Final 53-man roster projection

Over the next 48 hours, some 36 members of the Giants roster will be told by head coach Pat Shurmur that, while their efforts this off-season are appreciated, there is no room on the team’s 53-man roster for their services.

Make no mistake about it; the process isn’t going to be easy for Shurmur or general manager Dave Gettleman, who will also make the decisions.

“I think we’re all real about what’s going on here. Every team has 90, and they’re going to get down to 53. Each one of those conversations is as different as the player that you’re talking to because they’re all at different stages of their career,” he said Tuesday.

“Some of them are older players; some of them are younger players. The reality of it is that a lot of these players are going to get an opportunity hopefully someplace else, or maybe back here when our roster changes as the season goes on,” Shurmur said earlier this week.

“We’re just open and honest about everything. We all go into it, knowing that we’re going to have to have some of those conversations.”

With this training camp one of the most competitive in recent memory, there are a lot of different avenues Shurmur and Gettleman will need to consider.

How will those decisions play out? What makes the most sense? Here is my final 53-man roster projection.

Quarterbacks (3)

In: Eli Manning, Daniel Jones, Kyle Lauletta

Out: Alex Tanney

I was all set to go with two quarterbacks, figuring that maybe the Giants could sneak Kyle Lauletta onto the practice squad.

Lauletta’s showing against the Patriots changed my mind as did my knowing that it’s preferred to start each off-season with at least two quarterbacks familiar with their system.

If they put Lauletta on the practice squad, they risk losing him to a team that suffers an injury to its backup quarterback. I don’t think the Giants want to see that happen.

Running backs (4)

In: Saquon Barkley, Wayne Gallman, Rod Smith, Eli Penny

Out: Paul Perkins

PSQ: Jon Hilliman

The toughest call at this position was determining a winner between Paul Perkins and Rod Smith, the latter of whom is dealing with an adductor injury suffered last week.

I think the nod goes to Smith, who is a core special teams player. Although he is injured, it’s not believed to be severe or one that will keep him sidelined for an extended period.

If Smith isn’t 100% but is close, the Giants could carry him on the roster and leave him inactive for a week or two while dressing Wayne Gallman and fullback Eli Penny.

Perkins? When you can’t pick up one yard for a first down because you don’t show the vision necessary to find creases to your left or right, I think that will help seal your fate.

Speaking of Penny, Shurmur praised him last week for his versatility in also being able to perform halfback duties in a dire situation.

“I’m very fond of him because he’s one of the people in this building that, in my opinion, has never had a bad day,” Shurmur said.

“He’s smiling. He may have had a bad play or a bad meal, but he’s never had a bad day. He’s a little bit of an inspiration to me because he just keeps going. He loves the game, and he keeps playing. He’s done some good stuff for us.”

Undrafted rookie free agent Jon Hilliman showed some intriguing power as a runner this summer, but the practice squad seems like the best-case scenario for him.

Tight ends (3)

In: Evan Engram, Rhett Ellison, C.J. Conrad

Out: Jake Powell

IR: Scott Simonson (ankle)

PSQ: Garrett Dickerson

The injury situation at this position has shaken things up at this position.

Scott Simonson, who I had making the roster, suffered what appeared to be a bad ankle injury that necessitated a walking boot and crutches after last night’s game.

With Garrett Dickerson also nursing an injury, I think that opens the door for C.J. Conrad, who tailed off a bit this summer after an impressive spring, to make the roster.

If Dickerson’s injury isn’t that bad, I’d try to get him onto the practice squad, and then I’d look to bring him to the 53-man roster as soon as a roster spot opens.

Dickerson’s blocking has been better than anticipated. Per Pro Football Focus, he’s been the Giants’ second-best pass-blocking tight end, behind Ellison, and his run blocking ranked as the third-best on the team, behind Ellison and Conrad.

Through three games, Dickerson was also ranked as the second-best receiving tight end on the team this summer behind Ellison. It’s hard not to see why--he has managed to do a better job of separating, which has shown up in his yards-after-catch and average yards per reception numbers.

