Stock up, stock down from Giants' preseason win over Lions

The New York Giants endured the elements en route to a 14-3 win over the Detroit Lions in the preseason opener Thursday night.

As the remnants of Hurricane Debby swept up the East Coast, it wasn't long before MetLife Stadium was blanketed with constant rain. It led to some sloppy play on both sides of the ball and from both sidelines.

The preseason games might be the biggest factor in determining a player's stock throughout the process of cutting the roster down. A strong game can elevate a player's status while a poor outing can crush his chances of making the team.

It's a fluid process, though. One week, a player's stock might be trending a certain way, and another week it can go in the opposite direction.

With the preseason opener now behind them, let's look at the stock report for the Giants:

Giants' stock report following preseason opener

Stock Up: Running Backs

The post-Saquon Barkley era got off to a hot start, and it's clear the competition in the backfield behind Devin Singletary is just heating up. The trio of Eric Gray, Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Dante Miller put on a show, combining for 21 carries for 141 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns while adding six receptions for 53 receiving yards.

Gray was the standout from the group. He ripped off a 48-yard touchdown run with a nasty cut inside on a second-level defender and then punched in a goal-line touchdown — both scores came in the second quarter. He also added four receptions for 46 yards.

Stock Down: QB Drew Lock

It was a pretty rough night all around for Lock. He got the start with Daniel Jones and most of the starters sitting, but he didn't look particularly comfortable from the jump. He was constantly under pressure from Detroit's defensive front, completing 4-of-10 passes for 17 yards and an interception. The turnover was a poor decision forced into a non-existent window.

Lock also exited the game early with a hip injury , though, both general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll didn't appear to have any concerns. Schoen said Lock could have returned if needed.

Stock Up: QB Tommy DeVito

It's unlikely DeVito usurps Lock for the backup role without an injury, but that doesn't mean the second-year quarterback can't put on a good show. His final line of 8-for-15 for 92 yards isn't stellar, but DeVito looked far more comfortable running the offense than Lock did. Granted, it was against third-stringers, and DeVito has an entire season in this offense under his belt.

But we should discount the Livingston native for that. The Giants very well may need to keep DeVito on the roster because there are plenty of teams who could use serviceable depth.

Stock Down: LT Josh Ezeudu

There's just no way around it. The experiment with Ezeudu at offensive tackle simply isn't working out. It doesn't seem likely the Giants will move him inside considering the veteran depth they've built up there throughout the offseason and training camp, but Ezeudu is nowhere close to being a viable swing tackle.

The former third-round pick was mostly responsible for one sack — he got some help from Drew Lock fleeing the pocket early. The Giants have put themselves in a bit of a bind with Ezeudu because they're not doing him any favors forcing him into a role he's clearly struggling with.

Stock Up: EDGE Boogie Basham

The Giants defense totaled four sacks and five quarterback hits on the night. Basham got in on the party with a sack of his own and a tackle for loss. He also added two batted passes at the line of scrimmage. It was a big night for the former second-round pick.

With Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Burns set to lead the edge rushers, Basham has a chance to carve out a solid rotational role alongside Azeez Ojulari, both of which are entering the final year of their rookie contracts.

Stock Down: EDGE Azeez Ojulari

In what is a crucial year for Ojulari, it didn't get off to a hot start. He was involved early with a pair of tackles, but then it seemed he was taken out of the game. The bad part is he wasn't. Ojulari played 35 snaps (50%), most of which were with the starters during the first half.

The Giants need to have viable depth behind Thibodeaux and Burns. Ojulari has flashed upside during his career, but injuries have kept him from being a consistent piece in the front seven. He'll be looking to bounce back next week against the Houston Texans.

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