How much did the New York Giants time in West Virginia change the team’s potential season-opening roster? Let’s take a look.
Below is an updated position-by-position look at who I consider to be locks to make the 53-man roster, bubble players, and long shots after the first two weeks of practice. The intent is to look at where the most interesting competitions are, and the chances of individual players.
Quarterback
Locks (2) — Jaxson Dart, Jameis Winston Bubble players (0) — None Long shot (1) — Brandon Allen
[No change]
I would think we will see a lot of Allen in Saturday’s preseason opener against the Minnesota Vikings.
Running back
Locks (4) — Cam Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy, Devin Singletary, Patrick Ricard
Bubble players (1) — Dante Miller
Long shots (2) — Eric Gray, Damon Bankston, Grant Finley (FB)
[Change: Finley added to roster]
When the Giants have monitored Skattebo’s reps, it has been Miller who has benefitted by getting chances to work with Dart. I still don’t think Miller makes the team, but right now he would be RB4 with Ricard as a fullback/blocking tight end.
Tight end
Locks (3) — Isaiah Likely, Theo Johnson, Chris Manhertz
Bubble players (1) — Tanner Conner
Long shot (1) — Thomas Fidone
[No change]
Conner, formerly with the Miami Dolphins, has made plenty of plays this summer. I don’t see, though, how he knocks Manhertz off the roster. Unless the Giants are willing to use Patrick Ricard regularly as an inline tight end.
Wide receiver
Locks (5) — Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, Calvin Austin, Darnell Mooney, Malachi Fields
Bubble players (5) — Odell Beckham Jr., JuJu Smith-Schuster, Braxton Berrios, Dalen Cambre, Jalin Hyatt
Long shots (3) — Ryan Miller, Xavier Gipson, Isaiah Hodgins
[Changes: Beaux Collins cut; Jalin Hyatt moved from long shot to bubble]
Hyatt has made a career of flashing during training camp, and he is doing it again. Interestingly, the Giants are taking a look at Hyatt as a potential punt gunner. He has the speed for it. Does he have the physicality to get off blocks, especially double teams, and the willingness/ability to tackle? Those are questions we don’t have the answer to.
One player who has gotten little attention in camp is Mooney, the veteran receiver signed in free agency during the offseason. I have even heard speculation that Mooney, who has $3 million in guaranteed money, could be on the roster bubble.
After what I watched during the week of padded practices in West Virginia, and heard from players, I am not buying.
Mooney has consistently repped with Dart. During Friday’s practice, Mooney caught several passes. One was an impressive 15-yard, top-tapping, deep out during the full-field drive at the end of practice. That same day, Mooney smoked Paulson Adebo for a deep sideline catch during 7-on-7 work.
One of my favorite questions to ask new, veteran Giants is which player or players they knew nothing about they have been impressed by. When I had a chance to speak with defensive back Ar’Darius Washington, I put the question to him.
“I knew Mooney was nice,” Washington said. “I knew he was good. But I didn’t know he was that good.”
Anything can happen, but I have a hard time believing Mooney won’t be part of the 53-man roster.
Offensive line
Locks (7) — Andrew Thomas, Jon Runyan, John Michael Schmitz, Francis Mauigoa, Jermaine Eluemunor, Marcus Mbow, Daniel Faalele
Bubble players (5) — J.C. Davis, Lucas Patrick, Bryan Hudson, Josh Ezeudu, Aaron Stinnie
Long shots (5) — Evan Neal, Ryan Schernecke, Jake Kubas, Jarrod Gray (International Exemption), Brendan Jaimes
[Change: Jaimes added to roster]
Patrick is making the team as the backup center … if he is healthy. The Giants have been managing the veteran lineman’s snaps. If he isn’t healthy, maybe that opens the door for Hudson … or even Kubas, who has worked at center in the past.
Defensive line
Locks (4) — D.J. Reader, Darius Alexander, Shelby Harris, Chauncey Golston
Bubble players (5) — Bobby Jamison-Travis, Leki Fotu, Zacch Pickens, Sam Roberts, Josh Tupou
Long shots (2) — Anquin Barnes Jr., Marlon Davidson
[No change]
If I had to guess right now, I would say Jamison-Travis and Fotu make the roster. That, though, is purely a guess.
Off-ball linebacker
Locks (4) — Arvell Reese, Tremaine Edmunds, Micah McFadden, Jack Kelly
Bubble players (2) — Darius Muasau, Zaire Barnes
Long shots (1) — Anfernee Orji
[Change: Kelly moved from bubble to lock]
Kelly, one of the Giants’ three sixth-round picks, has been impressive going both forward and backward. He aligns next to McFadden with the second team during every practice. I will be very surprised if he is not on the season-opening roster.
Edge defender
Locks (3) — Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, Kayvon Thibodeaux
Bubble players (1) — Khalid Kareem
Long shots (2) — Trace Ford, Caleb Murphy
[No change]
I still see only the three edge defenders making the 53-man roster.
Cornerback
Locks (5) — Paulson Adebo, Greg Newsome II, Colton Hood, Dru Phillips, Deonte Banks
Bubble players (3) — Art Green, Nic Jones, Korie Black
Long shots (2) — David Long, D.J. James
[Change: Long, James added to roster; Jarrick Bernard-Converse waived/injured]
The Giants are a little thin at cornerback right now, even after signing Long and James. Dru Phillips’ knee injury is said to be minor, but the Giants might still need to add one more player here.
As for the competition for starting spots at cornerback, scoff at the idea Deonte Banks could be a starter if you want … but he could be a starter. He has been getting considerable snaps with the first team, and is legitimately in competition with Greg Newsome and Colton Hood. Newsome even said a few days ago that Banks has been “amazing” this summer.
As a side note, Adebo took some second-team reps late in the week. I’m not sure how much significance to attach to that. As I said recently on New York Post Sports Plus, though, John Harbaugh is not going to be beholden to players who were here when he was hired. I still think Adebo is a starter, but his second-team work was noteworthy after he had struggled the previous day.
Safety
Locks (3) — Jevon Holland, Tyler Nubin, Ar’Darius Washington
Bubble players (2) — Elijah Campbell, Jason Pinnock
Long shots (2) — Beau Brade, Raheem Layne
[No change]
The more I watch practice, the more I believe Washington is going to play a lot. Also, I am not ready to do it yet, but I might have to put Pinnock in the “lock” category. It is important to remember how well Pinnock played for the Giants in Wink Martindale’s defense, and that Dennard Wilson will ask defensive backs to play aggressively. That suits Pinnock.
Special teams
Locks (1) — Jordan Stout (punter)
Bubble players (2) — Dominic Zvada (placekicker), Ben Mann (long-snapper)
Long shot (1) — Ben Sauls (placekicker)
[No change]
Mann had the first off-target snap I have seen from him all spring and summer on Friday, with a high snap contributing to a 45-yard miss by Sauls.
Totals
Locks: 41
Bubble players: 27
Long shots: 23
NOTE: The Giants have 91 players since they are carrying one player (Gray) with an International Exemption
