The New York Giants wrapped up the preseason Saturday night with a 10-6 loss to the Jets. With that game mercifully over, the focus shifts to assembling the 53-man roster that will enter the season, which kicks off at home against the Minnesota Vikings on Sept. 8.
The Giants have until 4 p.m. Tuesday to trim their 90-man roster to 53 players. However, the process will remain fluid even after that deadline, as general manager Joe Schoen and the personnel department will scour the waiver wire for potential upgrades.
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Schoen said in an interview with WFAN last week that he tells the offensive and defensive coaches to come up with the top 22 players on their side of the ball. After the three specialists are counted, that leaves a handful of players who will make the initial 53-man roster, but could be replaced if an upgrade becomes available on the waiver wire.
Here’s my projection of the 53 players who will make the initial cut on Tuesday:
Quarterbacks: 3
In: Daniel Jones, Drew Lock, Tommy DeVito
Out: N/A
The Giants have only carried two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster during the first two years of this regime, but circumstances may force a change this season. Jones has a lengthy injury history, and Lock is still recovering from an oblique injury he suffered in the preseason opener.
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DeVito has a better resume than most third quarterbacks. He went 3-3 with eight touchdowns and three interceptions as an undrafted rookie pressed into duty last season.
Keeping DeVito would provide insurance this season and for the future. There’s a distinct possibility this will be Jones’ final season in New York, and Lock signed a one-year deal this offseason. With instability looming at the most important position, there would be value in having DeVito on a minimum salary in 2025.
Six teams started at least three different quarterbacks last season, including the Giants. It’s unlikely Schoen will risk trying to pass DeVito through waivers to the practice squad in case the Giants land in that group again.
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Running backs: 3
In: Devin Singletary, Eric Gray, Tyrone Tracy Jr.
Out: Dante Miller, Joshua Kelley, Lorenzo Lingard
Miller created buzz in training camp — the “Turbo” nickname didn’t hurt — but he missed the second preseason game with a hamstring injury. The Giants clearly weren’t trying to limit Miller’s exposure to other teams, as he was fed 14 carries during Saturday’s game.
Miller has looked good this summer, but he’s an undrafted rookie with virtually no film from his final two years of college. The Giants should be able to pass him through to the practice squad, with Gray and Tracy emerging as the top backups to Singletary.
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Wide receivers: 6
In: Malik Nabers, Wan’Dale Robinson, Jalin Hyatt, Darius Slayton, Isaiah McKenzie, Myles Boykin
Out: Gunner Olszewski, Isaiah Hodgins, Allen Robinson, Bryce Ford-Wheaton, Ayir Asante, John Jiles
Nabers, Wan’Dale Robinson, Hyatt and Slayton are locked in as the top four receivers. McKenzie should win the battle for the receiver/returner job because Olszewski is “week-to-week” with a groin injury. Olszewski’s injury is unfortunate because McKenzie was shaky fielding punts during the preseason. Boykin was signed for his special teams acumen, and he’s been a core player in the kicking game throughout camp.
The Giants could keep seven receivers, which would pit Hodgins and Allen Robinson in a battle for the final spot. Robinson had a more productive camp and has a better track record, but Hodgins has a history in this offense. Ideally, the Giants can get Hodgins to the practice squad as insurance.
Tight ends: 4
In: Theo Johnson, Daniel Bellinger, Chris Manhertz, Jakob Johnson
Out: Lawrence Cager, Jack Stoll
Theo Johnson should be the team’s top receiving tight end as a rookie. Manhertz has a defined role as a blocker in two-tight end packages. Bellinger can do a bit of everything.
Jakob Johnson is a wild card. He’s part of the tight end group, but he’s really a fullback. He’s been utilized at that position throughout his five seasons, which have overlapped with Giants offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo in Las Vegas and New England. The Giants haven’t carried a true fullback the past two seasons, but Johnson could be an upgrade over shifting Bellinger into the backfield. Johnson’s ability to play special teams could give him the boost needed to make the roster.
Cager suffered a groin injury last week shortly after returning from a hamstring injury. The injuries likely sunk his chances of making the roster.
Offensive linemen: 10
In: Andrew Thomas, Jon Runyan, John Michael Schmitz Jr., Greg Van Roten, Jermaine Eluemunor, Aaron Stinnie, Evan Neal, Josh Ezeudu, Jake Kubas, Austin Schlottmann
Out: Joshua Miles, Jalen Mayfield, Jimmy Morrissey, Marcus McKethan, Matt Nelson, Marcellus Johnson
The top six linemen — Thomas, Runyan, Schmitz, Van Roten, Eluemunor and Stinnie — are locks. Neal will make the roster, although he may not be active early in the season, especially after he apparently re-injured his surgically repaired left ankle on Saturday. That leaves Ezeudu as the swing tackle, although Eluemunor would likely shift to left tackle if Thomas misses time. In an annual tradition, the Giants figure to be scouring the waiver wire for tackle depth.
Kubas has served as the second-team left guard since the spring. He has also rotated at the guard spots with the starters and has taken reps at center. It looks like the Giants want to keep the undrafted rookie around to develop into a versatile interior backup.
The Giants could carry just nine linemen, with Van Roten an option to shift to center if Schmitz gets injured. But the Giants figure to go heavy on the offensive line after the position was decimated by injuries last season.
Schmitz was the lone established starter to play Saturday’s game. He “needed it,” coach Brian Daboll said in reference to Schmitz missing eight practices early in camp with a shoulder injury. He left in the first quarter with a right ankle injury after getting rolled up on a failed fourth down run.
Schmitz will undergo an MRI on Sunday, but he sounded confident after the game the injury was nothing serious. Schlottmann had a rough night against the Jets, but he provides a true backup center with experience to round out the group.
