Guard Jalen Mayfield still trying to establish himself in the NFL

Jalen Mayfield was thought highly enough coming out of Michigan that the Atlanta Falcons chose him in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft, 68th overall.

Mayfield is now a fourth-year player trying to hang on to his NFL career. Let’s discuss his chances of sticking with the New York Giants as we continue our player-by-player profiles of the team’s 90-man roster.

The skinny

Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 319
Opening day age: 24
Position: Guard
Experience: 3
Contract: One-year, $985,000 | 2024 cap hit: $985,000 | Guaranteed in 2024: $0

Career to date

Mayfield was forced into full-time duty with the Falcons in 2021, starting 16 games at left guard. It wasn’t pretty. He ended up with a 48.7 Pro Football Focus grade, just 27.6 as a pass blocker, in 989 snaps. He allowed 11 sacks and 57 pressures, compiling a 94.2 pass blocking efficiency score.

Mayfield spent 2022 on injured reserve with a back injury. He landed on the Giants’ practice squad last season after being waived in late August by the Falcons.

Mayfield appeared in three games for the offensive-line-challenged Giants, playing 46 snaps at right guard. His play in that small sample size was abysmal, with a 26.1 overall PFF grade and a 0.0 pass-blocking grade that included five pressures allowed in just 32 pass-blocking snaps.

2024 outlook

Mayfield seems unlikely to make the roster. A practice squad berth is possible, but if the Giants need practice squad spots for young players like third-year man Marcus McKethan, undrafted free agent guard Jake Kubas, and undrafted offensive lineman Marcellus Johnson even that might be out of Mayfield’s reach.