Wide Receivers (6)

In: Sterling Shepard, Cody Latimer, Alonzo Russell, Russell Shepard, Darius Slayton, Bennie Fowler

Out: Brittan Golden, T.J. Jones (ankle)

IR: Alex Wesley (ankle)

PSQ: Reggie White, Jr.

I have Darius Slayton making the 53-man roster for a few reasons.

If the plan is to move him to IR with the “designated to return” label after the mandatory six-week minimum period elapses, he needs to be on the initial 53-man roster to be eligible.

With that said, I don’t think the Giants are going to move Slayton to IR, where he would have to sit for a minimum of six weeks.

Why? Shurmur indicated that the injury isn’t one that might keep him out indefinitely.

Second, the Giants will have ten days before they next have to play a game. That extra week-and-a-half gives all the players who have injuries some extra time to heal.

I think that because Slayton is a deep threat, they’re going to give him every opportunity to get back on the field. By carrying an extra receiver at this position, they can afford to carry him and have him as inactive in the interim.

I also think the coaches have seen enough from Slayton between the spring and the summer to have sufficient information regarding whether to keep him on the roster.

Offensive linemen (9)

In: Nate Solder, Will Hernandez, Jon Halapio, Kevin Zeitler, Mike Remmers, Spencer Pulley, Nick Gates, Chad Slade, Evan Brown

Out: Chad Wheeler, Brian Mihalik, Malcolm Bunche, Paul Adams, James O’Hagan

IR: George Asafo-Adjei (concussion)

PSQ: Victor Salako, James O’Hagan

The most crucial question was the backup tackle spot where I thought Chad Wheeler and Brian Mihalik, the two tackles who in the spring filled in for starters Nate Solder and Mike Remmers, lacked.

Mihalik has done little to stand out, playing too stiff. And Wheeler’s struggles with his back, which I suspect are behind why he appears to have regressed, have clouded his roster spot.

I think the Giants will go with Nick Gates and Chad Slade as their backups though I also believe that the Giants will keep an eye on the waiver wire.

I added Victor Salako, an offensive tackle, and James O’Hagan, a guard/center to my practice squad projection.

At the start of camp, I thought draft pick George Asafo-Adjei might be a practice squad candidate, but his concussion has de-railed his summer.

Since Mike Remmers is only under contract for one season, I suspect the Giants are going to want a tackle on the practice squad to develop.

Defensive linemen (6)

In: Dexter Lawrence, BJ Hill, Dalvin Tomlinson, Olsen Pierre, Chris Slayton, John Jenkins

Out: Freedom Akinmoladun, Jake Ceresna

IR: None

PSQ: R.J. McIntosh

Slayton, the draft pick, who has been a little more active and productive against the run. Going into the preseason finale, Slayton was second on the Giants defensive line with four run-stops for zero or negative yards (behind Jenkins’ five).

Slayton has shown a nose for the ball and an ability to get in on the action in bringing down the ball carrier.

He’s yet to see much time as a pass rusher, but it might be interesting to see if he can use his size and power to push the pocket.

I also kept Jenkins on my roster projection as he has had himself a strong camp.

Gettleman once said how he desired to assemble a solid rotation with one’s defensive front. I think this six-man rotation should give them that rotation.

R.J. McIntosh, who last year lost his entire off-season and half of the regular season due to an undisclosed illness, started this year with a lot of promise.

However, he’s tailed off a bit of late to where I think maybe the practice squad might be in his future.

That McIntosh also right now seems to be more of an inside player doesn’t help his quest for a roster spot as the coaching staff tends to favor versatile players.

Edge Rushers (4)

In: Lorenzo Carter, Markus Golden, Oshane Ximines, Kareem Martin

Out: Avery Moss, Terrence Fede, Joey Alfieri

IR: Keion Adams (knee)

PSQ: Jake Carlock

The Giants kept Avery Moss on the practice squad last year in the hopes of converting him to a 3-4 outside linebacker. With the additions of Markus Golden and Oshane Ximines, I don’t see the numbers working in his favor.

To his credit, Moss has been somewhat solid against the run this summer. In three preseason games, he’s tied with Kareem Martin for the best run-stop percentage (16.7%) among the team’s edge rushers.