Miles is the next lineman on the bubble, but his fate was likely sealed by Neal’s return. McKethan never got off the third string in camp after starting five games last season.
Defensive linemen: 5
In: Dexter Lawrence, Rakeem Nunez-Roches, Elijah Chatman, DJ Davidson, Jordon Riley
Out: Timmy Horne, Casey Rogers, Kyler Baugh
This position was stocked with proven veterans a year ago. But Leonard Williams and A’Shawn Robinson are gone, leaving an exceptionally young group to support Lawrence and Nunez-Roches.
Chatman has been the feel-good story of camp, rising from a rookie minicamp tryout to a starter on passing downs. It remains to be seen if the 6-foot, 278-pounder will be able to hold up against NFL competition when the season starts.
Davidson moved into the starting lineup in the base defense after Ryder Anderson was waived with a hamstring injury on Monday. That was a steep fall for Anderson, who had been getting first-team reps throughout camp, but the team apparently tired of his constant injuries.
Riley has had a quiet camp, but there isn’t much competition for the fifth spot. The 2023 seventh-round pick could be replaced by a waiver claim after cut day.
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Outside linebackers: 4
In: Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Azeez Ojulari, Boogie Basham
Out: Benton Whitley, Ovie Oghoufo, Tomon Fox
The Giants are going to ride Burns and Thibodeaux in the hopes that a dominant pass rush will hide weaknesses in the secondary. Basham should assume the Jihad Ward role as an early-down thumper on the edge against the run to allow the pass rushers to catch a breather.
Ojulari’s status bears monitoring. He’s clearly the third-best edge rusher on the roster, and the Giants need some depth behind Burns and Thibodeaux. But Ojulari hasn’t had a strong camp, and it’s hard to find many snaps for him since he’s a pass-rush specialist playing behind two workhorses who will be on the field for most passing downs. There has been no evidence Ojulari will move inside on passing downs. He doesn’t have the body type for that role, and he didn’t line up inside for a single snap during camp.
All of that makes Ojulari a potential trade chip. He’s in the final year of his rookie contract and doesn’t have a future in New York with Burns and Thibodeaux locked in as cornerstones. The Giants could try to deal Ojulari for help at another position like corner.
Benton Whitley could be the beneficiary if Ojulari gets dealt. Even if Ojulari remains, Whitley is a sleeper for a roster spot. He’s had a strong camp and has played on starting special teams units.
Inside linebackers: 5
In: Bobby Okereke, Micah McFadden, Carter Coughlin, Matthew Adams, Darius Muasau
Out: Dyontae Johnson, Darrian Beavers, KJ Cloyd, Trey Kiser
This position is unsettled due to injury. McFadden injured his groin in the second preseason game, and his status for the season opener is unclear. Adams also injured his groin in the second preseason game and has been deemed “week-to-week.” Johnson had a strong performance in the preseason opener before suffering an ankle injury that has kept him sidelined.
Coughlin had missed three weeks with a quad injury, but he returned to practice this week. The core special teamer should be safe. Adams is another core special teamer who should be safe considering the Giants gave him $967,500 guaranteed this offseason. The only question with Adams is if he could start the season on IR if the groin injury is more severe than indicated. Muasau will make the roster because he’s healthy and was a sixth-round pick this year.
Johnson is the toughest call. He’s expected to be healthy by the opener, so he could still nab a roster spot. But he’s a former undrafted free agent who spent his entire rookie season on the practice squad and has missed two weeks of the preseason. The Giants would likely be able to pass him through waivers to the practice squad.
The health questions at this position could prompt a waiver claim just to get through the start of the season.
Cornerbacks: 6
In: Deonte Banks, Nick McCloud, Dru Phillips, Cor’Dale Flott, Isaiah Simmons, Tre Hawkins
Out: Darnay Holmes, Tre Herndon, David Long, Breon Borders, Christian Holmes, Mario Goodrich
Banks, McCloud, Phillips, Flott and Simmons are locks, although it’s hard to feel great about this group after a rocky camp. The Giants need to add more talent at the position, whether that’s an established vet or a young player with upside.
Spending on a free agent seems unlikely, and a trade could be tough to execute. The most likely path to adding a corner will come via the waiver wire. Hawkins should make it as the last corner for now, but he could become vulnerable after the waiver wire is flooded with corners from other teams.
McCloud was shaping up to be a candidate for the Giants’ annual Week 1 pay cut because his $3 million salary contains no guaranteed money. But he’s too valuable as the No. 2 cornerback for the team to attempt that tactic.
It was surprising that Darnay Holmes re-signed after having no defensive role last season. He was buried on the depth chart all camp and then played into the fourth quarter before suffering a neck injury on Saturday night, which indicates the end of the line in New York for the 2020 fourth-round pick.
Safeties: 4
In: Jason Pinnock, Dane Belton, Tyler Nubin, Gervarrius Owens
Out: Alex Johnson, Jonathan Sutherland, Raheem Layne, Clayton Isbell
The top three safeties are set, with Nubin pushing to replace Belton as the starter next to Pinnock. The fourth spot is up in the air. Owens has been sidelined since injuring his knee in the preseason opener. Veteran Jalen Mills was released from the non-football injury list, which cleared a potential path for Johnson as an undrafted rookie.
The final spot will likely be determined by Owens’ health. Either way, this is a position that could use a reinforcement from the waiver wire.
Specialists: 3
In: K Graham Gano, P Jamie Gillan, LS Casey Kreiter
Out: K Jude McAtamney
The plan was always to use the international exemption to keep the Irish-born McAtamney on the practice squad. He showed enough potential this summer to follow through with that plan.
(Photo of Azeez Ojulari: Cooper Neill / Getty Images)
