Giants 53-man roster projection: Who’s in, who’s out after spring practices?

As we while away the summer waiting for the return of New York Giants football let’s take a crack at a much-too-early and sure to be wrong 53-man roster projection as spring practices have concluded.

This was not easy, and maybe that’s a good thing. I ran through it once without bothering to see how many players I was rostering. I ended up with 58, and had to do some chopping.

Below, see what I ended up with.

OFFENSE

Quarterback (2)

Starter: Daniel Jones
Backups: Drew Lock
Out: Tommy DeVito, Nathan Rourke

I know. Tommy DeVito fans are screaming that ‘Cutlets’ needs to be rostered because of the risk of losing him to another team via waiver claim by trying to get him to the practice squad.

It is, though, worth the risk in my view.

First, I believe chances are good that DeVito, a local hero, would get through waivers to the practice squad. Second, the new NFL rule allowing teams to promote a practice squad quarterback to the game day roster as an emergency quarterback an unlimited number of times during the season makes keeping a third quarterback on the 53-man roster unnecessary.

DeVito to the practice squad saves a roster spot to use elsewhere. Besides, head coach Brian Daboll has kept only two quarterbacks in his first two seasons. I doubt that changes now.

Running back (4)

Starter: Devin Singletary
Backups: Tyrone Tracy Jr., Eric Gray, Dante Miller
Out: Jashaun Corbin, Jacob Salyers

I’m going ‘Turbo’ here, keeping rookie free agent Dante ‘Turbo’ Miller as a fourth running back. I’m not sure about this one, but Miller has intriguing speed and — at the least — could end up as part of the Giants kickoff return tandem. Miller and Tracy have worked together some on kickoff return, and if the Giants trust them enough could form an interesting combo.

Last thing about Miller is that I think coach Brian Daboll might have a hard time passing on keeping Miller’s speed on the roster.

Tight end (4)

Starter: Daniel Bellinger
Backups: Jack Stoll, Theo Johnson, Lawrence Cager
Out: Chris Manhertz

My debate here is simply Manhertz vs. Stoll. They are relatively equal blocking tight ends, except that Stoll (26) is six years younger than the 32-year-old Manhertz. Plus, Stoll might be a marginally better receiver. In three seasons, Stoll has 20 catches. In eight seasons, Manhertz has just 26.

Wide receiver (7)

Starters: Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, Wan’Dale Robinson
Backups: Jalin Hyatt, Isaiah McKenzie, Isaiah Hodgins, Miles Boykin
Out: Gunner Olszewski, Ayir Asante, Chase Cota, Bryce Ford-Wheaton, Dennis Houston, John Jiles, Allen Robinson

I have seven wide receivers here, and while that might seem excessive it is what the Giants did a year ago. I think McKenzie and Olszewski are competing for one spot, and I have it going to McKenzie. He is an accomplished returner, has more bona fides as a receiver than Olszewski and is a long-time Daboll favorite.

I have Miles Boykin making the roster over Bryce Ford-Wheaton. That could change if Ford-Wheaton’s sprained shoulder isn’t bad and he has an impressive summer. Maybe I will be wrong about Robinson, as well. He can still be a useful player.

I didn’t do it here (no guts, I guess) but I think Isaiah Hodgins might have a hard time making the roster because of lack of special teams value.

[NOTE: The original version of this failed to include Jalin Hyatt. That has been corrected].

Offensive line (9)

Starters: Andrew Thomas (LT), Jermaine Eluemunor (LG), John Michael Schmitz (C), Jon Runyan Jr. (RG), Evan Neal (RT)
Backups: Aarone Stinnie, Josh Ezeudu, Austin Schlottman, Matt Nelson
Out: Marcus McKethan, Yodny Cajuste, Jake Kubas, Jimmy Morrissey, Jalen Mayfield, Joshua Miles

Beyond Stinnie and Ezeudu, the last two roster spots are hard to pin down. I think Schlottman makes it over Morrissey — one of them has to make the roster as the backup center.

I am giving the last spot to Nelson as a swing tackle. For now. If the Giants are serious that they believe Ezeudu can be their swing tackle, and he practiced consistently at both tackle spots during the spring, perhaps that opens a spot as an interior backup for McKethan or Kubas, an undrafted free agent.

