The New York Giants are enjoying their summer break after minicamp wrapped up last week. But it won’t be long until they report to West Virginia for training camp in late July. That’s when competition will heat up for roster spots, as first-year coach John Harbaugh puts his imprint on the roster.

The spring offseason program provided a glimpse at the roster pecking order. Based on that, here’s a 53-man roster projection:

Quarterbacks: 2

In: Jaxson Dart, Jameis Winston
Out: Brandon Allen

The only question here is whether the Giants keep Allen as the third quarterback. That would allow them to have the veteran available as an emergency quarterback on game day, but my hunch is they save that roster spot for another position and keep Allen on the practice squad.

Is Jaxson Dart more in the Kenny Pickett, Mitchell Trubisky range?

Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen

Running backs: 3

In: Cam Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy Jr., Devin Singletary
Out: Eric Gray, Dante Miller, Damon Bankston

There isn’t much intrigue here, as the Giants return the same running backs as last season. Pat Ricard is a fullback, but he’s in the tight end meeting room because he spends more time in-line than in the backfield.

Wide receivers: 6

In: Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, Darnell Mooney, Malachi Fields, Calvin Austin III, Odell Beckham Jr.
Out: JuJu Smith-Schuster, Braxton Berrios, Isaiah Hodgins, Beaux Collins, Dalen Cambre, Jalin Hyatt, Xavier Gipson, Ryan Miller, Gunner Olszewski (IR)

It’s too early to say if Nabers will start the season on the physically unable to perform list, but I’ll include him on the active roster based on the optimism expressed by team brass last week. Slayton still projects as the No. 2 receiver despite his warts. Mooney, Fields and Austin were the starters during the spring when Nabers (knee) and Slayton (sports hernia) were sidelined. The competition is for the final spot(s) beyond those five.

Olszewski’s torn Achilles opened a spot. Berrios’ return ability makes him an obvious replacement candidate, but Austin is also an experienced punt returner. I don’t believe the Giants re-signed Beckham without seeing a path to a roster spot. He’s obviously not what he once was, but he didn’t look washed-up this spring. The challenge for Beckham will be staying healthy during a rigorous training camp after being out of the league for over a year.

Tight ends: 4

In: Isaiah Likely, Theo Johnson, Chris Manhertz, Pat Ricard
Out: Thomas Fidone II, Tanner Conner

The Giants are expected to rely on multi-tight end sets after signing Likely to a three-year, $40 million contract to join Johnson. Manhertz has a defined role as a blocker in what will be a run-heavy offense. Again, Ricard can be grouped with the running backs or tight ends. Either way, he has an important role in the offense. Fidone was sidelined in the spring by a setback with the foot injury that ended his rookie season prematurely. There doesn’t appear to be a path to a roster spot for Fidone, who could develop on the practice squad.

Offensive linemen: 10

In: Andrew Thomas, Jon Runyan, John Michael Schmitz Jr., Francis Mauigoa, Jermaine Eluemunor, Marcus Mbow, Daniel Faalele, Lucas Patrick, J.C. Davis, Aaron Stinnie
Out: Josh Ezeudu, Bryan Hudson, Evan Neal, Jake Kubas, Ryan Schernecke, Jarrod Gray (international exemption)

The starting lineup — Thomas, Runyan, Schmitz, Mauigoa and Eluemunor — is locked in. Mbow is the swing tackle, and Faalele is the top backup guard. Davis should make the roster since he was a sixth-round pick, but he’s likely headed toward a redshirt year. Patrick’s experience makes him the favorite as the backup center, but he missed time in the spring due to what Harbaugh called “old guy stuff.” Durability has been a concern for the 32-year-old, so that could open the door for Hudson to push for that role. Stinnie is the early favorite to be the 10th lineman, but Ezeudu could claim a spot with a strong summer.

Defensive linemen: 5

In: DJ Reader, Shelby Harris, Darius Alexander, Leki Fotu, Bobby Jamison-Travis
Out: Roy Robertson-Harris, Josh Tupou, Sam Roberts, Zacch Pickens, Ben Barten, Anquin Barnes Jr.

