Up until now, our looks at the New York Giants’ potential season-opening 53-man roster have included “locks, bubble players, and long shots.” With only one preseason game remaining, we now move to a true roster projection.
There will be a final projection after the third preseason game, which will be Thursday against the New York Jets. Teams must be at the 53-man regular-season roster limit by 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, Aug. 30.
OFFENSE (27)
Quarterback (2)
IN: Jaxson Dart, Jameis Winston
Out: Brandon Allen, Jake Haener
The question
here is which of Allen and the recently-signed Haener the Giants choose to keep on their practice squad.
Running back (4)
IN: Cam Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy, Devin Singletary, Najee Harris
Out: Eric Gray, Damon Bankston
Yes, I am keeping Tracy despite the mistakes he made in each of the first two preseason games. Unless a running back-needy team buzzes GM Joe Schoen’s phone and offers draft capital worth accepting, I think the Giants would regret letting Tracy go.
Head coach John Harbaugh was asked about Tracy during his Sunday call with New York media.
“I don’t think you say, hey, a bad play or even two bad plays nullifies a whole career body of work, so to speak,” Harbaugh said. “And even in the game, he played well. He had numerous good runs, catches, pass protection pickups were good, but he had the one play that’s the one thing you don’t want to have as a running back. And in the last two games, he’s had two things you don’t want to have.
“So, nobody feels worse about it than he does. I mean, he’s very conscientious, very determined guy. It matters a lot to him, so he’s beating himself up. But the rest of the plays were all good. They were all pluses. So, you don’t hold it against him. At the same time, you understand how valuable and important those things are to your football team, and he knows as well. So, it’s just a balancing act that way.”
Fullback (1)
IN: Patrick Ricard
Out: Grant Finley
Nothing to see here. I wonder if the Giants will keep the 6-foot-4, 281-pound Finley, like Ricard a player with defensive tackle experience, on the practice squad in hopes of turning him into Ricard 2.0.
Tight end (3)
IN: Isaiah Likely, Theo Johnson, Chris Manhertz
Out: Tanner Conner, Thomas Fidone
I really would like to keep Fidone on the roster. With Ricard able to line up at times as a blocking tight end, though, I just don’t see how to make it happen.
Wide receiver (7)
IN: Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, Calvin Austin, Darnell Mooney, Malachi Fields, Braxton Berrios, Dalen Cambre
Out: Odell Beckham Jr., Ryan Miller, Xavier Gipson, Isaiah Hodgins, Jalin Hyatt
The decision here is between Beckham and Cambre. Today, I am choosing Cambre for his special teams ability. In my final roster prediction? Unknown.
I do believe there is a scenario in which the Giants could make a trade to open a spot for Beckham. Such a deal would likely involve Mooney or Slayton — probably Mooney based on Slayton carrying a $12.25 million base salary in 2026.
I also believe there is a scenario where the Giants keep six wide receivers, and neither Beckham nor Cambre makes the 53. Or, even one where they keep six, Mooney gets dealt, and Beckham gets the last spot with the Giants hoping to slide Cambre to the practice squad.
Offensive line (10)
IN: Andrew Thomas, Jon Runyan, John Michael Schmitz, Francis Mauigoa, Jermaine Eluemunor, Marcus Mbow, Josh Ezeudu, Aaron Stinnie, J.C. Davis, Lucas Patrick
Out: Bryan Hudson, Evan Neal, Ryan Schernecke, Jake Kubas, Jarrod Gray (International Exemption), Brendan Jaimes
I think 10 offensive linemen is heavy, but after the way he played on Saturday I doubt there is any chance the Giants can get Davis through waivers to the practice squad. The only way to ensure keeping him is to have him on the 53-man roster.
I don’t know you justify cutting any of the other guys. Patrick has been the No. 2 center since the spring, and there is zero indication the Giants want to change that. Mbow is the swing tackle. Ezeudu offers them guard/tackle flexibility on the right side, and has earned a spot. Stinnie is a plug-and-play veteran who can step in at either guard.
DEFENSE (23)
Defensive line (6)
IN: D.J. Reader, Darius Alexander, Shelby Harris, Chauncey Golston, Leki Fotu, Josh Tupou
Out: Bobby Jamison-Travis, Zacch Pickens, Anquin Barnes Jr., Marlon Davidson
I don’t like the idea of exposing Jamison-Travis to waivers. I do think there is a better chance Jamison-Travis gets through waivers to the practice squad than Davis, simply based on the amount of NFL film available on both players.
Still, I have Tupou making the roster ahead of Jamison-Travis, but I could be convinced to flip that.
Off-ball linebacker (4)
IN: Arvell Reese, Tremaine Edmunds, Micah McFadden, Jack Kelly
Out: Darius Muasau, Zaire Barnes, Chandler Martin, Anfernee Orji
I do wonder if the Giants will find space for one of Martin, Barnes, or Muasau as a special teams player. Here, I did not. You can certainly make an argument that I should have.
Edge defender (3)
IN: Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, Kayvon Thibodeaux
Out: Khalid Kareem, Trace Ford, Caleb Murphy
Golston might end up starting on the defensive line. I have considered him as the fourth edge defender. If he is taking a heavy load of defensive line snaps, perhaps there is a spot open for one of Kareem, Ford, or Murphy. If that happens, I don’t know who would lose a job at another position.
Cornerback (6)
IN: Paulson Adebo, Greg Newsome II, Colton Hood, Dru Phillips, Deonte Banks, Art Green
Out: Korie Black, Nic Jones, Ugo Amadi
I considered keeping Black, but seven cornerbacks just seems like one too many. Especially since Ar’Darius Washington can drop down and play cornerback if needed.
Safety (4)
IN: Jevon Holland, Tyler Nubin, Ar’Darius Washington, Jason Pinnock
Out: Elijah Campbell, Beau Brade, Raheem Layne, J.T. Woods
I would like to keep Campbell, a veteran special teams player, I just don’t know how.
SPECIAL TEAMS (3)
IN: Jordan Stout (punter), Dominic Zvada (placekicker), Ben Mann (long-snapper)
Out: Ben Sauls (placekicker)
No surprises here. Zvada over Sauls has been the call for a while.
Final thoughts
First of all, yes, I know that 27 offensive and 23 defensive players is an imbalance. I don’t like it, but that is how it worked out. My final projection will probably be slightly different. As of today, though, I am not willing to drop Cambre or any of the reserve offensive linemen.
Many things can happpen. Injuries, trades, players shining against the New York Jets on Friday and winning spots. Me being wrong. There are a lot of possibilities.
This exercise has been hard. Really hard. And decisions across the roster can be questioned. That is actually a good thing. It indicates that there are NFL-caliber players who won’t make the team.
