The preseason is over. The New York Giants and the NFL’s other 31 teams have to set their initial 53-man rosters by 6 p.m. on Sunday. Here is my final projection of what roster will look like.
OFFENSE
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. I believe Allen gets the nod. He has gotten more reps than Haener, and I have to believe that means something. Haener played well
Friday night, but that might have been too little, too late.
Practice squad: Allen
Running back (4)
IN: Cam Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy, Devin Singletary, Najee Harris
Out: Eric Gray, Damon Bankston
Unless somebody makes GM Joe Schoen and head coach John Harbaugh an offer they can’t refuse, I believe Tracy will be on the roster. He showed his explosiveness Friday with 37 yards on just four carries.
Practice squad: Gray
Fullback (1)
IN: Patrick Ricard
Out: Grant Finley
The only real question here is whether or not the Giants will keep the 6-foot-4, 281-pound Finley, an undrafted free agent, on the practice squad in hopes of developing him into Ricard 2.0.
Practice squad: Finley
Tight end (3)
IN: Isaiah Likely, Theo Johnson, Chris Manhertz
Out: Tanner Conner, Thomas Fidone, Josiah Deguara
It was interesting that the Giants used an open 90-man roster spot to add Deguara this week. I don’t believe that will impact the final roster.
Practice squad: Fidone
Wide receiver (7)
IN: Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, Darnell Mooney, Malachi Fields, Braxton Berrios, Odell Beckham Jr., Dalen Cambre
Out: Xavier Gipson, Isaiah Hodgins, Jalin Hyatt
IR: Calvin Austin
The unfortunate knee injury suffered by Calvin Austin opens a spot for Odell Beckham Jr. I am also going with only six wide receivers, dropping Dalen Cambre after having him on the roster in my last projection. I feel like I might regret not including Cambre as a seventh wide receiver, but that’s what I am going to do.
We haven’t seen Hyatt on the field for weeks now, and this is probably the end of the line for him.
Practice squad: Hodgins
Offensive line (9)
IN: Andrew Thomas, Jon Runyan, John Michael Schmitz, Francis Mauigoa, Jermaine Eluemunor, Marcus Mbow, Aaron Stinnie, J.C. Davis, Lucas Patrick
Out: Bryan Hudson, Evan Neal, Ryan Schernecke, Jake Kubas, Jarrod Gray (International Exemption), Brendan Jaimes
It is still hard to believe that the Giants, unable to field competent offensive lines more often than not over the past 15 years, have traded TWO surplus offensive linemen for draft capital over the past couple of weeks.
The big decision here is Hudson vs. Patrick as the backup center and emergency guard. I have had Patrick in this spot all along, and I am sticking with that. Hudson made a late push, but Patrick got the call ahead of Hudson on Friday night and I think that is an indication of where the staff sees the competition.
Kubas is interesting. If Harbaugh wants an extra offensive lineman, he could get a spot. Still, on game days teams usually dress only eight offensive lineman, so I will drop Kubas to the practice squad.
I have to give credit where it’s due. Neal was outstanding against the Jets. He was a wrecking ball as a run blocker, and it makes you wonder how things might have turned out for him had the Giants movd him to guard sooner. I still don’t see a spot on the roster for him. You can try making a case for cutting Stinnie, but I don’t think the Giants want to do that.
Practice squad: Hudson, Kubas, Schernecke, Gray (International Exemption)
DEFENSE
Defensive line (6)
IN: D.J. Reader, Darius Alexander, Shelby Harris, Chauncey Golston, Leki Fotu, Bobby Jamison-Travis
Out: Josh Tupou, Zacch Pickens, Anquin Barnes Jr., Marlon Davidson, Ben Barten
I have waffled on the idea that Jamison-Travis, a sixth-round pick, would make the roster. In the end, I will keep him on the 53 and stash Tupou, a veteran nose tackle, on the practice squad.
I won’t be surprised if the Giants add a veteran dropped by someone else, most likely replacing Fotu. His sack dance is fun, but I won’t be shocked if Jamison-Travis lands on the practice squad. I am keeping him in this projection, but I don’t feel great about it.
Practice squad: Tupou
Off-ball linebacker (5)
IN: Arvell Reese, Tremaine Edmunds, Micah McFadden, Jack Kelly, Zaire Barnes
Out: Darius Muasau, Chandler Martin, Anfernee Orji
I am keeping Barnes for his ability as a special teamer. To be honest, he has also been superior to Muasau as a defender this summer.
Practice squad: Muasau
Edge defender (3)
IN: Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, Kayvon Thibodeaux
Out: Caleb Murphy, Khalid Kareem, Trace Ford
Golston has earned a role on the defensive line, but is also the fourth edge defender. I am comfortable keeping three “pure” edge defenders because of his presence.
Practice squad: Murphy, Ford
Cornerback (6)
IN: Paulson Adebo, Greg Newsome II, Colton Hood, Dru Phillips, Deonte Banks, Art Green
Out: Korie Black, Nic Jones, Ugo Amadi
The real question here, as it has been for a while, is which players will start Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys. Increasingly, it has looked like Banks and Newsome, with Adebo and his $24.199 million cap hit as the third wheel. That would be 8.1% of the Giants’ cap space coming off the bench. If he isn’t going to start, might the Giants be able to deal Adebo.
One other note: I have always had Green making the roster because of special teams, but Black has played well toward the end of the summer. Has he played well enough to steal a job?Maybe.
Practice squad: Black
Safety (4)
IN: Jevon Holland, Tyler Nubin, Ar’Darius Washington, Jason Pinnock
Out: Elijah Campbell, Beau Brade, Raheem Layne, J.T. Woods
I think Harbaugh, with his special teams background, will try to find room for an experienced core special teamer like Campbell. I just don’t know where that room comes from.
Practice squad: Campbell
SPECIAL TEAMS (3)
IN: Jordan Stout (punter), Dominic Zvada (placekicker), Ben Mann (long-snapper)
Out: Ben Sauls (placekicker)
Harbaugh hasalready made this call.
Practice squad: Sauls
