Can Chris Manhertz continue unlikely career with Giants?

Chris Manhertz has fashioned a nine-year NFL career despite never having played college football. Can the 32-year-old continue that career with the New York Giants?

Let’s discuss the veteran blocking tight end as we continue our player-by-player profiles of the Giants’ 90-man roster.

The skinny

Height: 6-foot-6

Weight: 235

Opening day age: 32

Position: Tight end

Experience: 9

Contract: One-year, $1,377,500 | 2024 cap hit: $1,152,500 | Guaranteed in 2024: $117,500

Career to date

Manhertz attended Canisius College, which abolished its football program in 2003. Manhertz played four years of basketball at Canisius, averaging 6.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game in 116 games.

With no path to professional basketball, Manhertz switched sports. He had a tryout with the Buffalo Bills and was cut at the end of the preseason, but landed on the New Orleans Saints’ practice squad.

Manhertz played in his first game with the Saints in 2016 and has now played in 120 regular season games with 53 starts. Manhertz has played for the Saints, Carolina Panthers, Jacksonville Jaguars and spent 2023 with the Denver Broncos.

Despite having no football background and being small for the role at a listed 235 pounds, Manhertz has made that career as a blocking tight end. He has been targeted just 40 times as a receiver with 26 catches.

2024 outlook

Being a Giant brings Manhertz full circle. He was born in the Bronx and attended Cardinal Spellman High School.

Can Manhertz stick with the Giants? He would appear to be competing with Jack Stoll, another experienced blocking tight end, for a roster spot.

The Giants have Daniel Bellinger and fourth-round pick Theo Johnson locked into roster spots. Holdover Lawrence Cager was praised this spring by head coach Brian Daboll and would appear to have an inside track at making the 53-man roster.

Will the Giants choose the 32-year-old Manhertz or the 26-year-old Stoll? I don’t know, but I won’t bet against Manhertz.