NY Giants' bubble busters: These players have made strong roster pushes at start of camp

EAST RUTHERFORD - Brian Daboll was certainly ready to swat away any questions that may have veered toward the regular season and expectations for the New York Giants.

Should Big Blue be expected to compete with the Eagles and the Cowboys, and dare we say the rest of the contenders in the NFC as Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen continue the quest to rebuild the franchise entering Year 3?

If Daboll feels a certain way, or if Giants ownership has offered up specific targets on that front, the head coach was not about to put that out there prior to his team taking the field for its first practice of the summer.

"Yeah, I'll just fall back to it - it's first day of training camp," Daboll said. "Get out there on the grass and start competing."

That was a mission statement for his players, given the fact that, before too long, roster decisions will be made, jobs will be won and lost and the games - sooner rather than later - will start counting for good.

The Giants are through three practices and, after their off day Saturday, will resume camp Sunday morning.

In the meantime, there's no question a handful of players have taken a step forward in trying to separate from the rest of the pack when competing for a place on the 2024 team. Here's a look the bubble busters, those who have come out strong and positioned themselves already as candidates to watch in an early push for roster spots:

Nick McCloud, DB

This one should not come as a total shock: McCloud tends to deliver every time he gets the opportunity. The real issue: why hasn't the 26-year-old former Notre Damer been able to lock himself into a position? So far, McCloud has gotten looks at nickel corner in the slot and in the Giants' "Money" position, which is a linebacker spot next to Bobby Okereke in sub-packages. He had a spirited back-and-forth with Wan'Dale Robinson on Day 2, showing his toughness. Then, the following day, McCloud moved out to the boundary some with Tae Banks' workload lessened early in camp.

I had McCloud making the team in my pre-camp roster projection, as he should, but any praise for his play usually comes with the phrase "special teams standout." That's true, but maybe we need to view McCloud as a player who needs to be valued on defense, too. An important piece of this: McCloud is on a $2.9 million non-guaranteed tender as a restricted free agent, so he also must play to the level of that contract to avoid any talks about pay cuts prior to the year.

Chris Manhertz, TE

At 6-foot-6 and 235 pounds, Manhertz is a tight end who could be confused more by someone without a roster for an offensive tackle rather than a wide receiver. He packs a punch in his play, too, and that's a quality that sets him apart in a crowded tight end room. Lawrence Cager has flashed with rookie Theo Johnson on the PUP list with a hip flexor, although Johnson looked like he's on the verge of being activated with the way he moved on a side field Friday.

But Manhertz offers a presence that a team desperate for protection up front and purposeful blocking needs. The Giants have not had a tight end who can block as fierce as Manhertz since Martellus Bennett in 2012, and he should stand out even more when the pads go on this week.

Dante Miller, RB

Not sure Miller had to validate his nickname of "Turbo" - but, yeah, consider it validated. The undrafted rookie has been pegged as a kickoff return option since he signed with the Giants thanks to an NCAA loophole that made him a free agent prior to the 2024 NFL Draft.

But on Friday, Miller showed just how his quickness - he was clocked as low as 4.27 at South Carolina's Pro Day - can be impossible to defend. He ran a wheel route and ran away from rookie linebacker Darius Muasau, hauling in a long touchdown - his second of Day 3 - from Drew Lock. Can Miller become a factor in the backfield to truly add substance to his challenge for a spot? It's going to be fun to watch.

Dyontae Johnson, ILB

The Giants are trying to find the right fits next to Bobby Okereke, and that's not to slight Micah McFadden in any way. He just might not profile as the most ideal inside linebacker for all three downs in Shane Bowen's defense. So it was noticeable on Day 1 when Johnson was working with the first-team defense. He's been on the practice squad and, with the Giants considering their depth at the position, Johnson took a step forward and should be in line for more opportunities.

Bryce Ford-Wheaton, WR

A fan favorite who impressed last summer as a UDFA rookie, Ford-Wheaton had his roster bid evaporate when he tore his ACL. It was a tough blow for a promising player whose combination of size (6-foot-3, 220 pounds) and speed jumps off the page and the field.

Ford-Wheaton has to excel on special teams in order to have a legitimate chance, and he's involved in all the coverage teams. He's also quietly winning in 1-on-1 drills and making plays with the second and third teams. Keep an eye on the former West Virginia Mountaineer once again.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Giants' bubble busters: These players have made strong roster pushes at start of camp