Giants final 53-man roster projection: Who’s in, who’s out?

With the preseason over, it is time for our final New York Giants 53-man roster projection.

Teams have to cut from 90 to 53 players by Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET. The roster established at that time will not be the same as the one that faces the Minnesota Vikings on Sept. 8 in the season opener. Waiver claims have to be made by noon on Wednesday, so the roster will likely change quickly. The Giants are No. 6 in the waiver wire priority, so there is a good chance they will be awarded some of the players they want.

There will also be vested veterans available who are not subject to waivers and will be free agents who can be signed at any time.

With that preamble out of the way, let’s get to the projection.

OFFENSE

Quarterback (3)

Starter: Daniel Jones
Backups: Drew Lock, Tommy DeVito
Out: None

Change: None

A record 66 quarterbacks started NFL games in 2023. Teams need not just one, but two capable backups. A new league rule would allow the Giants to activate DeVito from the practice as an emergency quarterback an unlimited number of times should they keep just two quarterbacks. Problem is, teams know they need three quarterbacks they wouldn’t be petrified to put into a game. I doubt DeVito would pass through waivers.

Running back (3)

Starter: Devin Singletary
Backups: Tyrone Tracy Jr., Eric Gray
Out: Dante Miller, Lorenzo Lingard, Joshua Kelley

Changes: Miller out

The Giants try to pass Miller through to the practice squad. It has felt for a while like that has been the plan. The Giants want to develop him, they just don’t seem sure he is ready to handle the job quite yet.

Tight end (4)

Starter: Daniel Bellinger
Backups: Theo Johnson, Chris Manhertz, Jakob Johnson
Out: Jack Stoll

Change: Johnson in

Johnson is really a fullback, so maybe he should be listed with the running backs. His presence is a big reason why Miller lands on the practice squad. In limited time, Johnson has shown the value of a good lead blocker. Johnson also adds value on special teams.

Wide receiver (6)

Starters: Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton/Jalin Hyatt, Wan’Dale Robinson
Backups: Isaiah McKenzie, Miles Boykin
Out: Gunner Olszewski, Ayir Asante, Bryce Ford-Wheaton, John Jiles, Isaiah Hodgins, Allen Robinson

Changes: Robinson out

The way the roster falls at other positions means the Giants can only keep six wide receivers in this projection. I think Isaiah Hodgins gets picked up by another team and the Giants try to convince the veteran Robinson, who had a good summer and has leadership qualities, to accept a practice squad spot.

Offensive line (9)

Starters: Andrew Thomas (LT), Jon Runyan Jr. (LG), John Michael Schmitz (C), Greg Van Roten (RG), Jermaine Eluemunor (RT)
Backups: Aarone Stinnie, Josh Ezeudu, Evan Neal, Jake Kubas
Out: Marcus McKethan, Matt Nelson, Jimmy Morrissey, Jalen Mayfield, Joshua Miles, Austin Schlottman

Changes: Neal in, Schlottman out

The difficult decision here was Kubas vs. Schlottman. I had Schlottman making the roster until I watched Saturday night’s game against the Jets. Schlottman did not play well, and he played deep into the game. Kubas played in the first half, then watched the final two quarters. That kind of playing time distribution in the final preseason game is often an indication of who is, and is not, making the roster.

DEFENSE

Defensive line (5)

Starters: Dexter Lawrence, Rakeem Nunez-Roches
Backups: Jordon Riley, Elijah Chatman, D.J. Davidson
Out: Timmy Horne, Casey Rogers, Kyler Baugh

Changes: Ryder Anderson waived/injured; D.J. Davidson in

The real question for me is whether Davidson stays on the roster once waiver claims/free agent signings are made after the initial roster is set.

Linebacker (6)

Starters: Bobby Okereke, Micah McFadden
Backups: Isaiah Simmons, Darius Muasau, Dyontae Johnson
Out: Darrian Beavers, Matthew Adams, Trey Kiser, Carter Coughlin

Changes: Johnson in; Adams out

The change here is about injuries. Johnson, impressive early in camp, is out of a walking boot and appears farther along in his recovery from an ankle injury than Adams is from his groin injury.

Edge (5)

Starters: Kayvon Thibodeaux, Brian Burns
Backups: Azeez Ojulari, Benton Whitley, Boogie Basham
Out: Tomon Fox, Ovie Oghoufo

Changes: Whitley in

I think the Giants would make the move if they have an opportunity to flip Ojulari for cornerback help, or perhaps something better than a conditional seventh-round draft pick.

Ojulari, I believe, is the last true Dave Gettleman player on the Giants’ roster. He is the last player not drafted, signed, or re-signed by GM Joe Schoen. I am not 100% sure he will still be there in a few days.

I added Whitley and jettisoned Carter Coughlin from this projection after watching Whitley be a force on Saturday night. Whitley had four tackles (one for loss), 1.5 sacks, and three quarterback hits.

Cornerback (6)

Starters: Deonte Banks, Cor’Dale Flott/Nick McCloud, Andru Phillips
Backups: Tre Hawkins III, Tre Herndon
Out: David Long Jr., Breon Borders, Christian Holmes, Mario Goodrich, Darnay Holmes

Changes: Herndon in, Darnay Holmes out

I have the veteran Herndon sneaking onto the roster. Of course, considering that this is the position most likely to change via waiver claims or free agent signings, anyone beyond the top four cornerbacks should probably not be comfortable.

Safety (4)

Starters: Jason Pinnock, Tyler Nubin
Backups: Dane Belton, Alex Johnson
Out: Gervarrius Owens, Jonathan Sutherland, Raheem Layne, Clayton Isbell

Change: None

Johnson, an undrafted free agent out of UCLA, has been impressive. He can play free safety and slot cornerback, and he had five interceptions for the Bruins in 2023. He sneaks onto the roster as Owens has been dealing with a knee injury.

Special teams (3)

PK: Graham Gano
P: Jamie Gillan
LS: Casey Kreiter
Out: PK Jude McAtamney

Nothing to see here. The kicking group is Gano, Gillan, Kreiter unless there is an injury. McAtamney, as an international player, qualifies for a practice squad exemption.

Projected practice squad

RB Dante Miller
TE Jack Stoll
WR Allen Robinson
WR Ayir Asante
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton
G Jake Kubas
G Marcus McKethan
OT Joshua Miles
DT Casey Rogers
LB Matthew Adams
LB K.J. Cloyd
Edge Tomon Fox
CB Christian Holmes
S Gervarrius Owens
PK Jude McAtamney (International exemption)

The practice squad can consist of 16 players, plus a player with an International exemption. I have selected 14, plus McAtamney. That leaves two spots for the Giants to add players waived/cut by other teams.