Eluemunor moving to right tackle to replace Neal, if and when that happens, might also mean Nelson would not be necessary.

DEFENSE

Defensive line (5)

Starters: Dexter Lawrence, Rakeem Nunez-Roches, Jordan Phillips
Backups: Jordon Riley, Ryder Anderson
Out: Timmy Horne, Casey Rogers, Elijah Chatman, D.J. Davidson

Anderson, who spent the 2023 season on the practice squad after a triceps injury early in training camp, takes a spot away from Davidson. Anderson, a former undrafted free agent defensive line coach Andre Patterson was complementary of before his triceps injury last year, took some first-team reps during spring practices. Davidson, a 2022 fifth-round pick, has been a non-factor in 20 games over his first two NFL seasons.

I believe the Giants remain enamored with the potential of Riley, a 6-foot-5, 315-pound developmental tackle they selected in Round 7 last year. If one of the two undrafted players, Casey Rogers or Elijah Chatman, makes a roster push it might come at the expense of the veteran Jordan Phillips rather than Riley. I am not predicting Phillips to lose a roster spot, just thinking the Giants might prefer to keep a young tackle they believe has upside should they be in that position.

Linebacker (5)

Starters: Bobby Okereke, Micah McFadden
Backups: Isaiah Simmons, Darius Muasau, Matthew Adams
Out: Carter Coughlin, Darrian Beavers, Dyontae Johnson

It was really difficult for me to cut Coughlin, who has been a good special teamer for the Giants. Truth be told, the 53rd and final roster spot came down to Coughlin, Adams and Miller, the rookie running back. I just couldn’t justify keeping three linebackers (Coughlin, Adams, Muasau) who will likely contribute little or nothing as defensive players.

Let’s see if my thoughts on that evolve as the Giants go through training camp.

Edge (4)

Starters: Kayvon Thibodeaux, Brian Burns
Backups: Azeez Ojulari, Boogie Basham
Out: Tomon Fox, Benton Whitley, Ovie Oghoufo

I really wanted to find a way to get Boogie Basham off the roster, but as of now I don’t know who would replace him. Basham was a poor fit in Wink Martindale’s defense last season and was a non-factor after being acquired via trade from the Buffalo Bills.

Perhaps he will be a better fit for new defensive coordinator Shane Bowen.

Cornerback (6)

Starters: Deonte Banks, Cor’Dale Flott, Andru Phillips
Backups: Nick McCloud, Tre Hawkins III, Darnay Holmes
Out: Tre Herndon, David Long Jr., Aaron Robinson, Stantley Thomas-Oliver, Kaleb Hayes

I have six cornerbacks on the roster, and I truthfully have no idea who the sixth will be. I will give the edge to Holmes for now both because of his experience in the slot and the ability he showed on special teams last year. Write that one in pencil … maybe even chalk.

That spot could also go to Tre Herndon or David Long Jr., veterans competing for spots. Aaron Robinson? Good question.

Safety (4)

Starters: Jason Pinnock, Tyler Nubin
Backups: Dane Belton, Jalen Mills
Out: Elijah Riley, Gervarrius Owens, Alex Johnson

I have the Giants keeping the veteran Mills over youngsters Owens and Johnson. One or both of those two players could land on the practice. Riley, a four-year veteran who has played for the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers, feels like the odd man out.

Special teams (3)

PK: Graham Gano
P: Jamie Gillan
LS: Casey Kreiter
Out: PK Jude McAtamney

McAtamney, a former Rutgers kicker, is part of the International Pathway Program. The interesting part here is that the Giants could take advantage of the new NFL rule allowing a 17th practice squad player if one is a qualifying international player by keeping McAtamney on the practice squad.

Per the NFL, a qualifying player is defined as follows:

“A qualifying international player is a person whose citizenship and principal place of residence is outside the United States and Canada, and who has a maximum of two years of United States high school experience. In addition, an international player must (i) satisfy all NFL player eligibility rules and (ii) have been eligible for a prior NFL Draft.”

Qualifying international players can be elevated to the game day roster three times during the season. Perhaps the Giants use McAtamney’s three elevations to keep 37-year-old Graham Gano off kickoff duty.