There are going to be some fun battles for roster spots in training camp. With that said, here is our Giants 53-man roster predictions following the exciting two-day minicamp:
NY Giants quarterbacks
In: Daniel Jones, Tyrod Taylor
Out: Tommy DeVito
This one is pretty easy. Jones signed a four-year, $160 million contract this offseason. He will not only be the face of the Giants franchise this season, but for much of the next decade. Taylor will back Danny Dimes up for the second straight season. Taylor has thrown for 1,550 yards and 60 touchdowns in his career, giving the Giants a great insurance policy behind Jones.
The NFL recently imposed a new rule that allows teams to have a third QB on the roster for gamedays without having to use a spot. That's gold for teams, and it will prove to be great for the Giants and head man Brian Daboll as well.
With this, even though DeVito may not make the 53-man roster, he should still make the practice squad and then be available for the G-Men if needed on Sundays. DeVito, a Don Bosco High School alum, was signed by the Giants as an undrafted free agent. You should still see him in an NY Giants uniform on gamedays this fall.
NY Giants running backs
In: Saquon Barkley, Eric Gray, Matt Breida and Gary Brightwell
Out: Jashaun Corbin
The Giants gave Barkley the franchise tag this offseason, which is essentially a one-year, $10.1 million contract. Barkley has yet to sign that tag, and has until July 17 to sign a long-term extension with the team. The two sides are reportedly negotiating again, which is good news, since No. 26 is so important to Mike Kafka’s offense. Barkley posted a career-high 1,312 yards on a career-high 295 attempts in 2022.
Breida had a solid season in 2022 backing up Barkley, prompting the Giants to re-sign him to another one-year contract. He will get pushed by 2023 fifth-round pick Gray for the backup role. Gray is a bruising running back who ran for 1,366 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2022 at the University of Oklahoma.
Brightwell has been a Giant since 2020, but he was not drafted by this current regime. Still due to his experience, and with us picking the Giants to rock with four RBs this season, we think Brightwell will make the team over Corbin, who could once again make his way to the practice squad.
NY Giants wide receivers
In: Isaiah Hodgins, Darius Slayton, Sterling Shepard, Wan’Dale Robinson, Jalin Hyatt, Parris Campbell Jr., Jamison Crowder
Out: Collin Johnson, Jeff Smith, Bryce Ford-Wheaton, Kalil Pimpleton, David Sills V, Makai Polk, Jaydon Mickens
The Giants do not have a true WR1, but Big Blue has an immensely deep wide receivers room. Hodgins, Slayton, rookie Hyatt, and offseason signee Campbell Jr. are locks to make this roster. Shepard and Robinson are both coming of ACL tears, and when they are ready, both will be on the roster. Crowder, a well-traveled veteran, will likely make the team as an insurance policy for Robinson and Shepard in the slot.
Johnson got first-team reps last summer before tearing his Achilles. This group is very crowded, which is why Johnson may be left out. Ford-Wheaton may join DeVito and Corbin on the practice squad, but with his potential, we wouldn't be surprised to see him be elevated at some point early on in the fall.
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, JC Hassenauer, Matt Peart, Devery Hamilton, Jack Anderson, Wyatt Davis, Korey Cunningham
Thomas and Neal are cemented as the Giants tackles of the future. Rookie second-round pick Schmitz seems like a lock to start at center, while Glowinski and Bredeson will likely start at the two guard positions. Ezeudu, a 2022 third-round pick, had an up and down rookie season, but if he takes a big sophomore jump, he could replace Bredeson on the inside.
McKethan tore his ACL in training camp last summer, but was a 2022 fifth-round pick, a selection made by Schoen’s front office, so he’s the front-runner for the last backup guard spot. The rocky tenure of Peart in New York is almost certainly over with Phillips serving as the backup tackle. Ezeudu’s ability to play center and guard could spell the end to the oft-injured and very inconsistent Lemieux.
NY Giants tight ends
In: Darren Waller, Daniel Bellinger, Lawrence Cager
Out: Tommy Sweeney, Ryan Jones
It’s awesome to see Waller on the Giants roster. Waller is a stud. The former Pro Bowl tight end is going to be a true difference-making receiving weapon for Jones. Bellinger had a very good rookie season, and is a strong blocker. He and Waller will be quite the duo when featured together.
The Giants will likely take a third tight end, and I am going to give the nod to Cager, a 6-5, 220-pound athletic freak who is built very similar to Waller. Cager flashed in limited playing time in 2022. Sweeney, a 2019 seventh-round pick by Buffalo, has familiarity with the Giants front office and coaching staff, but we don't think he'll be with the rest of the team come Week 1.
