New York Giants Initial 53-man Roster Projection

It’s decision time for head coach Joe Judge, general manager Dave Gettleman and the rest of the Giants personnel decision-makers.

It was an unusual training camp but overall a productive one, as Giants head coach Joe Judge and his staff were able to get a better sense of what they have on the roster and what they lack.

Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact it’s had on the roster-building process, this year's roster is probably going to have even more of a homegrown feel to it because of the mandatory COVID testing protocols that could delay the availability of a player for almost a week.

“Because of the protocols that are going to be in place during the season, your immediate help is going to be the practice squad guys, because anybody, whether it’s a waiver, a trade, a claim, taking someone off somebody else’s practice squad, or bringing in a street free agent, is going to require time,” general manager Dave Gettleman said this week.

“The practice squad is going to be really important, how you set those up, because those guys are going to be your immediate help. ... At the end of the day, you’re really going to have to really be very intentional about your practice squad.”

This year, up to six veterans may be carried on the practice squad, regardless of service. Teams are also allowed to designate four players who each week are untouchable by other teams.

Add this to the fact that teams will be allowed to promote two players from the practice squad each week (one of which must be an offensive lineman) without having to subject them to waivers after the game, and the 53-man roster, as we once knew it, really is a thing of the past.

In putting together a projection, I’ve tried to guess who ends up on the practice squad. As is always the case, there is sure to be some churning at the bottom of the roster.

In making my projections, I've tried to factor in salary cap terms and the new injured reserve and practice squad rules. It made for a tougher projection that took a little longer, but I hope the added information helps.

Speaking of the cap, since any cuts made would be considered post-June 1 transaction, any prorated money left on a contract will partially hit this year with the balance rest hitting next year. That will include any rookie draft picks who are waived and then signed to a new practice squad contract.

With next year's cap expected to drop, it will be interesting to see if the Giants factor into their decisions.

Quarterbacks (3)

• Who’s In: Daniel Jones, Colt McCoy, Cooper Rush
• Who’s Out: Alex Tanney

Daniel Jones is locked in as the starter. Colt McCoy had a solid summer, showing sufficient mobility and decision making. And Cooper Rush likely sticks around for his knowledge of Jason Garrett's offense, which would make Alex Tanney the odd man out.

If Tanney is cut, the Giants will save $950,000, his 2020 base salary, and be hit with just $62,500 in dead money, a sum represented by his $25,000 workout bonus and his prorated $37,500 signing bonus.

Running backs (4)

• Who’s In: Saquon Barkley, Dion Lewis, Wayne Gallman, Eli Penny
• Who’s Out: Tavien Feaster, Sandro Platzgummer

Wayne Gallman likely saved his roster spot after stepping up this summer and in the scrimmages.

Dion Lewis will probably be the No. 2 running back behind Saquon Barkley. Don’t be surprised if Lewis sees a lot of snaps, as I suspect he’s going to handle a lot of the pass protection duties and some of the short-yardage duties.

Lewis has up to $450,000 in roster bonuses if he’s active for all 16 games this season. Barring injury, he should hit that bonus in full and earn his full $1.55 million cap hit.

Sandro Platzgummer, awarded to the Giants via the NFL International Pathways Program, will be one of the practice squad players, as the Giants will have an exemption for him.

Platzgummer has caught my eye a few times with his change of direction skills and vision. Since the Giants have an exemption for him, he'll be on the practice squad, where he won't count against the 16.

Wide receivers (6)

• Who’s In: Golden Tate, Sterling Shepard, Darius Slayton, Corey Coleman, Johnny Holton, David Sills V
• Who’s Out: Alex Bachman, CJ Board, Austin Mack, Binjimen Victor, Derrick Dillon

This was the most challenging call to make given how close the young receivers who will likely make up the roster's bottom were.

Corey Coleman, who seems fully healthy after an ACL tear last year, looks to be a lock. Coleman has been looking to prove that he belongs on an NFL roster, and he appears to have done so this summer. Coleman should be the fourth receiver on the depth chart.

I think Johnny Holton makes the team for his special teams abilities. Holton can also contribute on offense in a pinch, but I see him playing more of that Cody Core role.

