In less than three weeks, the New York Giants will duke it out with the the Dallas Cowboys in their season opener at MetLife Stadium. Before we get there, the Giants will have to finalize their 53-man roster.
A month into training camp, and two preseason games in the books, the roster is starting to take shape. The main storyline of the Giants 21-19 victory over Carolina on Friday night was the high flying first string offense, but key position battles were also determined. With that said, here's our latest 53-man roster projections:
NY Giants quarterbacks
In: Daniel Jones, Tyrod Taylor
Out: Tommy DeVito
Jones made his preseason debut on Friday and was flawless. Jones went 8-of-9 on the opening drive for 69 yards and a touchdown and rushed for another six on one attempt. Jones found his new target, Darren Waller, three times on the drive, and threw it to him a fourth, but Waller dropped it.
Brian Daboll took Jones out of the game after the opening drive because he had nothing left to show; he is locked in and ready for the season opener. In his Sports Illustrated column Monday Morning Quarterback, NFL insider Albert Breer said, "The Giants have legitimate confidence in Daniel Jones." Jones has also put on around 10 pounds of muscle.
That is music to the ears of Giants Nation. Taylor posted a strong 114.3 passer rating during Friday's win over Carolina and threw a touchdown to rookie Jalin Hyatt. Taylor is on a shortlist for the best backup quarterback in football award. DeVito wasn't as sharp in the Giants second preseason game as in the first, but he has likely secured a practice squad spot.
NY Giants running backs
In: Saquon Barkley, Matt Breida, Eric Gray
Out: Jashuan Corbin, Gary Brightwell, James Robinson, Gary Brightwell
Barkley is one of the few Giants who did not participate in Friday's win. Daboll correctly sat his star back, as there is no reason to put him at risk in a meaningless game. Breida, Barkley's backup in 2022, started the second preseason game in place of Barkley, a strong indication he will be Barkley's primary backup again in 2023.
Gray got the bulk of the playing time on Friday, rushing for 16 yards on five attempts. He recorded a rushing touchdown late in the second quarter. With Brightwell sidelined due to injury, Gray has become the primary punt and kick returner. Gray displayed his kick-returning intelligence, letting a ball drop and roll out of bounds at the one for a kickoff out-of-bounds penalty. The Giants got the ball at the 40. The only knock on Gray is his pass protection, which, to put it nicely, has been suspect.
Corbin is the one to watch in the Giants backfield. He had just five yards on seven attempts Friday but has flashed his explosive abilities this summer. Robinson rushed for 1,000 yards as a rookie with Jacksonville in 2020, but does not look remotely like that player this summer.
NY Giants wide receivers
In: Isaiah Hodgins, Darius Slayton, Parris Campbell Jr., Sterling Shepard, Wan'Dale Robinson, Jalin Hyatt, Cole Beasley, Bryce Ford-Wheaton
Out: Collin Johnson, Jamison Crowder, Kalil Pimpleton, David Sills V, Jaydon Mickens
There is only one significant change in this group from last week's projection: the inclusion of Ford-Wheaton. Joe Schoen joined Bob Papa and Carl Banks in the booth during the third quarter on Friday and unpromptedly spoke glowingly of the undrafted rookie.
"Bryce Ford-Wheaton is a young guy that's done a good job on special teams tonight as a gunner. You know that's an important part of it, you have 53 on the roster, and when you go to your game day, it's important what you can do on fourth down as well."Joe Schoen
Schoen craves the West Virginia's product versatility, which could be why he makes the roster. Eight seems like a lot of wide receivers, but it makes sense. Beasley was Big Blue's leading wideout in the preseason opener, but suffered a leg injury a week ago. His timetable to return is unknown, which could put him on the wrong side of the bubble or the PUP list.
Hodgins and Campbell, two of the Giants starting wideouts, combined for five catches and 68 yards in limited time on Friday. Hyatt was one of the game's stars, creating massive separation and hauling in a deep touchdown from Taylor.
After dropping a pretty easy catch, Jalin Hyatt makes up for it on the very next play with a touchdown!
— Talkin’ Giants (@TalkinGiants) August 19, 2023
He’s gonna be a fun watch this year. pic.twitter.com/5oWtkbcplE
NY Giants offensive line
In: Andrew Thomas, Evan Neal, Tyre Phillips, John Michael Schmitz, Mark Glowinski, Ben Bredeson, Josh Ezeudu, Marcus McKethan, Matt Peart
Out: Shane Lemieux, Devery Hamilton, Jack Anderson, Wyatt Davis, Korey Cunningham
Thomas stepped onto the football field in a real game for the first time since signing a five-year, $117.5 million extension this offseason. He allowed zero pressures in 10 snaps. Neal played 28 snaps and was dominant, aside from one snap where LeBryan Ray beat him for a sack of Taylor.
Schmitz was steady again, and though it's not official, he will start the season opener at center. Both guard positions are up for grabs, and it looks as though we will see a rotation this fall. Glowinski, the incumbent right guard, played 22 snaps at right guard. Bredeson, the incumbent left guard, played 12 snaps at right guard and 10 at left guard, while 2022 third-round pick Joshua Ezeudu played 24 snaps at left guard.
Bredeson has been the best guard in Giants camp this summer. His ability to play on either side of the line allows Daboll and O-Line coach Bobby Johnson to move him around and play the best five linemen.
Peart was the first tackle off the bench Friday, indicating he will be the third tackle. McKethan has yet to partake in a preseason game, as he is still recovering from a torn ACL last summer. The 2022 fifth-round pick will likely stick around. Schoen could add depth to the guard and tackle spots in the coming weeks.
