New York Giants Rookie Report: Wow!
It might be too soon to say it, but we're going to anyway: This New York Giants 2023 rookie class is seriously challenging the Class of 2007 as the best this century.
From first-rounder Deonte Banks to undrafted rookies, one would be hard-pressed to find a rookie who hasn't contributed positively this summer and isn't making the coaches' decisions on who to keep a challenge.
But that's what the Giants want to have happen: those tough roster decisions.
Let's take a quick rundown of what Inside Football had to say about the Giants rookies.
CB Deonte Banks: In two defensive series, the rookie gave up the edge for an early first down and lined up offside on another early snap. But besides those two blips, Banks continued to impress by providing more sticky coverage.
OC John Michael Schmitz: The starter over the ball for the entire first half, Schmitz had one bad shotgun snap on his first play, which he subsequently cleaned up. Otherwise, he was solid once again throughout, playing alert and active ball while navigating the middle of the line very well.
Schmitz has won the starting center job, as was expected to be the case. Another feather in his cap is that he also holds up well in one-on-one competition against Dexter Lawrence.
WR Jalin Hyatt: Leading the team with four receptions against the Panthers, the 33-yard deep ball touchdown was most impressive.
On the previous play, Hyatt had streaked across the field on a crosser and was wide open, but he dropped a catchable pass. But the rookie made up for it on the next snap when he lined up in the slot, had a clean release, and attacked the deep safety. And just like that, with a quick fake to the inside, Hyatt got himself wide open in the corner for the touchdown.
Not to be outdone, his three other receptions, all of which came on short throws, were very well-defended, yet he found a way to make those plays.
RB Eric Gray: Gray was very up and down. There were at least two poor blitz pickup failures that resulted in heavy hits on his quarterback, but he also had a couple of solid blocks.
There wasn’t much running room for him until he finished off a wide-open 9-yard burst right up the middle, a play in which he lowered his head to push the pile and fought his way into the end zone for the score.
Gray also had a mixed showing on special teams as he continues to build a comfort level as a return specialist. Early on, he called for a fair catch of a short 36-yard punt, keeping it from hitting the ground in what was a smart decision.
Another smart play came later when the rookie allowed a kickoff to bounce out of bounds before reaching the goal line, which placed the ball on the 40-yard line.
On the opening kickoff, a directional kick at the near corner of the end zone made it a difficult play. Kudos to Gray for securing the kick, keeping his cool, and staying in the end zone.
He also delivered another alert and efficient, fair catch of a short punt and a 9-yard return that came when his blocking broke down.
Gray hasn't shown quickness and suddenness as a return specialist, but his ball security has been clean enough for the coaches to continue rolling with him in the returner role.
CB Tre Hawkins III: This rookie somehow got credit for only one tackle on the stat sheet but probably should have had more. His most impressive play of the night saw him fill a hole in a manner one might expect from a safety than a cornerback, with good physicality and alertness.
Hawkins continues to deliver sticky coverage and a level of physicality that is almost surprising, considering where he is in his football career. The Giants got themselves a steal in this young man.
DL Jordon Riley: Speaking of steals, the Giants decided to start Riley, who had primarily played nose tackle most of the summer, at defensive end, and he did not disappoint.
He beat a single block and made the tackle on a big fourth down, stopping Carolina on downs. Later, he beat another single block to make a tackle in the backfield for a 2-yard loss. Otherwise, Riley was fending off double-teams throughout without yielding much space. He finished his night with three tackles, doing a lot of dirty work that helped others get into position to make plays.
That Riley showed he could play defensive end in addition to playing in the interior has undoubtedly helped to strengthen an already strong case for a roster spot.
DB Gervarrius Owens: The coaches decided to give Owens most of those attack-the-line-of-scrimmage snaps, and he did not disappoint.
An early well-timed blitz resulted in his first of several solid running down tackles. Repeatedly the rookie reacted well on running downs, playing proper angles, and showing off some very advanced instinctiveness around the line of scrimmage.
He broke up a third-down pass in the middle by anticipating and breaking hard on the pattern, attacking the ball and the receiver with great timing.
We also liked how he reacted to a long yardage check-down, quickly rallying and closing to the ball carrier. One of his edge blitzes failed late to contain the quarterback, but he remained very active on the edges.
He also produced a fine single coverage defending a pass to a tight end up the seam. Owens did it all out there tonight at his position.
He led the entire defense with seven total tackles and was perhaps the defense’s best overall performer on the night.
We're not sure exactly what kind of role Wink Martindale has in mind for this young man, assuming he makes the roster (which we think he will). We wonder if Owens can play a Tony Jefferson role from last year’s defense, with Owens perhaps patrolling the shorter zones on passing downs.
Undrafted Free Agents
Bryce Ford-Wheaton: After a disappointing showing in his preseason debut, Ford-Wheaton gets the Comeback Performance of the Week honors on this team.
He pulled in both of his targets, each one a difficult play. His first catch came on a low throw at the boundary for 10 yards and a first down, the rookie going down low to make the tough catch. He followed that up with a nice win of a 50-50 crosser that went for 14 yards and a big fourth-quarter first down when the offense was trying to run out the clock.
Ford-Wheaton was the primary receiver on this route, coming across on yet another crossing route. He got open enough and outfought his trailing coverage for the big catch.
On top of Ford-Wheaton’s second successive positive gunner performance on specials, we’d have to say he’s building himself a case to make the final roster, as general manager Joe Schoen just so happened to mention on the television broadcast. Wideouts who can play special teams are rare.
Ford-Wheaton not only beat his double teams on all three of the team’s punts, but he also dominated them. If this kid has a taste for this job, he will be extremely hard to cut.
He’s got the physical talent, the power, and the speed to dominate. If he can produce the smarts and finishing skills along the way, he has a chance to be a force. Maybe this organization has found an impact special teamer, and Ford-Wheaton's gunner performance was amazing.
Let’s see if he can do it again next week while continuing to show growth as a wideout. If this young man can show consistency, he will have been another steal for this team in a rookie class loaded with steals.
Habakkuk Baldonado: This intriguing rookie made one solid contain tackle, managed a late-game edge hit on the quarterback with impressive power moves, and remains a physical player with some untapped potential with long arms, uses his hands well, and plays with leverage. We're unsure if he beats out his primary competition for a roster spot, Oshane Ximines, but Baldonado certainly looks like a player worth developing further.
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