New York Giants position battle updates after minicamp | Sporting News

The New York Giants wrapped up the offseason workouts with mandatory minicamp earlier this week, giving us a glimpse of the position battles taking place.

One of the major storylines we will be keeping an eye on throughout training camp and the preseason is the position battles taking place across the roster.

Some of these battles are taking place for starting roles. Others include a handful of players competing for depth spots and rotational roles on both sides of the ball.

No starting jobs or rotational roles were won during the spring workouts, but they did lay the foundation for the competitions set to take place at training camp.

MORE: Biggest winners and losers from Giants’ offseason workouts

Giants’ position battle updates after minicamp

Backup running back

Current leader: Tyrone Tracy Jr.

The majority of work in the Giants backfield will go to Devin Singletary, who signed a three-year deal with the team during free agency. However, the backup role will include some significant playing time, and it appears a rookie is leading that battle.

MORE: Giants rookie quickly climbing running back depth chart

Tracy, the team’s fifth-round pick in 2024, appears to have the inside track for the backup and change-of-pace role over Eric Gray, a fellow fifth-round pick entering his second season. Tracy has to prove he can hold up in pass protection if he wants the passing down role, but he saw a solid amount of first-team reps during minicamp.

Offensive line

Current leaders: Jermaine Eluemunor, Jon Runyan, Evan Neal

We’re just going to group the entire line together since there are so many moving parts. As it currently stands, Eluemunor is the starting left guard with Runyan at right guard and Neal getting another chance to earn the starting right tackle position.

Though Eluemunor can play both guard and tackle, the Giants want him inside next to left tackle Andrew Thomas. How long that remains the case depends on Neal, who didn’t take any team or individual reps as he recovers from offseason ankle surgery.

If Neal can make strides and give the Giants even adequate play at right tackle, they won’t be forced to move Eluemunor from the guard position.

When Neal was out of the lineup, third-year player Joshua Ezeudu got the reps at right tackle. Ezeudu kicked to left tackle when Thomas got rest during the spring, leading to Yodny Cajuste working at right tackle.

Tight end

Current leader: None

The retirement of Darren Waller opens up a significant role in the tight end room. Even though Daniel Bellinger gave way to Lawrence Cager and rookie Theo Johnson during the spring, there isn’t a clear-cut leader in the competition yet.

MORE: Giants rookie tight end expected to have big role in passing game

The long-term view favors Johnson, who was the team’s fourth-round pick. He flashed plenty throughout the spring, and he brings a lot of upside as a two-way tight end considering his elite athleticism and solid foundation of blocking skills. This competition is far from over and will be closely monitored throughout training camp.

Defensive tackle

Current leader: Rakeem Nunez-Roches

With Dexter Lawrence resuming his role as the starting nose/one-technique defensive tackle, the Giants seemingly have a front-runner for his partner on the interior. There is likely to be a heavy rotation at the three-technique spot between several players during training camp.

However, Dan Duggan of The Athletic noted that Nunez-Roches was working with the first-team defense while Ryder Anderson, Jordon Riley and DJ Davidson also rotated in with the first-team unit.

Cornerback

Current leader: Cor’Dale Flott

With Deonte Banks on one side and rookie Andru Phillips likely to take over the nickel duties in Shane Bowen’s defense, there’s a competition for the starting boundary role opposite Banks. Throughout the offseason workouts, there has been one clear leader.

The starting boundary role opposite Banks is Flott’s job to lose. The Giants are sticking with the third-year cornerback over Nick McCloud and Tre Hawkins III, and there’s a good chance it remains this way going into the regular season.

For more Giants coverage, check out Kevin Hickey’s work on Sporting News.