NY Giants tight ends
In: Darren Waller, Daniel Bellinger, Lawrence Cager, Tommy Sweeney
Out: Chris Myarick, Ryan Jones
Waller caught three balls for 30 yards in his one drive on the field Friday. His size, athleticism, and excellent rapport with Jones were evident. He will be the focal point of the Giants passing attack. We must remember Bellinger, though.
The second-year player caught a TD on Friday night from Jones, and should be on the field a lot this fall. Bellinger's excellent blocking complements Waller's pass-catching prowess perfectly. Cager has been quiet recently, but is still third in the tight-end pecking order. Sweeney is right on the bubble, but squeaks in, for now.
NY Giants defensive line
In: Dexter Lawrence, Leonard Williams, A'Shawn Robinson, Rakeem Nunez-Roches, Jordon Riley, DJ Davidson
Out: Ryder Anderson, Kobe Smith, Brandin Bryant, Kevin Atkins
We have not heard much from Williams this summer, but he played like a man with his hair on fire during Monday's practice. Williams is in a contract year, which generally adds extra motivation for players.
Practice notes:
— Dan Duggan (@DDuggan21) August 21, 2023
• Leonard Williams was as dominant as I've seen him in a practice. He abused every guard in the rotation. He was playing with a nasty streak, too. Tackled Matt Breida (they weren't in full pads) and then pushed the RB on the ground.
Lawrence, Robinson, and Nunez-Roches are roster locks. Schoen spoke this offseason about the defensive line wearing down last season, which should not happen with the depth at this position this year, especially if six d-linemen crack the roster.
Riley, the rookie, received reps with the first-team defense on Friday night. Davidson was recently activated from the PUP list, and will give the Giants another nose tackle option in three-man fronts.
NY Giants outside linebackers
In: Kayvon Thibodeaux, Azeez Ojulari, Jihad Ward, Tomon Fox, Oshane Ximines
Out: Habakkuk Baldonado, Tashawn Bowser
Thibodeaux had a sack in his first preseason action Friday and dominated Neal during Monday's practice. Seth Walder, an NFL Analytics writer for ESPN, developed a sack model that projected Kayvon Thibodeaux with 6.5 sacks this year, 39th in the NFL, and Ojulari with 7.3, the 25th most.
Ximines was not included in last week's projection, but made it this week. On Friday, Ximines registered three pressures, tied with Bowser for most on the team, three hurries, most on the team, and a 57.1 pass rush win rate, the highest on the team. Bowser has had a sneaky good training camp, but is on the outside looking in.
NY Giants inside linebackers
In: Bobby Okereke, Darrian Beavers, Micah McFadden,
Out: Cam Brown, Carter Coughlin, Dyontae Johnson, Troy Brown
Okereke made his Giants debut on Friday and recorded seven tackles in 18 snaps. Okereke also wore the green dot Friday, indicating he will be the defensive signal caller. The veteran middle linebacker signed a four-year, $40 million deal this offseason. That deal was the most under-talked-about Giants deal this offseason, but it is by far the most significant addition the Giants defense made.
McFadden is ahead of Beavers for the second starting spot, but both should play a lot of snaps this fall. Brown and Coughlin are good special teamers, but defensively provide very little value. The nail in the coffin for Brown could be an injury that has kept him off the field for the last week.
Ford-Wheaton also provides value offensively and has taken a gunner spot on special teams, which could force Brown off the roster if his health does not approve rapidly. Schoen loves versatility; Coughlin and Brown don't provide any. I only have three on the projected roster now, but the Giants will look to add outside players to this group.
NY Giants cornerbacks
In: Adoree Jackson, Deonte Banks, Cor'Dale Flott, Tre Hawkins III
Out: Aaron Robinson, Amani Oruwariye, Germon Green, Alex Cook, Darren Evans, Darnay Holmes, Zyon Gilbert
Banks and Hawkins have both surpassed expectations this summer. The two rookies have taken strangleholds on the outside corner starting positions, which has enabled Wink to move Jackson into the slot.
Flott and Holmes played slot corner last fall, but are now stuck behind Jackson on the depth chart. Flott, just 21 years old, has started to take reps on the outside, but is likely still the slot corner of the future.
The Giants can save $2.7 million by cutting Holmes. That money is better used filling holes at other positions than corner No. 5. New York started cutting corners Saturday, waiving Rodarius Williams, who Tampa Bay later claimed.
NY Giants safeties
In: Xavier McKinney, Jason Pinnock, Dane Belton, Gervarrius Owens, Nick McCloud
Out: Alex Cook, Bobby McCain
New York only kept three safties in their initial roster last summer, but I am projecting five. McCloud has the versatility to play both corner and safety. That versatility will be key with only four corners on the projected roster.
McCain was projected to be the starter alongside McKinney, but has struggled this summer. Owens, Belton, and Pinnock have all leapfrogged the veteran on the depth chart.
Pinnock suffered a minor leg injury and missed practice Monday. Belton replaced him in the lineup, indicating he is safety No. 3. Owens should be safety No. 4. This summer, Cook has been a pleasant surprise and should find a spot on the practice squad.
NY Giants specialists
In: Graham Gano (K), Jamie Gillan (P), Casey Kreiter (LS)
Out: Cameron Lyons (LS)
Gano and Gillan only got a little work Friday. Kreiter vs. Lyons is the only battle in the specalist department, but it isn't much of an actual fight. Kreiter played five snaps Friday to Lyons one.
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