I just can’t see the Giants keeping Moss and Kareem Martin, especially since Moss hasn’t even been asked to play much on special teams this summer.

Fan (and team) favorite Jake Carlock has been an interesting player this summer. Carlock hasn’t really shown up against the run—his only stat through three games is one missed tackle in 12 run-defense snaps.

And since that highlight reel batted ball and Pick-6, Carlock’s game has otherwise been quiet. But with all that said, he can long snap, which is something we haven’t seen him do much of this summer.

This could be on purpose as perhaps the coaching staff is hoping to slide Carlock onto their practice squad as a potential successor to current long snapper Zak DeOssie.

Off-ball Linebackers (4)

In: Alec Ogletree, Tae Davis, Ryan Connelly, Jonathan Anderson

Out: B.J. Goodson

IR: Nate Stupar (concussion)

PSQ: Josiah Tauaefa

The handwriting has been on the wall for a while now regarding B.J. Goodson, last year’s starter.

Goodson has fallen so far down the depth chart that at this point, the best he can hope for is for another team to see his film and take a chance on him.

Don’t be surprised Goodson’s name surfaces in trade talks as he’s still young enough, is on the last year of his rookie contract, and he offers value against the run.

Rookie Josiah Tauaefa, a player I liked going back to the spring, has been making steady progress each week. However, he’s been dealing with a shoulder injury this week which necessitated him wearing the yellow “no contact” pinney during practice.

Through three games, Tauaefa is second among the team’s off-ball linebackers in tackles (behind unit leader Jonathan Anderson, who I think might slide onto the roster).

With that said, I am still not sure there will be room for Tauaefa on the 53-man roster unless the coaches feel he brings more upside than Anderson.

Cornerbacks (6)

In: Janoris Jenkins, DeAndre Baker, Grant Haley, Antonio Hamilton, Corey Ballentine, Sam Beal (groin)

Out: Ronald Zamort, Henre’ Toliver, Terrell Sinkfield

IR: None

PSQ: None

The biggest question for me was what to do with cornerback Sam Beal (groin).

Beal, like receiver Darius Slayton, did participate in the spring practices. However, Slayton managed to get into a preseason game whereas Beal has not.

I think that the coaches don’t have as much information on Beal as they do on Slayton (plus receiver is probably a more pressing need right now than cornerback).

So why is Beal on my projected 53-man roster? If Beal ends up on the season-ending injured reserve list (meaning he would be moved to IR as part of the cuts down to 53 Saturday, he’s done for the year.

However, if he goes on Injured Reserve after being added to the 53-man roster, Beal would have to miss at least the first six weeks of the season.

If Beal gets the “Designated to Return” label after six weeks, he would then get a window to practice with the team which would allow the coaches and medical staff to determine if he’s ready.

Now there are a couple of drawbacks to this plan. Even if Beal practices well, the Giants probably would need a roster opening if they were to add him once he becomes eligible.

Along those lines, the second and biggest drawback comes into play if the Giants add players to the IR list during the season who are more important to bring back later in the season.

For example, if two key starters land on IR and each has a chance of returning later in the season, it’s probably not a stretch to say that both of those players will get a higher amount of consideration for the two “designated to return” statuses ahead of a second-year cornerback who has yet to appear in an NFL game.

It’s a gamble, but from the Giants' perspective, it might be worth taking.

I’m also not sure what Antonio Hamilton’s injury status is, but I have him on the 53-man roster based on my guess that his adductor injury isn’t season-ending.

Safeties (5)

In: Jabrill Peppers, Antoine Bethea, Michael Thomas, Julian Love, Sean Chandler

Out: Kenny Ladler, Tenny Adewusi

Commissioner’s Exemption List: Kamrin Moore

Although Julian Love was drafted as a cornerback, I have him in with the safeties as that’s where his future appears to be.

Specialists (3)

In: Aldrick Rosas, Riley Dixon, Zak DeOssie

Out: Johnny Townsend, Taybor Pepper

This was another unit that was pretty much straight forward unless an unexpected injury pops up.

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