Reviewing Every Player Who Made Giants' 53-man Roster
The New York Giants' initial 53-man roster was unveiled Tuesday night. Still, it's probably a good guess to say that the roster the team announced will probably not be the one they take into their September 10 regular-season opener against the Dallas Cowboys.
Overall, the Giants still have question marks at offensive tackle, specifically the depth where they have Matt Peart and second-year player Marcus McKethan as their two backups to starters Andrew Thomas and Evan Neal. The team could also be looking to add depth to their cornerback unit.
On the flip side, their trade acquisitions of linebacker Isaiah Simmons from the Cardinals and defensive end/linebacker Boogie Basham from the Bills drastically upgraded previous question marks on the defense at inside linebacker and edge rusher.
Roster building is never a done deal in that a good general manager will have his personnel folks on the lookout for potential upgrades. But overall, Giants general manager Joe Schoens' second Giants roster boasts a lot of promise as this team looks to string together consecutive playoff appearances for the first time since the 2007-2008 seasons.
Below is one thought on each of the 53 initial members of the Giants' 2023 roster.
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones warms up during joint practice with Detroit Lions at Detroit Lions headquarters and training facility in Allen Park on Tuesday, August 8, 2023.
Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK
Quarterbacks
Daniel Jones: He might not have played much in the preseason, but there is little doubt that Jones is coming off his best off-season and training camp since being selected sixth overall in 2019. It's amazing what a competent coaching staff with a system tailored to the player's strengths will do for a guy's confidence, and right now, Jones has it in abundance.
Tyrod Taylor: Despite some clamoring by the fans to have New Jersey product Tommy DeVito unseat Taylor as the backup, that was never going to happen. Taylor is an experienced player and a mentor not just to Jones and DeVito (who is expected to land on the practice squad) but also to other players in the locker room.
Jul 26, 2023; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) and quarterbacks coach Shea Tierney, left, at the Quest Diagnostics Training Facility.
Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports
Running Backs
Saquon Barkley: He didn't see the field in the preseason games as the Giants aimed to keep him fresh and help him toward that big payday he so desperately wants. Because of that, Barkley had a relatively quiet camp, which is a good thing, given that he's locked in and focused on what lies ahead.
Matt Breida: He was underused last year on offense, but with the Giants likely planning to reduce some of the routine wear and tear on Barkley to help keep him fresh, Breida could see an uptick in his snaps this year.
Eric Gray: It will be surprising if the rookie gets on the field with the offense a lot this year given his pass-blocking struggles in the summer, but Gray will have a role (for now) as the team's return specialist.
Gary Brightwell: Brightwell missed most of the summer due to a leg injury, so it remains to be seen if he's a candidate to be moved to short-term IR before the Dallas game. The Giants likely kept him over Jashaun Corbin for his special teams value--Brightwell has experience playing on all the special teams, and despite losing the kickoff return job to Gray, the Giants need all the decent special teams guys they can find, given the unit's struggles over the last few years.
Aug 1, 2023; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants tight end Darren Waller (12) stretches during training camp at the Quest Diagnostics Training Facility.
Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Tight Ends
Darren Waller: Call him a unicorn, a kaleidoscope, or whatever you want, but it's been a long, long time since the Giants had a tight end of Waller's skillset on this roster (think Martellus Bennett, who was with the team in 2012). Waller has shown a tendency to draw a crowd of defenders around him when he goes out for a pass, and that can only be a good thing for the other receiving targets on the field if they can defeat single coverage.
Daniel Bellinger: When Waller was acquired, many people thought Bellinger might see a reduction in his role. That probably won't be the case as expect the Giants to run a lot of 12-personnel, with Bellinger, the team's best blocking tight end, doing a mix of blocking and getting a share of pass targets.
Lawrence Cager: Cager isn't much of a blocker, but he's another one of those big-bodied, tall targets the team seems to favor for its passing game. Cager will also likely be a core special teams player for the Giants.
Aug 18, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Jalin Hyatt (84) celebrates with New York Giants wide receiver Parris Campbell (0) after catching a touchdown pass against the Carolina Panthers during the second quarter at MetLife Stadium.
John Jones-USA TODAY Sports
Receivers
Isaiah Hodgins: Hodgins sometimes tends to be the forgotten man in the Giants' receiving corps given the additions of Parris Campbell and Jalin Hyatt, but he's as sure-handed a receiver as the team currently has, his 82.2 reception rate last season second among Giants receivers last year behind former teammate Richie James's 85.1 percent.