I'm torn between David Sills and Alex Bachman as the sixth receiver, but I'm going to go with Sills, whose size and skillset screams X-receiver whereas I think Bachman is more of a slot receiver, a position the Giants have several guys to fill.

But I also think if they go this way, Bachman will get a chance at landing on the practice squad if he clears waivers.  

The only concern I have with Sills is that he missed the final practice with an undisclosed injury. Is it "significant enough" to warrant being placed on injured reserve, or is it a minor ailment?

As for the three undrafted free agents--Derrick Dillon, Austin Mack and Binjimen Victor--I'm forecasting Mack, who had the most productive showing in camp, and Victor, who has size but is raw, for the 16-man practice squad.

Tight ends (4)

• Who’s In: Evan Engram, Levine Toilolo, Kaden Smith, Garrett Dickerson
• Who’s Out: Eric Tomlinson

Evan Engram is a lock for a roster spot; now, all he has to do is stay healthy to make it through his first 16-game season. If he can accomplish that, expect his numbers to fly off the charts.

Levine Toilolo figures to be the blocking tight end of the group while Kaden Smith will probably do a little bit of each (receiver and blocking).

With Engram's injury history. I think it makes sense to keep a fourth tight end on the roster so long as there is room. Garrett Dickerson, to my eyes, has had the better camp ahead of Eric Tomlinson. I think Dickerson is more well-rounded as a receiver and blocker, so my guess is he'll be the fourth guy on the depth chart.

Offensive linemen (8)

• Who’s In: Andrew Thomas, Will Hernandez, Nick Gates, Kevin Zeitler, Cam Fleming, Tyler Haycraft, Matt Peart, Shane Lemieux
• Who’s Out: Spencer Pulley, Jon Halapio, Chad Slade, Eric Smith, Kyle Murphy

This year, teams will be allowed to promote two players from the practice squad each week, and one must be an offensive lineman. With that in mind, I’m going with eight offensive linemen. 

The projected starting five are pretty easy to pick—Thomas, Hernandez, Gates, Zeitler, and Fleming will likely be the quintet that opens against the Steelers defense.

I also think Tyler Haycraft, who has a lot of upside, edges Jon Halapio for a roster spot. I do think Halapio will go on the practice squad as one of the eligible veterans regardless of service. 

Halapio drew minimal interest around the league before re-signing with the Giants, this despite there being tape on him for teams to make a judgment call. If it comes down to exposing Haycraft or Halapio on the wire, I think it makes more sense to do the latter.  

Defensive Linemen (5)

• Who’s In: Dexter Lawrence II, Leonard Williams, Dalvin Tomlinson, B.J. Hill, Austin Johnson
• Who’s Out: Chris Slayton, Daylon Mack, RJ McIntosh, Niko Lalos

The addition of Johnson pretty much bumps Slayton, a seventh-round draft pick last year, off the roster.

RJ McIntosh, a 2018 fifth-round pick, never really flourished as hoped, so they’ll likely be moving on from him. Niko Lalos dabbled with long snapping for a bit, but with the Giants having added Carson Tinker as a backup to Casey Kreiter, I don’t see the Giants keeping him.

I do, however, see Daylon Mack sticking around. Defensive line coach Sean Spencer marveled over how thick Mack’s lower body is, calling him “a load” and praising him for having great leverage, being compact, and being strong. Mack sounds like a developmental project.

I have the Giants keeping B.J. Hill on the roster even though he saw a reduction in his snaps once Leonard Williams arrived. I thought maybe he might be a trade prospect at one point.

With both Williams and Dalvin Tomlinson needing new contracts after this season, I think the Giants will hang on to Hill for insurance as I can’t see how the Giants will be able to sign both Tomlinson and Williams with the cap next year expected to drop.

Outside linebackers (5)

• Who’s In: Lorenzo Carter, Oshane Ximines, Markus Golden, Kyler Fackrell, Cam Brown
• Who’s Out: Carter Coughlin

The Giants pass rush looks as though it will be a committee effort, and the leaders of that committee should be Lorenzo Carter and Oshane Ximines, followed by Markus Golden and Kyler Fackrell.

