Big Blue View
Instead of doing a pure 53-man roster projection ahead of New York Giants training camp, which begins Wednesday in West Virginia, here is a different way to break down the 91-man roster.
Below is a position-by-position look at who I consider to be locks to make the 53-man roster, bubble players, and long shots. The intent is to look at where the most interesting competitions are and the chances of individual players.
Locks (2) — Jaxson Dart, Jameis Winston
Bubble players (0) — None
Long shot (1) — Brandon Allen
I don’t see the Giants keeping a third quarterback on the roster. Allen wasn’t good this spring, but he is an experienced player with ties to quarterbacks coach Brian Callahan. If an upgrade doesn’t fall into the Giants’ lap, keeping Allen on the practice squad is fine.
Locks (4) — Cam Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy, Devin Singletary, Patrick Ricard
Bubble players (0) — None
Long shots (3) — Eric Gray, Dante Miller, Damon Bankston
Maybe Gray, Miller, and Bankston should be in the “bubble” category rather than the “long shots” category. No matter. Entering camp, I don’t think any of them are making the 53-man roster if Skattebo, Tracy, and Singletary are healthy. Bankston, 23, probably has the best chance. He is 23, Gray 26, and Miller 27. Age and upside favor the undrafted free agent.
Locks (3) — Isaiah Likely, Theo Johnson, Chris Manhertz
Bubble players (1) — Thomas Fidone
Long shot (1) — Tanner Conner
During our training camp preview podcast, Patty Traina of Giants on SI floated the idea that the Giants would keep just two tight ends — Likely and Johnson — because of the presence of Ricard [20:03 mark]. I’m not buying. With as many two-tight-end and heavy sets as I expect to see from the Giants this season, I can’t see them having only two true tight ends active.
Manhertz remains a quality blocker and veteran leader. I think he makes the roster over Fidone, who will begin training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list as he recovers from foot surgery. I think Fidone lands on the practice squad.
Locks (5) — Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, Calvin Austin, Darnell Mooney, Malachi Fields
Bubble players (4) — Odell Beckham Jr., JuJu Smith-Schuster, Braxton Berrios, Isaiah Hodgins
Long shots (5) — Dalen Cambre, Ryan Miller, Jalin Hyatt, Xavier Gipson, Beaux Collins
The Giants got good news when it was reported that Nabers would avoid the PUP list. That doesn’t guarantee that he will be ready Week 1, or that he will be the Nabers of 2024 right away, but it was a positive development.
The sixth, and seventh spots at wide receiver, if the Giants keep that many, are wide open. Beckham could get a spot if he makes it through training camp healthy and can practice consistently, but that remains to be seen. If the Giants feel they need special teams contributions...