Darius Slayton: Slayton's biggest vice last year was dropped balls--six in 2022 and 21 for his career. He spent extra time this off-season working to improve that, so we'll see if that extra work pays off, as his deep speed is too good not to put into action.
Parris Campbell: Campbell is an interesting addition to the roster in that, in addition to his deep speed ability, he saw more than a handful of snaps from the backfield on jet sweeps and end-arounds. Look for that to continue in select spots moving forward.
Jalin Hyatt: The rookie dazzled everyone with speed and the ability to separate. He will get his opportunities, but they'll likely come in select situations as the coaches continue to try him in different things that he didn't necessarily get to try while at Tennessee.
Wan’Dale Robinson: A surprise addition to the roster, Robinson is nine months removed from ACL surgery. His addition to the roster is something of a gamble in that if he can't be ramped up and ready for Week 1, which is less than two weeks away, and has to miss two or three games, then the Giants might as well have left him on the PUP which would have allowed them to use a roster spot somewhere else for the first four weeks. But this regime has shown that it's not afraid to take gambles, and this is certainly one of them.
Sterling Shepard: The veteran surprised many people when he quickly returned from an ACL injury. Shepard is well-liked in the locker room and by the front office, who are giving him a chance to end his NFL career on his terms rather than on the injured list. And while he's probably not the player he was before his injury, his veteran savviness should serve him well against less experienced competition.
Aug 18, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants offensive tackle Evan Neal (73) and New York Giants offensive tackle Andrew Thomas (78) exit the field after defeating the Carolina Panthers at MetLife Stadium.
John Jones-USA TODAY Sports
Offensive Line
Andrew Thomas: Thomas is an All-World left tackle, and that's all that needs to be said about this still-young veteran who will hopefully remain healthy enough to anchor the quarterback's blindside for many more years to come.
Evan Neal: The Giants hope Neal finds consistency in his play, which wasn't always the case last year in his rookie season. The second-year player looks more comfortable in his stance and seems to be playing faster, but he also missed a chunk of camp due to a concussion. While the Giants would no doubt like him to take an Andrew Thomas-like leap, we think they'd settle for him being consistently better than last year.
Matt Peart: Peart was a human turnstile in pass protection this summer, allowing eight pressures (second most on the team behind the since-cut Korey Cunningham's 12). We're still not sure why he made the roster, and Tyre Phillips, who can give a team snaps at guard and tackle, didn't unless Phillips' injury keeping him out of preseason action was a reason. We have to believe the Giants will be on the lookout for a better option, given their only other potential backup tackle is Marcus McKethan, who, remember, missed last year with a torn ACL.
Ben Bredeson: Bredeson was arguably the Giants' best guard this summer and should end up as the starting left guard. The team also got him some work at center and right guard, a move to ensure that he has the experience necessary should there be an injury. But getting back to left guard, one still gets the feeling the team wants Joshua Ezeudu to become the left guard at some point, so it wouldn't be surprising if the Giants go with a rotation at that spot.
Mark Glowinski: Glowinski is the right guard. Yes, he got snaps at left guard late in camp. Yes, Bredeson took snaps at right guard. But again,t the coaches' purpose for doing so wasn't so much to hold a competition as it was to get guys snaps at other spots in case an injury necessitated a shuffle.
Joshua Ezeudu: As previously noted, the Giants view Ezeudu as a future starter. The trick, though, is getting him quality reps to continue advancing his development, which will not happen unless the coaches set up a rotation with Bredeson. It might not be the ideal way to go, but it's the only way to ensure Ezeudu, who is close to starting material but who isn't quite there just yet, is ready.
Shane Lemieux: Lemieux quietly had himself his best camp, finishing as the offensive line's best pass blocker (zero pressures allowed). If he can stay healthy, he'll give the Giants peace of mind as a backup interior lineman who can man either guard spot or the center position.
Marcus McKethan: McKethan, who began camp on the PUP list, is being groomed to provide snaps at guard and tackle, similar to the role that Tyre Phillips was supposed to be able to do. And there is a lot of promise there. In just 20 pass-block snaps (all at right guard), McKethan pitched a shutout, allowing no pressures. He probably won't get a gameday uniform if he remains on the roster, but there is enough there to like about his game.
John Michael Schmitz: The starting center was always this young man's job to lose. The coaches needed to see if the game was too big for him and how he responded to having complex blitzes and stunts thrown his way. Schmitz passed every test with flying colors and will hopefully be this team's starting center for the next decade.
Sep 18, 2022; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants defensive end Leonard Williams (99) and defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence (97) celebrate after Carolina Panthers turn the ball over on downs during the second quarter at MetLife Stadium.
