NY Giants: Projecting the 53-man roster and where things stand as training camp begins

EAST RUTHERFORD - Let the competition begin.

Nearly half of the players who hit the practice field as training camp for the New York Giants begins with the first practice Wednesday morning won't be on the team in a month. That's the reality of the NFL that is set to play out at 1925 Giants Drive as team brass tries to assemble a winner in advance of the third season for general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll.

There are the roster locks, of course. But circumstances essentially dictate what transpires in the jockeying for spots .

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We'll do a roster projection every week of the summer heading into the league's deadline to finalize the initial 53-man rosters on Aug. 27. Here's my first prediction as the Giants begin camp:

Quarterbacks (2)

On the roster: Daniel Jones, Drew Lock, Tommy DeVito, Nathan Rourke

Jones accomplished his stated goal of being cleared for the start of camp. He'll ramp up over the first couple weeks of camp. Lock is the backup and will push him. DeVito has a chance if Lock slips, but more likely it will be a fight for a spot on the practice squad between DeVito and Rourke, especially if one or both get offers elsewhere. We're a long way from that, and the rule about a PS gameday elevation allowing for a emergency third QB could factor here.

In: Jones, Lock

Running backs (3)

On the roster: Devin Singletary, Tyrone Tracy, Eric Gray, Dante Miller, Jashaun Corbin, Jacob Saylors

Singletary is the lead back and should not be overlooked as someone the Giants can lean on to replace Saquon Barkley. The backfield certainly could use a spark from either Tracy, the fifth-round rookie, or Gray, especially in a complementary role with Singletary. Watch for Tracy in the passing game. Miller could play his way onto the roster as a returner. He could also land on the PS and be in the mix as a game day elevation.

In: Singletary, Tracy, Gray

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Wide receivers (7)

On the roster: Malik Nabers, Wan’Dale Robinson, Jalin Hyatt, Darius Slayton, Isaiah Hodgins, Allen Robinson, Bryce Ford-Wheaton, Gunner Olszewski, Ayir Asante, Miles Boykin, Dennis Houston, John Jiles, Isaiah McKenzie

Nabers, Robinson, Hyatt and Slayton are locks. Hodgins and Robinson might be duking it out for one spot for a non-special teamer. If healthy, Olszewski proved himself as the punt returner last season and deserves to stick. McKenzie is a Daboll favorite, but could land as one of the vets on PS. Boykin gets the nod over Asante and Ford-Wheaton for now because of his presence as a gunner. Watch for those two young receivers, however.

In: Nabers, Robinson, Hyatt, Slayton, Robinson, Olszewski and Boykin

Tight ends (4)

On the roster: Daniel Bellinger, Chris Manhertz, Lawrence Cager, Jack Stoll, Tyree Jackson

Active/PUP: Theo Johnson

Johnson's time on the PUP list should not be long-term and he's a lock. Bellinger is overlooked because of his lessened workload in the spring, but he should still top the depth chart. Manhertz and Stoll are both accomplished blockers, while Cager will need to follow up on his strong spring to squeeze one of them out.

In: Bellinger, Johnson, Manhertz, Cager

Offensive line (9)

On the roster: (T) Andrew Thomas, Matt Nelson, Joshua Miles, Yodny Cajuste, Marcellus Johnson, , (G/T) Jermaine Eluemunor, Joshua Ezeudu, (C) John Michael Schmitz, Jimmy Morrissey, Austin Schlottmann, (G) Jon Runyan, Aaron Stinnie, Jake Kubas, Jalen Mayfield, Marcus McKethan

Active/PUP: (T) Evan Neal

Greg Van Roten's visit on Monday and Neal landing on PUP on Tuesday certainly puts the offensive line in a different light. The Giants will begin camp with all eyes on Eluemunor to see if he switches from LG to RT, creating an opening that could go to Stinnie or to Runyan with a potential signing of Van Roten to start at RG, where he played well in Las Vegas. If Van Roten does join the Giants, that puts Stinnie's spot up for grabs against a young player like Kubas. Nelson was out for much of the spring, but should be the top option at swing tackle. What happens with Ezeudu and McKethan, third and fifth round draft picks from Schoen's first class, heading into Year 3. Schlottmann and Morrissey will compete for the backup center spot.

In: LT Thomas, LG Stinnie, C Schmitz, RG Runyan, RT Eluemunor, Nelson, Ezeudu, McKethan, Schlottmann

Defensive line (5)

On the roster: Dexter Lawrence, Jordan Phillips, Ryder Anderson, Rakeem Nunez-Roches, Jordon Riley, D.J. Davidson, Casey Rogers, Elijah Chatman, Timmy Horne

Who will win the lottery ticket that potentially comes with playing next to Lawrence? Phillips and Nunez-Roches are the veterans, while Anderson, Riley and Davidson will potentially be competing for two spots all summer. Most likely, this will become a two-way battle between Anderson and Davidson, as Riley stands to be the primary backup to Lawrence at NG.

In: Lawrence, Phillips, Anderson, Nunez-Roches and Riley

Outside linebackers (4)

On the roster: Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Azeez Ojulari, Boogie Basham, Tomon Fox, Ovie Oghoufo, Benton Whitley

How many snaps can the Giants squeeze out of Thibodeaux and Burns? Ojulari's usage will be intriguing. Can he be a pass rush specialist in a sub-package with Burns, Thibodeaux and Lawrence? There is room for an addition here if Basham does not perform early.

In: Burns, Thibodeaux, Ojulari, Basham

Inside linebackers (5)

On the roster: Bobby Okereke, Micah McFadden, Carter Coughlin, Darius Muasau, Darrian Beavers, Dyontae Johnson, Matthew Adams

The Giants don't have much depth here. Adams, Coughlin and Muasau should be core special teamers. If Muasau emerges faster than anticipated, he could push one of the veterans out.

In: Okereke, McFadden, Coughlin, Muasau, Adams

Cornerbacks (6)

On the roster: Tae Banks, Cor'Dale Flott, Dru Phillips, Nick McCloud, Tre Hawkins III, Tre Herndon, Darnay Holmes, Alex Johnson, David Long

Active/PUP: Aaron Robinson

Will the Giants look to bring someone aboard to challenge Flott on the boundary opposite Banks? Phillips should be the Day 1 nickel. McCloud is such a valuable player on special teams and in the secondary. His salary of nearly $3 million could make things interesting late in camp. His performance must match, and it should. Holmes and Herndon are likely competing for one spot. Johnson could steal a spot if he continues to find the football on the back end.

In: Banks, Flott, Phillips, McCloud, Hawkins, Holmes

Non-Football Injury: Stantley Thomas-Oliver

Safeties (5)

On the roster: Jason Pinnock, Tyler Nubin, Dane Belton, Isaiah Simmons, Kaleb Hayes, Elijah Riley, Gervarrius Owens

Non-Football Injury: Jalen Mills

Pinnock and Nubin should be the starters with Belton pushing for time. Simmons will play some big nickel and some linebacker in sub-packages. Riley is a sleeper to push Mills, especially with the latter beginning camp on the sideline with a calf injury.

In: Pinnock, Nubin, Belton, Simmons, Mills

Specialists (3)

On the roster: (K) Graham Gano, (P) Jamie Gillan, (LS) Casey Kreiter, (K) Jude McAtamney

The Giants have to feel good about their specialists with Gano back to full strength. Kreiter is Mr. Reliable. McAtamney is a developmental prospect who won't count against the roster limit as part of the International Pathway Program.

In: Gano, Gillan, Kreiter

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Giants: Projecting the 53-man roster and where things stand as training camp begins