Remarkably, Alexander is the longest-tenured Giants defensive tackle. The 2025 third-round pick is the only healthy player returning from last season’s defensive line after Robertson-Harris tore his Achilles in the first week of OTAs. The Giants haven’t put Robertson-Harris on injured reserve because they’re holding out hope he could return late in the season. It seems unlikely they can preserve a roster spot for a rotational defensive tackle when injuries mount and more depth is needed during training camp. Regardless, Robertson-Harris will land on IR eventually.

Alexander, Reader and Harris were the top three defensive linemen throughout the spring, with Fotu and Tupou next in the pecking order. Jamison-Travis is another sixth-round pick who figures to land a roster spot based on his draft pedigree. Roberts missed the entire spring after undergoing an unspecified surgery. Harbaugh said he’ll need time to ramp up during training camp, which could make him an ideal practice squad candidate.

Outside linebackers: 4

In: Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Chauncey Golston
Out: Caleb Murphy, Trace Ford, Khalid Kareem

This is the best and deepest position on the roster, which makes it the easiest to project. The only intrigue here is how they divvy the reps. Burns and Carter were the clear starters throughout the spring. Thibodeaux will spell those players and likely shift inside more on passing downs. Golston can fill in any gaps, but there aren’t going to be many snaps available if the top three outside linebackers stay healthy.

Inside linebackers: 5

In: Tremaine Edmunds, Arvell Reese, Micah McFadden, Jack Kelly, Darius Muasau
Out: Zaire Barnes, Cam Jones

Edmunds, Reese and McFadden are locks, with McFadden a good fit for his role as a backup. Kelly is the Giants’ third sixth-round pick from this year’s draft, which gives him the inside track to a roster spot. It’s possible the Giants keep just four inside linebackers, but they’ll likely have a fifth to serve as a special teamer. Muasau may have a slight edge over Barnes due to his draft pedigree as a sixth-round pick in 2024. Jones will enter the competition in camp after missing part of the spring with an ankle injury suffered while moving into his new house.

Cornerbacks: 6

In: Paulson Adebo, Greg Newsome II, Dru Phillips, Deonte Banks, Colton Hood, Art Green
Out: Nic Jones, Rico Payton, Korie Black, Jarrick Bernard-Converse, Thaddeus Dixon (IR)

The biggest surprise of the spring was Banks emerging as a legitimate contender to Newsome for the No. 2 corner job. Still, Banks needs to display a level of consistency that has been lacking to wrestle the starting job away during camp. Hood is in the mix for the No. 2 corner job, but he was behind Newsome and Banks during the spring. Phillips retained his role as the first-team slot corner for most of the spring. Green’s value on special teams should ensure him a roster spot.

Safeties: 5

In: Jevon Holland, Tyler Nubin, Ar’Darius Washington, Jason Pinnock, Elijah Campbell
Out: Beau Brade, Raheem Layne

Holland and Nubin remained the unquestioned starters during the spring. Washington is a Swiss Army knife who could eventually push Nubin or Phillips for a starting job. Pinnock provides solid veteran depth, and his athleticism will be an asset on special teams. If this exercise is viewed like the NCAA tournament bubble, Campbell would be one of my last players “in.” He could easily be replaced by Allen as the third quarterback or a special teamer from another position (Berrios, Barnes or Nic Jones).

Specialists: 3

In: K Dominic Zvada, P Jordan Stout, LS Ben Mann
Out: K Ben Sauls

The kicker competition was anticlimactic this spring because Sauls and Jason Sanders performed so poorly. Sanders didn’t even make it to minicamp before getting cut, while Sauls made just 19-of-36 field goal attempts in practices open to the media. Zvada was a perfect 13-for-13 on field goals in open practices, so the undrafted rookie is the clear favorite for the kicker job entering camp. The Giants should consider replacing Sauls with a veteran to keep the pressure on Zvada during the summer.

The Giants could be exceptionally young in the specialists’ roles with Mann, another undrafted rookie, edging veteran Zach Triner for the long snapper job. That competition isn’t necessarily over since the Giants cut Triner because they needed roster spots during the spring, and carrying two long snappers was a luxury. The Giants could easily re-sign Triner or add another long snapper if Mann struggles. Stout is the highest-paid punter in the league after signing a three-year, $12.3 million contract. The Giants are counting on that investment to produce a field-position-altering upgrade at punter.