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Defensive Linemen
Dexter Lawrence: The Giants' big man in the middle is coming off a career season last year, and the scary thing is he's only going to get better. How much remains to be seen, but the Giants are counting on a big year from this defensive anchor.
Leonard Williams: The Giants kept Williams, who dealt with knee and neck injuries last year that forced him to miss his first-ever NFL regular-season games, to just 12 preseason snaps. Williams said he's healthy and refreshed for the upcoming season, the last of his contract. And the Giants will be looking for him to contribute against the run and on the pass rush.
Rakeem Nunez-Roches: The man nicknamed "Nacho" was brought in to help with the run defense. He only saw ten preseason snaps as he dealt with some injury issues this summer, but he gives this team something they didn't have last year: productive depth behind Dexter Lawrence.
A’Shawn Robinson: The bg-bodied run defender didn't get any preseason snaps as he continued to rehab from last year's season-ending knee surgery for a torn meniscus. Still, he will have a role in beefing up a Giants run defense that last year finished 27th in the league.
Jordon Riley: One of the summer's pleasant surprises, this seventh-round rookie made a strong case for a roster spot early, showing impressive ability as a run-stopper (he tied for the team lead in stops among defensive interior linemen with three). One of the more impressive things about Riley's game is that he gave up very little ground when facing double-team blocks, which is rare among rookies.
D.J. Davidson: Davidson was a surprise addition to the roster because he came off PUP late and didn't get into any preseason games. That combination led many to believe the team would try to slip him onto the practice squad, where he could receive the necessary reps to get caught up on all the time he missed as a rookie due to a torn ACL. We will see if Davidson, who can give the Giants special teams snaps, remains on the 53-man roster, given the depth in front of him.
Jul 27, 2023; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux, left, and offensive tackle Andrew Thomas, right, face off on day two of training camp at the Quest Diagnostics Training Facility.
Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports
Outside Linebackers
Kayvon Thibodeaux: "Mr. Thibs" got a little extra attention this summer from his defensive coordinator, and since then, he's ramped up his determination whenever he sets foot on the field. It remains to be seen if Thibodeaux will be a double-digit sack guy in this defense, but one thing he has shown himself more than capable of being is a disruptor who can create opportunities for those around him to make plays.
Azeez Ojulari: Ojualri made the most of limited snaps last season, recording 55 sacks (second behind Lawrence's 7.5). Imagine what Ojualri might be able to do if he can stay healthy. And speaking of which, he changed his workout routine, adding yoga and Pilates to the mix to help with flexibility and avoid those soft tissue injuries that slowed him down last season. If he can stay on the field, he and Thibodeaux will be a nightmare for opposing teams.
Jihad Ward: Ward is a Wink Martindale favorite--always has been given how he plays the game. But don't be surprised if he loses some of his snaps this year to Boogie Basham, acquired in a trade with the Bills.
Carlos "Boogie" Basham: Basham, whose arrival knocked Osahne Ximines and Tomon Fox off the roster, flashed pass-rushing potential at Wake Forest, but that hasn't quite been unlocked since being selected in the second round of the 2021 draft. If anyone can get him on that path, it's Martindale.
New York Giants ILB Bobby Okereke takes part in individual drills during a Giants training camp practice.
Patricia Traina - GiantsCountry.com
Inside Linebackers
Bobby Okereke: The unquestioned leader of this group and the defense. Okereke figures to get the green dot and be a guy who doesn't come off the field. His speed and ability to diagnose plays should instantly upgrade the second level of the Giants' defense, which in recent years was full of more holes than Swiss cheese.
Micah McFadden: McFadden beat out Darrian Beavers for the ILB2 role. A big plus in McFadden's game, besides his health and special teams ability, is that he can blitz, which is a key skill to have when you're playing in a blitz-happy Wink Martindale defense.
Isaiah Simmons: The arrival of Simmons likely helped knock Darrian Beavers off the roster. Simmons can do much for a defense, including after the passer. It will be interesting to see how defensive coordinator Wink Martindale deploys the 25-year-old on the defense. Still, there's no doubt that the Giants upgraded their linebacker unit with this key addition.
Cam Brown: Brown's roster spot was likely saved when Bryce Ford-Wheaton landed on injured reserve with a torn ACL. I say that because Ford-Wheaton, like Brown, offered length, size, and speed on specials, plus he could have contributed on offense in certain situations. Brown, on the other hand, doesn't give the Giants much on defense. That said, the Giants need core special teams players; he will be one of them this year.
Carter Coughlin: Coughlin is another guy who will be among the core special teamers. He can also give the team snaps at linebacker if needed, but special teams will likely be his primary role.
