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    Daboll on Being Patient with Rookies

    New York Giants Initial 53-man Roster Projection

    What might the Giants' 53-man roster look like? We still have three weeks to find out, but here is an early projection.

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    New York Giants
    New York Giants

    Over the next three weeks, the New York Giants' 53-man roster will become clearer as guys either help or hurt their stock in the remaining practices and the three preseason games.

    Let's go ahead then and set an initial 53-man roster projection, which we'll revisit right after the Giants conclude their three-game preseason slate against the Jets on August 26. 

    Quarterback

    • In: Daniel Jones, Tyrod Taylor 
    • Out: Tommy DeVito

    DeVito could find a spot on the practice squad, but I would be surprised if he makes the 53-man roster.

    Running Backs

    • In: Saquon Barkley, Matt Breida, Eric Gray, Gary Brightwell
    • Out: Jashaun Corbin, James Robinson

    Brightwell is dealing with a knee injury that head coach Brian Daboll described as one that will cause him to miss a little time. With three weeks to go before rosters have to be set, the hope is that Brightwell, who contributes to special teams, is ready to roll by then.

    Robinson was added as insurance if Barkley had decided to hold out of camp. When Barkley reached an agreement, the Giants decided to give Robinson a chance to put film together for a new team.

     Tight Ends

    • In: Darren Waller, Daniel Bellinger, Lawrence Cager 
    • Out: Chris Myarick, Ryan Jones, Tommy Sweeney

    My guess is the Giants keep another tight end on the practice squad because they're anticipated to play a lot of 12- and 13-personnel this season. Myarick might make the most sense if that's the case, but I could also see Sweeney getting the nod if he has a strong showing in the preseason games.

    Receivers

    • In: Isaiah Hodgins, Jalin Hyatt, Darius Slayton, Parris Campbell, Sterling Shepard, Cole Beasley, Wan'Dale Robinson*
    • Out: David Sills V, Jamison Crowder, Bryce Ford-Wheaton, Collin Johnson, Jaydon Mickens, Kalil Pimpleton

    *On PUP as of this writing.

    The news of Robinson potentially coming off PUP within the next week or so throws a bit of a monkey wrench into the projections. But that said, if he does come off PUP, he needs to be part of the group that makes it.

    I know there are people out there who would rather see someone else make it over Shepard, but I think he'll be on the roster so long as he continues to make progress in his return off the PUP list. The coaching staff and front office like him, and I believe they will give him every opportunity to end his career the way he wants.

    I think the Giants try to get Bryce Ford-Wheaton to the practice squad. And I still believe the team will try to trade one of their receivers for a late Day 3 draft pick--perhaps Collin Johnson?

    Offensive Line

    • In: Andrew Thomas, Ben Bredeson, Evan Neal, John Michael Schmitz, Mark Glowinski, Tyre Phillips, Joshua Ezeudu, Matt Peart, Shane Lemieux 
    • Out: Devery Hamilton, Jack Anderson, Korey Cunningham, Marcus McKethan, Sean Harlow, Wyatt Davis

    I had doubts about whether Peart would make the initial 53-man roster. I still do, but if he can cash in on his chance to start at right tackle for Evan Neal this week, that will help his cause.

    Of course, it could be that the coaches feel good about what they have in Tyre Phillips and instead want to find out more about Peart.

    McKethan just came off PUP, and I'm unsure if he'd be ready for the start of the season. I could see him maybe going to the practice squad instead, as after losing his rookie campaign last year, he has much catching up to do.

    Defensive Line

    • In: Leonard Williams, Dexter Lawrence II, Rakeem Nuñez-Roches, A'Shawn Robinson, Jordon Riley, Ryder Anderson (IR)
    • Out: Brandin Bryant, D.J. Davidson (PUP),  Donovan Jeter, Kevin Atkins, Kobe Smith

    Although Riley hasn't bowled me over, I can see him grabbing the last spot in this group. I think Davidson will move from active PUP to inactive PUP. And I have a gut feeling Anderson will start the year on IR--to do so, he needs to be a part of the initial 53-man roster before he can be moved to IR.

    Defensive Backs

    • In: Adoree' Jackson, Cor'Dale Flott, Dane Belton, Deonte Banks, Jason Pinnock, Nick McCloud, Tre Hawkins III, Xavier McKinney, Amani Oruwariye, Zyon Gilbert
    • Out: Aaron Robinson (PUP), Alex Cook, Bobby McCain, Darnay Holmes, Darren Evans, Gemon Green, Gervarrius Owens, Rodarius Williams  

    I'm not overly optimistic that Robinson comes off PUP in time to start the season. I'm also not sure that Holmes survives the cut, even if he agrees to a pay cut to his nearly $3 million cap hit. The Giants have several options to go at the slot cornerback spot, and I have thought they might go with a committee approach since the spring. 

    I think Gilbert makes the initial cut for his special teams ability, and Owens goes to the practice squad. McCain loses out on a spot thanks to the emergence of Pinnock and the solid showings by Belton and McCloud this summer. 

    Linebackers

    • In: Azeez Ojulari, Bobby Okereke, Darrian Beavers, Dyontae Johnson, Jihad Ward, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Micah McFadden, Oshane Ximines, Tomon Fox
    • Out: Cam Brown, Carter Coughlin, Habakkuk Baldonado, Tashawn Bower, Troy Brown

    The biggest surprise in this projection is that I have Brown, a special teams captain last year, not making the final cut. 

    The dilemma Brown is facing is that he doesn't give the team snaps at linebacker, and thus might be a luxury they can't carry. In contrast, Coughlin, also a special teams staple, can give them snaps at linebacker and on special teams. I think it will come down to him or Johnson, and right now, I'm giving the nod to Johnson.

    I also have Dyontae Johnson, an undrafted rookie free agent, making this roster. Johnson has been quietly having a good camp this summer, primarily working with the twos and threes. 

    I'm going with Fox to make this roster, giving the Giants five OLBs to four ILBs (Okereke, Beavers, McFadden, and Johnson). I'm still not wild about the depth behind OLB starters Thibodeaux and Ojulari, and I wouldn't be surprised if the team looks to add someone there from the waiver wire, but we'll have to see how they do over the next three weeks.

    Specialists

    • In: Graham Gano, Casey Kreiter, Jamie Gillan 
    • Out: Cam Lyons

    Look for the Giants to try to get Lyons to the practice squad. 
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