New York Giants Initial Depth Chart Takeaways

The Giants released their first unofficial depth chart on Monday, which is as follows:

Offense

QB - Daniel Jones, Colt McCoy
RB - Saquon Barkley, Dion Lewis, Wayne Gallman
FB - Eli Penny
TE - Evan Engram, Kaden Smith, Levine Toilolo
WR1 - Sterling Shepard, Damion Ratley
WR2 - Golden Tate, Damion Ratley
WR3 - Darius Slayton, C.J. Board
RT - Cameron Fleming, Matt Peart
RG - Kevin Zeitler, Shane Lemieux
C - Nick Gates, Spencer Pulley
LG - Will Hernandez, Shane Lemieux
LT - Andrew Thomas, Jackson Barton

Defense

SLB - Lorenzo Carter, Markus Golden, Carter Coughlin
DE - Dexter Lawrence, RJ McIntosh
NT - Dalvin Tomlinson, Austin Johnson
DT - Leonard Williams, B.J. Hill
OLB - Oshane Ximines, Kyler Fackrell, Cam Brown
MLB - Blake Martinez, Tae Crowder
WLB - Devante Downs, TJ Brunson
LCB - James Bradberry, Darnay Holmes, Brandon Williams
SS - Jabrill Peppers, Nate Ebner
FS - Julian Love, Logan Ryan, Adrian Colbert
RCB - Corey Ballentine, Isaac Yiadom

Specialist

LS - Casey Kreiter
H - Riley Dixon
P - Riley Dixon
PR - Golden Tate III, Jabrill Peppers, Sterling Shepard, Darius Slayton
KOR - Darnay Holmes, Darius Slayton, Corey Ballentine, C.J. Board, Dion Lewis
K - Graham Gano

It's important to keep in mind that the depth chart is not prepared by the coaching staff, as given how secretive Joe Judge and the players have been about who's playing where the projections are likely a staffer's guess.

With that said, since the chart does come from someone inside the team's headquarters who maybe caught a glimpse or two of the team's practices, so here are a few takeaways.

Corey Ballentine is listed as the starting cornerback opposite of James Bradberry, but this is likely due to Logan Ryan having recently arrived in East Rutherford.

Speaking of Ryan, he's listed as a safety. However, head coach Joe Judge said that Ryan would fill multiple roles on the defense.

On the edge, the Giants appear to be rolling with their two young outside linebackers in Oshane Ximines and Lorenzo Carter, two third-round draft picks in 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Veteran edge rushers Kyler Fackrell and Markus Golden, two players who achieved double-digit sacks in recent years, figure to be in the rotation as well. But it would appear that the Giants will be prioritizing giving their young players a lot of reps.

On the offensive line, Nick Gates seems to have officially emerged as the team's starting center. Again, this could be a ploy as Judge insisted as recently as of Monday that no decision has been made whether Gates or Spencer Pulley will be the opening day starter.

Golden Tate is listed as the first-team punt returner. With Tate believed to be nursing a hamstring strain, it would be hard to envision him filling that role Monday Night against the Steelers. Don't be surprised if a backup punt returner is brought up from the practice squad or if the team uses C.J. Board, who auditioned for the role in the preseason, at that spot.

Rookie Darnay Holmes is listed as the kickoff returner, but look for Corey Ballentine to get some opportunities in that role.

Shane Lemieux, who was supposed to cross-train at center, is not listed as a backup at that position, likely due to all the guys ahead of him for the center spot in camp.