New York Giants rookie cornerback Deonte Banks participates in drills on the first day of mandatory minicamp at the Giants training center in East Rutherford on Tuesday, June 13, 2023.
Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK
Cornerbacks
Adoree’ Jackson: Jackson, a newly elected team captain, is entering the final year of his contract with the Giants. When healthy and on the field, he's one of the better-cover cornerbacks in the league. This year, the team experimented with having him come down in the slot, a smart move for when they face teams whose best receiver happens to be their slot guy (i.e., Dallas's CeeDee Lamb). Wink Martindale has been all about matchup football, something he couldn't do last year but can now do with his collection of players.
Deonte Banks: The rookie got off to a slow start in camp but quickly picked it up, finishing with a team-best 39.6 NFL coverage rating among his fellow cornerbacks. Banks has not only been solid in coverage but also good against the run.
Tre Hawkins III: The rookie sixth-rounder out of Old Dominion was among the league's best-kept secrets coming out of the draft. Not only is he a physical player against the run with solid wrap-up tackling technique, but his sticky coverage was so good that he earned first-tea reps on several occasions and didn't disappoint. Hawkins will likely continue seeing a fair share of snaps on defense as an outside corner this season.
Cor’Dale Flott: The coaching staff in the back half of camp abandoned the experiment to work Flott in the slot. Flott will probably still see snaps there but in select situations. Otherwise, he figures to provide depth behind the projected outside starters, Jackson and Banks.
Darnay Holmes: Holmes agreed to a pay cut that will see his $2.7 million base salary get knocked down to the minimum $1.01 million commensurate with his years of accrued service. With the Giants likely looking to have a committee approach in the slot (matchup-up football), keeping Holmes, the most experienced on the roster at the position, made sense.
Jul 27, 2023; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants safety Xavier McKinney (29) and offensive line coach Bobby Johnson, right, greet players on day two of training camp at the Quest Diagnostics Training Facility.
Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports
Safeties
Xavier McKinney: This is a big year for McKinney, who enters his contract season. McKinney, so far, has made it through one complete season out of his three, playing at a high level. He was also playing decently enough last year until suffering a broken hand in a bye-week ATV accident. The Giants haven't initiated any contract extension talks, probably because McKinney already has a low enough cap hit of $2.669 million) that would increase with an extension. But he can help himself get a huge payday if he stays healthy and plays at the level he can.
Jason Pinnock: Pinnock won the starting strong safety role vacated after Julian Love's departure in free agency and hasn't looked back since. Pinnock has been banged up of late but should be ready for the start of the season.
Dane Belton: Belton projects as the nickel safety when the team turns to its big nickel. He played some solid ball this preseason, particularly against the run, where in 23 run defense snaps, he recorded two stops.
Nick McCloud: McCloud spent most of the summer dealing with a leg injury. Before that, he had been working at safety, but that move seems to have been shelved for now. McCloud is also one of the Giants' better special teams players who can give them snaps as a gunner.
Gervarrius Owens: The rookie seventh-round draft pick kept delivering flash plays that helped drive up his stock and make the roster. Owens showed instinctive play and solid tackling ability, doing a fine job chasing down ball carriers and limiting them. He also produced one of the few hits on the QB with an aggressive inside blitz. Owens also showed flashes of being a blitzer that likely solidified his spot on the roster.
Bobby McCain: McCain suffered a concussion in the preseason finale, but his versatility in playing safety, corner, and the slot likely appealed to the team enough to keep him, as did his veteran leadership, which will serve his younger teammates well.
Sep 20, 2020; Chicago, Illinois, USA; New York Giants kicker Graham Gano (5) kick a field goal against the Chicago Bears during the third quarter at Soldier Field.
Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports
Specialists
Graham Gano, K: He's "Mr. Reliable" because every time he sets foot on the field, the field goal and PAT attempts will be gold.
Jamie Gillan, P: Gillan continued to have instances of inconsistency where he outkicked his coverage this summer. The Giants can field the best coverage guys in the league, but it won't matter unless he develops more touch in his kicking. And if that hasn't happened by now, how much longer can the team wait for it to happen?
Casey Kreiter, LS: Kreiter completes the kicking battery after signing on for another season. But it will be interesting to see how much longer he is the long snapper if the Giants add Cam Lyons or another young long snapper to the practice squad.
- Get the latest breaking news and analysis on the New York Giants
- Follow and like us on Facebook
- Submit your questions for our mailbag
- Check out the Giants Country YouTube Channel.
- Subscribe and like the LockedOn Giants YouTube Channel
- Connect with us via text alerts! Free 14 Day Trial!
