UDFA NY Giants CB making serious case for the 53-man roster

When it comes to undrafted free agents, they're simply easy guys to root for. This summer, defensive tackle Elijah Chatman has become a fan favorite, as the NY Giants youngster was overlooked in late April, but has made a name for himself with Brian Daboll and his staff.

He's not the only one. A rookie who has flown totally under the radar leading up to Week 1 has been defensive back Alex Johnson. A former standout for UCLA, Johnson went undrafted, but then signed with the G-Men not long after the draft came to a close.

He's earning plenty of work in practice and he was on the field quite a bit in the loss to Houston. With depth at CB a concern, could it lead to him sticking around this fall? Beat writer Art Stapleton sure likes his game, which speaks volumes to his potential:

Giants fans need to keep a close eye on Alex Johnson moving forward

In the showdown with the Texans, Johnson played in 55 percent of the snaps - the Giants gave him a shot to showcase what he can do and he took advantage of his opportunities. While Johnson had some difficult moments, he stood his ground and showed some promise.

He's still a rookie, but he's doing enough to at least make this a tough decision for Daboll. In the preseason finale against the Jets, the 6-0, 185-pounder figures to see plenty of action as well. It's going to be his last opportunity to prove that he should stick around.

This summer, he has posted five tackles for new defensive coordinator Shane Bowen. Those stats don't jump off the page, but it doesn't tell the whole story here. The Giants are expected to keep 5-6 CBs on the roster and several guys are battling for a spot.

Darnay Holmes appears to be on his way out, while 2023 camp standout Tre Hawkins continues to see his stock drop with rough play. Neither of those should be around to face the Vikings. As for Johnson? He's still got a mountain to climb, but don't be totally surprised if he's able to sneak onto the team.