The New York Giants open the 2022 NFL regular season at the Tennessee Titans on Sept. 11 at Nissan Stadium.
There are so many possibilities about who will be there for the Giants. From wide receiver to tight end to cornerback to offensive line, new general manager Joe Schoen is likely out there still searching feverishly for depth. There are very few positions that are set at this point.
Wide receiver is a spot where they could have the depth to make a trade. The most likely option to move is Darius Slayton, who is in the final year of his contract but seemingly buried on the depth chart most of this offseason and summer. Slayton can play. It just might not be with the Giants this season, whether it’s the result of being cut or traded.
The roster will be cut to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Aug. 30th. Here is a projection:
QUARTERBACK (3): Daniel Jones, Tyrod Taylor, Davis Webb
The order of these three quarterbacks and their roles are pretty clear. Jones enters the final year of his contract after the Giants declined to pick up his fifth-year option.
RUNNING BACK (4): Saquon Barkley, Matt Breida, Antonio Williams, Gary Brightwell
It’s all a big question mark behind Barkley. Breida has been banged up during training camp, and Williams hasn’t done much yet in his career, even if he’s a favorite of the new regime. Brightwell’s special teams value makes undrafted rookie Jashaun Corbin the odd man out.
WIDE RECEIVER (6): Kenny Golladay, Kadarius Toney, Wan’Dale Robinson, Sterling Shepard, David Sills V, C.J. Board
Slayton just doesn’t seem to be a favorite of this regime. Don’t be surprised if he’s traded for a veteran at another position of need before the start of the season. Sills, meanwhile, has seemingly played his way onto the squad. Collin Johnson appeared set to make the roster and potentially even start, but he tore an Achilles on Wednesday. Board makes it as the team’s top returner.
TIGHT END (3): Daniel Bellinger, Chris Myarick, Austin Allen
There just aren’t a lot of names to choose from here. Ricky Seals-Jones was placed on injured reserve, which makes you think there will be an outside addition at some point. Bellinger is a fourth-round rookie.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Andrew Thomas, Evan Neal, Mark Glowinski, Shane Lemieux, Joshua Ezeudu, Jon Feliciano, Ben Bredeson, Devery Hamilton, Jamil Douglas
The Giants are on the lookout for other options here, especially at tackle. Going into the season with Hamilton and Ezeudu as the backups at that spot would not be advisable.
DEFENSIVE LINE (5): Dexter Lawrence, Leonard Williams, Nick Williams, Justin Ellis, D.J. Davidson
This is a solid unit anchored by Lawrence and Leonard Williams. Ryder Anderson just misses out despite his special teams value.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER (5): Kayvon Thibodeaux, Azeez Ojulari, Elerson Smith, Jihad Ward, Oshane Ximines
Here’s yet another difficult position to predict because of injuries to Thibodeaux, Smith and Ward. Ximines barely snuck on, but the Giants need him because of those injuries. Quincy Roche just didn’t seem to fit with the new regime.
INSIDE LINEBACKER (5): Blake Martinez, Tae Crowder, Micah McFadden, Austin Calitro, Carter Coughlin
Martinez is back healthy and should be a difference-maker. The Giants, however, lost rookie Darrian Beavers for the season in the second preseason game. That created a spot for Calitro and/or Coughlin. Calitro has done nothing but make plays (interception and fumble recovery on Sunday vs. Jets), and Coughlin provides special-teams value and versatility.
CORNERBACK (5): Adoree’ Jackson, Aaron Robinson, Darnay Holmes, Cor’Dale Flott, Zyon Gilbert
And another position lacking depth. Robinson hardly inspires confidence, and Flott has been sidelined for a good chunk of the summer with a groin injury. An outside addition seems likely.
SAFETY (4): Julian Love, Xavier McKinney, Dane Belton, Trenton Thompson
The Giants recently released veteran Andrew Adams with Belton (collarbone) on the verge of a return. They wanted to go young at the position, as Belton and Thompson are both rookies.
SPECIALIST (4): K Graham Gano, P Jamie Gillan, LS Casey Kreiter, ST Cam Brown
The kicker, punter and long-snapper have no real competition. Brown, meanwhile, is excellent on special teams but doesn’t really have a spot on defense.
Source: ESPN
