We've still got to wait a while longer for Week 1 of the regular season to get here, but goodness, it sure was great to see the NY Giants back on the field this week for OTAs. Some newcomers turned heads, with tight end Darren Waller of course being on the list.
Unfortunately for all you die-hard fans, we've got to wait until May 30 to see more guys impress while donning a Giants uniform. However, there's a lot to discuss following the first three sessions of the spring. In this piece, we take a look at five things in particular that has Giants nation talking:
4. Darren Waller is living up to the hype for the Giants
We've talked about this quite a bit in recent days, but come on, how can people not be excited about the play of Waller? Yes, it's only May and these are voluntary workouts. Still, Waller has showcased his 6-6 frame in the best way possible for the Giants early on. And you know that Daniel Jones is all smiles.
During Day 1 of OTAs on Monday, the two hooked up for multiple touchdowns during drills. The solid connection between the two only got stronger the rest of the week. When talking with the media about Waller, Jones gave him a glowing review of his first few sessions with the squad. Offensive coordinator Mike Kafka has also been singing his praises.
One of the major concerns for Waller is his ability to stay healthy. It's been a rough couple of seasons for him injury wise, but he's been looking like a total beast in East Rutherford. All signs are pointing to him having a monster year for Brian Daboll and Co.
3. The Saquon Barkley drama doesn't look like it'll end soon
Before we get into other action on the field from this week, we've 100 percent got to bring up the elephant in the room: the contract drama with Saquon Barkley. The vibes are amazing in New Jersey at the Giants training facility, but the Saquon situation is surely impacting things in a negative fashion, which sucks.
You could tell that Brian Daboll isn't too pleased that things haven't been able to get resolved yet. The Giants placed Barkley on the non-exclusive franchise tender earlier this offseason after they inked Jones to his four-year, $160 million contract. The Giants have put multiple offers on the table for No. 26, but he's rejected them.
With the uncertainty surrounding Barkley, it has people nervous about what might happen leading up to the regular season. Jones said that he's hoping Barkley can sign a new deal soon and get back on the field with him. Barkley is one of the most explosive players in the NFL. Schoen must find a way to make him happy, but at the right price.
2. NY Giants newcomers are making their presence felt
While Waller is going to receive a lot of attention, we can't forget about the other first-year Giants who are making an impact. One under-the-radar player for fans to keep an eye on would be safety Gervarrius Owens. The seventh-round pick may not be the biggest name, but he posted a pass deflection this week that led to a Tomon Fox interception.
Another rookie we're a big fan of would be speedster Jalin Hyatt. The former Tennessee standout caught a touchdown during the first day of OTAs, while he also got some work returning punts for the Giants. With his blazing wheels, there's a great chance for Hyatt to see significant time both on offense and special teams.
We can't forget about linebacker Bobby Okereke either. The $40 million 'backer could not be happier that he's with the Giants right now and he's looking like a force already. Okereke's muscles are bulging out of his jersey at all times. We don't envy opposing running backs and QBs who look up and see him flying their way. Okereke should be a stud for NY in '23 and beyond.
1. Daniel Jones is looking more comfortable than ever with the Giants
Not only has Danny Dimes added some size this offseason, but he's looking way more confident. Hey, it's easy to feel that way now that you have several other offensive weapons at your disposal, plus a $160 million contract to your name. Parris Campbell, Waller and Hyatt are all ready to put on a show for Big Blue from start to finish this season, and Jones is ready to feed them the pigskin.
We mentioned it above, but Waller and Jones have definitely started to build some chemistry early on. This isn't the first time Jones has been throwing balls his way, as Waller was part of the large group that trained in Arizona with Jones earlier this offseason. Waller is a big fan of Jones' game.
"I've been very impressed with Daniel. Arm talent, intelligence, funny guy. He's got a lot of personality that you really get to see once you get to know him some more. It's been fun, man. Getting extra throwing sessions in, workout in the weight room. A lot of jokes. Just having lunch together. You can tell guys are really close around here, and he kind of leads that energy."Darren Waller via the Giants website
Jones is letting the ball rip with plenty of swagger at OTAs and it's awesome to see. Imagine how much more confident he'll be when Barkley is back in town next to him as well. Oh and the DeAndre Hopkins-to-NY speculation is back in full force too. All in all, things are looking up for Jones. He's going to be cooking from start to finish next campaign.
READ MORE: The Giants should reach out to DeAndre Hopkins as soon as possible