The receiver piece of the Giants roster puzzle is starting to fit together.<\/p>\n
Wideouts Montrell Washington, Zach Pascal and Jordan Bly were three of the first eight players cut Friday as the Giants started to drop from 90 to 53 players. <\/p>\n
The others were inside linebackers Dyontae Johnson and K.J. Cloyd, offensive linemen Jimmy Morrissey and Jaison Williams, and cornerback O\u2019Donnell Fortune.<\/p>\n
The departures of Washington \u2014 who flashed spectacular catch ability early in camp<\/a> before drops caught up to him \u2014 and seven-year veteran Pascal (169 catches) provide some roster-bubble relief for Jalin Hyatt and undrafted rookie Beaux Collins, as well as clarity about who will be behind Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton and Wan\u2019Dale Robinson.<\/p>\n Montrell Washington was among the first Giants cuts. Imagn Images<\/p>\n \u201cI think top to bottom, it\u2019s as good a group as I\u2019ve been around \u2014 competitively, in the way that they support each other, in the way that they are prepared every day,\u201d receivers coach Mike Groh said last week. \u201cThey\u2019ve all kind of taken their turns and maximized the opportunities. They\u2019ve made it very hard on the people who have to make the decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n Hyatt caught a 27-yard touchdown pass from Jameis Winston on Thursday against the Patriots after dropping two deep shots from Jaxson Dart.<\/p>\n \u201cRan a couple good routes,\u201d head coach Brian Daboll said. \u201cI\u2019m sure there are a couple plays he\u2019d like to have back, but I like the way he responded in that drive on that touchdown catch.\u201d<\/p>\n