Giants DT Jordon Riley has an opportunity

Few NFL Draft aficionados thought defensive tackle Jordon Riley was a draftable player. The York Giants did, though. They selected him in Round 7 of the 2023 NFL Draft, 243rd overall, and turned him into a developmental project for premier defensive line coach Andre Patterson.

That project did not pay dividends last season. Riley played in only eight games, making eight tackles in 136 defensive snaps. Will there be bigger dividends in 2024? The Giants, in need of impact defensive line on both sides of All-Pro nose tackle Dexter Lawrence, as well as solid depth to give Lawrence occasional rest, hope so.

Let’s discuss Riley as we continue player-by-player profiles of the Giants’ 90-man roster.

The skinny

Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 315
Opening day age: 26
Position: Defensive tackle
Experience: 1
Contract: Year 2 of four-year, $3,923,032 rookie deal | 2024 cap hit: $935,758 | Guaranteed at signing: $83,032

Career to date

The Giants found Riley despite a vagabond college career that saw him play for four schools — North Carolina, Garden City, Nebraska, and Oregon.

What made the Giants draft Riley?

“He’s got some gifts that you can’t give him as a coach. You know, he’s six five, he’s 325 pounds. He is a big strong man,” Patterson said in the spring of 2023. “The gifts he has, a coach can’t give you that.”

Patterson, though, added that “he’s got some things that technique wise we’ve gotta work with him on to improve.”

After an impressive preseason, Riley was active only twice in the Giants’ first 11 games. He did see limited action in the final six games.

2024 outlook

The Giants’ defensive line is anchored by All-Pro Dexter Lawrence. After that, though, the group is rife with question marks.

Rakeem Nunez-Roches and Jordan Phillips have been capable players, but both are on the backside of their careers. DJ Davidson and Ryder Anderson have had two non-descript seasons. Timmy Horne is a practice squad player. Casey Rogers and Elijah Chatman are undrafted players battling to show they belong in the NFL.

All of that gives Riley an opportunity. If the 26-year-old can take advantage of it that would help answer one of the main roster questions facing the Giants entering the season.