NY Giants defensive line
In: Dexter Lawrence, Leonard Williams, A’Shawn Robinson, Rakeem Nunez-Roches, Jordon Riley, DJ Davidson
Out: Ryder Anderson, Kobe Smith, Vernon Butler
Schoen preached all offseason about how he need to improve the team's depth, especially along the defensive line. He did just that. ESPN’s Mike Clay recently ranked the Giants interior defensive line as the best interior defensive line in football.
Lawrence just signed a four-year, $90 million contract extension and he will anchor that group. PFF ranked Lawrence as the second-best interior defensive line in football in 2022, only trailing Chris Jones, and they had him ahead of Aaron Donald. Williams, who is in entering the final year of his contract, will form one of the league's best interior duos with Sexy Dexy.
Robinson and Nunez-Roches joined the Giants this offseason, and both excel in stopping the run. The Giants gave up the 27th most rushing yards per game last fall, so that was essential. Riley, a 2023 seventh-round pick, is a 6’5, 325 pounder. They just don’t make dudes like that. If Davidson is healthy enough to start the season, the Giants 2022 fifth-round pick will be on the roster as well.
NY Giants outside linebackers
In: Kayvon Thibodeaux, Azeez Ojulari, Jihad Ward, Elerson Smith
Out: Oshane Ximines, Tomon Fox, Habakkuk Baldonado
Thibodeaux and Ojulari both have the ability to become dominant NFL pass-rushers if they can stay healthy, which is a big if. Ojulari owns the Giants rookie sacks record, while Thibodeaux’s touchdown in the Giants victory over Washington essentially clinched the Giants postseason berth last campaign.
Ward is one of the most respected players in the locker room, so he will be on the roster. Smith, a 2021 fourth-round pick, has a ton of talent but has barely played due to various injuries. Remember, Smith was drafted by Gettleman, not Schoen, so the Giants could part ways with him rather painlessly.
Ximines was re-signed this offseason, but it seems hard to believe he can make the roster again. This could be a position the Giants add to on cut-down day. They can definitely find better players than Smith, Ximines, and 2022 undrafted signee Fox.
NY Giants inside linebackers
In: Bobby Okereke, Jarrad Davis, Darrian Beavers, Micah McFadden, Cam Brown
Out: Carter Coughlin, Troy Brown, Dyontae Johnson
The Giants signed Okereke to a four-year, $40 million deal this offseason. He will anchor the Giants defense and may even be the defensive signal caller. It’s unclear who will start aside him, but Davis is the favorite.
He started at linebacker for the Giants in the playoffs after joining the team late in December. Beavers was slated to start in 2022, but was one of many Giants who tore their ACLs in training camp. McFadden played a lot in 2022 as a rookie, and will push for more playing time in 2023.
It’s hard to fathom both Brown and Coughlin will be on the roster as both are strictly special teams players. Brown provides much more special teams value, so he gets the nod.
NY Giants cornerbacks
In: Adoree' Jackson, Deonte Banks, Cor’Dale Flott, Tre Hawkins III, Amani Oruwariye, Nick McCloud
Out: Darnay Holmes, Leonard Williams, Zyon Gilbert, Germon Green, Rodarius Williams, Aaron Robinson
Jackson is the Giants CB1, while Banks will likely be the CB2. Cor’Dale Flott had a strong second half of 2022, and is in line to start in the slot during his sophomore season. Athletic freak and speedy rookie cornerback Hawkins III could turn some heads in camp. Oruwariye and McCloud, two veterans, provide tremendous depth for the starting secondary.
Holmes has seemingly regressed and will likely be replaced by Flott in the slot. The Giants can save nearly $3 million in cap space by releasing Holmes. Robinson, the Giants third round-pick in 2021, was in line to start last season but was torched in training camp and the preseason and then got injured. It would not be shocking to see Schoen part with another one of Gettleman’s picks.
NY Giants safeties
In: Xavier McKinney, Bobby McCain, Jason Pinnock, Gervarrius Owens, Dane Belton
Out: Trenton Thompson, Alex Cook
McKinney is entrenched as one of the Giants starting safeties and will likely be there for much of the next decade. McCain, Pinnock, Owens, and Belton will all compete to be his starting partner. All have a realistic path to the job.
McCain, the veteran offseason pickup, is likely the favorite, but Pinnock showed tremendous ability in limited playing time in 2022. Owens, the Giants seventh round-pick is an athletic freak who could turn heads in camp.
NY Giants specialists
In: Graham Gano (K), Jamie Gillan (P), Casey Kreiter (LS)
Out: Cameron Lyons
Gano is one of the best kickers in the league, while Kreiter is an insanely consistent long snapper. Gillan, also known as the “Scottish Hammer,” is coming off a rough 2023. He's set to be the starting punter, but fans were calling for him to be replaced in recent months.