The New York Giants established their initial 53-man roster before Sunday’s 6 p.m. deadline. There were no major shockwaves as they trimmed their roster from 91 to 53, although wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.’s inclusion on the roster has understandably drawn a big reaction.
Here’s a position-by-position run-through of the roster with an updated look at where things stand and what moves could still be coming:
Quarterbacks: 2
In: Jaxson Dart, Jameis Winston
Out: Brandon Allen, Jake Haener
Allen’s poor performance this summer made it an easy decision to only carry two quarterbacks. The only remaining question is whether the Giants will bring the 33-year-old Allen back to the practice squad for the value he can add behind the scenes, or if they’ll go with the 27-year-old Haener — who signed two weeks ago — or another developmental QB.
Running backs: 4
In: Cam Skattebo, Najee Harris, Devin Singletary, Tyrone Tracy Jr.
Out: Eric Gray, Damon Bankston
Tracy’s status in the pecking order took a hit during a rough preseason, but it never would have made sense to cut him. Singletary took a pay cut to the minimum salary to stay this offseason, and then earned his spot on the roster. Harris has looked impressive in his return from a torn Achilles tendon, so the question is how quickly his role will grow in the backfield. One of these backs could be a healthy scratch for the opener.
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Wide receivers: 5
In: Malik Nabers, Malachi Fields, Darnell Mooney, Darius Slayton, Odell Beckham Jr.
Out: Braxton Berrios, Dalen Cambre, Jalin Hyatt, Xavier Gipson, Isaiah Hodgins, Kobe Prentice
The season-ending knee injury suffered by Calvin Austin III last week opened the door for Beckham, and he responded with his best week of camp. A report that Slayton’s roster spot was in jeopardy seems like an attempt to generate trade interest. Not surprisingly, teams aren’t knocking down the door to trade for Slayton and his $12.3 million base salary.
All signs point to Nabers being ready for the opener as he has steadily ramped up his workload in his return from a torn ACL and torn meniscus. Fields and Mooney, who should take Austin’s place as the primary slot receiver, will be the other starters.
ESPN reported that the Giants plan to bring Berrios back for the first game. That makes sense since he’s in line to be the punt returner. The Giants can juggle Berrios’ roster spot because he’s a veteran who isn’t subject to waivers. It’s unclear if he’ll be re-signed to the active roster or initially start on the practice squad and get elevated on game day.
Once Berrios is back, a wide receiver will likely be a healthy scratch on game day. That decision figures to come down to Beckham or Slayton.
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Tight ends: 5
In: Isaiah Likely, Pat Ricard, Theo Johnson, Chris Manhertz, Thomas Fidone II
Out: Tanner Conner, Grant Finley, Josiah Deguara
Fidone can’t celebrate yet. Carrying five tight ends is excessive, so there probably won’t be room for Fidone unless Theo Johnson’s shoulder injury is more serious than initially believed. Coach John Harbaugh said last week that Johnson is going to be fine.
Fidone is a talented athlete who may have been claimed if the Giants waived him in the first round of cuts. It’s possible the Giants are planning to hold onto Fidone until other rosters are more settled, so another team will be less likely to claim him. He’s positioned to be the corresponding move to get Berrios back on the roster, although the Giants could stash Fidone on the active roster if they plan to use practice squad elevations on Berrios early in the season.
Offensive linemen: 9
In: Andrew Thomas, Jon Runyan, John Michael Schmitz Jr., Francis Mauigoa, Jermaine Eluemunor, Marcus Mbow, Aaron Stinnie, Bryan Hudson, JC Davis
Out: Lucas Patrick, Evan Neal, Jake Kubas, Brenden Jaimes, Ryan Schernecke, Jarrod Gray
Schmitz, a second-round pick in 2023, is the only locked-in starter remaining from the 18 picks made in the 2022 and 2023 drafts. OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux, ILB Micah McFadden and CB Deonte Banks, who could start this season, are the only other players remaining from those two draft classes.