The Giants would undoubtedly love to have another double-digit sack leader on the team, and with a $1 million bonus at stake, Golden would probably love to be that guy again.

With defensive coordinator Patrick Graham looking to mix and match different personnel, I would be surprised if Golden hits double-digit sacks again, not because he’s not capable of doing so, but more because I’m not sure if he’ll get as many opportunities as he did last season.

Choosing between Carter Coughlin and Cam Brown was difficult, but in the end, I went with Brown for a couple of reasons. The inside linebackers are banged up with Mayo (knee surgery) and Martinez (unknown) having missed practice time.

Earlier, Ryan Connelly also missed a week of practice for an undisclosed ailment. Presumably, Martinez and Connelly, the latter coming back from a torn ACL, will be ready to go this coming week, but I feel like the Giants need insurance.

Brown can be that insurance as an inside and outside linebacker. He also contributes to special teams and appears to have the edge over Coughlin, who, while intriguing as a pass rusher, doesn’t seem to fit at inside linebacker.

If they can get Coughlin through waivers, I think he’s a given for the practice squad.

Inside Linebackers (5)

• Who’s In: Blake Martinez, Devante Downs, Ryan Connelly, David Mayo, Tae Crowder
• Who’s Out: Josiah Tauaefa, TJ Brunson

This position is tricky to predict due to the health status of Blake Martinez, who, in the last days of camp, was unable to partake in 11-on-11 drills. Martinez recently told reporters he’d be ready to go, but what player who is banged up will say otherwise?

As noted in the outside linebacker position, I have the Giants keeping Cam Brown, who can also play inside. I also think if they can slip Josiah Tauefa to the practice squad, he can reinforce the unit.

The Giants could put David Mayo on IR to start the year. This season, anyone placed on IR after the initial cutdown to 53 can be brought back after three weeks instead of the usual eight (six weeks plus two-week evaluation window).

Mayo's surgery was reportedly for a torn meniscus. The NFL Network reported he had a trim, which typically carries a four-week recovery period.

This is what makes projecting Mayo's status tricky. If he's ready within the first three weeks of the season--and remember he'll be about two weeks into his recovery by the time the season starts, it doesn't make sense to put him on IR.

Cornerbacks (5)

• Who’s In: James Bradberry, Logan Ryan, Corey Ballentine, Darnay Holmes, Isaac Yiadom
• Who’s Out: Brandon Williams, Jarren Williams, Prince Smith, KeiVarae Russell, Dravon Askew-Henry, Grant Haley, Chris Williamson

The addition of Logan Ryan improves this unit significantly. The Giants traded a 2021 draft pick for Isaac Yiadom, a player they believe might thrive in Patrick Graham’s press-man scheme.

Yiadom's arrival likely spells the end of the road for Jarren Williams, a Cinderella story out of Albany who turned a few heads this summer.

The Giants tried to find a spot for incumbent slot corner Grant Haley, but it's tough to see him fitting in on the 53-man roster.  

Rookie draft pick Chris Williamson didn’t show a lot this summer and is likely destined for the practice squad since he's still learning the position after only two years of college experience.

Safeties (5)

• Who’s In: Jabrill Peppers, Julian Love, Xavier McKinney, Montre Hartage, Nate Ebner
• Who’s Out: Sean Chandler

The Giants will need to devote a spot at safety to Nate Ebner, who, while listed as a safety, is more of a core special teams player.

They will need to carry Xavier McKinney on the initial 53-man roster if they want to return him from IR later in the year.  Once that transaction is made, I could see Sean Chandler, if he clears waivers and lands on the practice squad, being promoted to the 53-man roster.

The wild card is Montre Hartage. I have him making the initial 53, but he spent the last days of training camp injured.

I have no idea what's been ailing him or how serious it is, so it’s certainly possible that Hartage lands on injured reserve. 

If not, I could see him making the roster given his connection to Graham from their days in Miami unless the Giants want to go with one less at this position given that Logan Ryan can also play safety.

Specialists (3)

• Who’s In: Graham Gano, Riley Dixon, Casey Kreiter
• Who’s Out: Carson Tinker

The expectation here is that Carson Tinker, a long snapper, will go to the practice squad.