The only intrigue at offensive line was the backup center battle between Hudson and Patrick. It seemed like Patrick was ahead in the competition since he was first up to replace Schmitz in the preseason finale. But the Giants elected to roll with the 25-year-old Hudson, who is eight years younger than Patrick. Hudson’s youth comes with inexperience — he has only played three career snaps — but there’s upside for the future, which is important as Schmitz enters the final year of his rookie contract. Patrick could return to the practice squad, but he may have opportunities elsewhere with center injuries striking around the league.
Davis delivered a strong preseason, but he is now likely headed to a redshirt rookie season unless injuries strike at tackle.
It was always puzzling that Neal chose to return to New York as a free agent after four years as a first-round draft bust. That Neal signed a minimum contract with no guaranteed money is a sign that there was limited interest in him this offseason, so he could return to the practice squad. But he’d likely benefit from a change of scenery at this point.
Defensive linemen: 6
In: DJ Reader, Shelby Harris, Chauncey Golston, CJ Okoye, Darius Alexander, Bobby Jamison-Travis
Out: Josh Tupou, Zacch Pickens, Leki Fotu, Marlon Davidson, Anquin Barnes, Ben Barten
The Giants traded a 2028 seventh-round pick for Okoye on Saturday, and he arrives with a chance to start in the base defense despite playing only 214 career snaps, all last season in Baltimore. Golston is the other option to start alongside Reader and Harris.
Jamison-Travis is in a similar spot as Fidone. The Giants likely didn’t want to expose Jamison-Travis, a sixth-round pick this year, to the initial rush of waivers. But he could be vulnerable as the Giants continue to seek upgrades to their D-line depth. They’re fifth in the waiver claim order, so they could use that avenue to add, or they could swing another low-cost trade. Two healthy scratches may come from this group — Alexander and Jamison-Travis would be candidates as the roster stands now.
Outside linebackers: 3
In: Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, Kayvon Thibodeaux
Out: Caleb Murphy, Trace Ford, Khalid Kareem
Burns, Carter and Thibodeaux will play all the snaps on the edge, with Golston rotating in when necessary. The trade for Okoye may have cost Murphy his spot on the roster because he had established himself as a core special teamer.
Inside linebackers: 5
In: Tremaine Edmunds, Arvell Reese, Micah McFadden, Jack Kelly, Zaire Barnes
Out: Darius Muasau, Anfernee Orji, Chandler Martin
This was an easy position to project because Barnes outperformed Muasau all summer. McFadden, Kelly and Barnes will be core special teamers.
Cornerbacks: 6
In: Greg Newsome, Deonte Banks, Dru Phillips, Paulson Adebo, Colton Hood, Nic Jones
Out: Art Green, Ugo Amadi, JT Woods
IR: Korie Black
The competition for the starting jobs will continue, with Newsome and Banks the favorites to start outside two weeks before the opener. Adebo could still push Banks, while Phillips has secured the slot job. Jones passed Green as a core special teamer as camp progressed. Black was put on injured reserve with a groin injury, but he’s eligible to return after missing four games under a new rule introduced two years ago.
Safeties: 5
In: Jevon Holland, Tyler Nubin, Ar’Darius Washington, Jason Pinnock, Elijah Campbell
Out: Raheem Layne, Beau Brade
Nubin has started to pull away from Washington and Pinnock in the competition for the starting spot next to Holland. Washington will be a Swiss Army knife used in sub packages. Campbell emerged as a core special teamer as camp progressed.
Specialists: 3
In: K Dominic Zvada, P Jordan Stout, LS Ben Mann
Out: K Ben Sauls
There was no suspense in the kicking competition because Zvada was lights out all offseason. The Giants waived Sauls with an undisclosed injury, so they can’t pass him through to the practice squad. Zvada and Mann make it 18 out of 19 years that Harbaugh has had an undrafted free agent on the roster.