EAST RUTHERFORD - The regular season is, for all intents and purposes, upon us.
Everything counts now as the New York Giants prepare for the third season under coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen. Here's our final roster projection in advance of Tuesday's league-mandated roster cutdown to 53 players.
There is always some wiggle room in terms of placing players on short-term injured reserve later this week - two players can be designated for IR-return immediately in a rule change this year - with the possibility that veterans not subject to waivers can be released with the promise of re-signing when the numbers' game plays itself out.
There is also the case of the waiver wire, on which the Giants have sixth priority and are expected to seek upgrades at several positions beginning Wednesday.
Quarterbacks (3)
On the roster: Daniel Jones, Drew Lock, Tommy DeVito
This has been the quarterback group barring injury. Lock will be QB2 and DeVito will be QB3. There's too much value in having groomed DeVito to be in this system to keep just two quarterbacks. He is going to be on the 53-man roster.
In: Jones, Lock, DeVito
Changes from last week's projection: None
Running backs (3)
On the roster: Devin Singletary, Tyrone Tracy, Eric Gray, Dante Miller
I'm torn here. Singletary, Tracy and Gray are on. Miller deserves consideration, but he does not have a ton of tape out there, so might not be as big of a risk to expose him to waivers as initially thought.
In: Singletary, Tracy, Gray
Changes from last week: Miller out, hoping to get him back for the practice squad
Wide receivers (6)
On the roster: Malik Nabers, Wan’Dale Robinson, Jalin Hyatt, Darius Slayton, Isaiah Hodgins, Allen Robinson, Bryce Ford-Wheaton, Gunner Olszewski, Miles Boykin, Isaiah McKenzie
Nabers, Wan'Dale, Hyatt and Slayton are locks. The only way that changes is if another team comes calling with a Godfather offer for Slayton. Boykin is essentially a special teams-only player. Olszewski's groin injury will have him up against it in order to be ready for Week 1, but McKenzie had a bad night in the preseason finale, muffing his second punt of the summer in addition to spraining his right foot. Isaiah Hodgins and Allen Robinson could be competing for a spot, but I think one can land on the PS.
In: Nabers, W. Robinson, Hyatt, Slayton, Olszewski and Boykin
Changes from last week: Olszewski in, McKenzie out
Tight ends (4)
On the roster: Daniel Bellinger, Theo Johnson, Chris Manhertz, Lawrence Cager, Jack Stoll, Jakob Johnson
Theo Johnson and Manhertz are putting the squeeze on Bellinger in terms of playing time and usage. That's why the signing of Jakob Johnson, who is truly a fullback, also puts pressure on Bellinger. I think the Giants will like the idea of having Jakob in the fold given his connection to Carm Bricillo. Jakob has also been a core special teamer in his career. Cager getting injured again really hurts his chances.
In: Bellinger, Theo Johnson, Manhertz, Jakob Johnson
Changes from last week: None
Offensive line (9)
On the roster: (T) Andrew Thomas, Jermaine Eluemunor, Evan Neal, Matt Nelson, Joshua Miles, Marcellus Johnson, (G/T) Joshua Ezeudu, (C) John Michael Schmitz, Jimmy Morrissey, Austin Schlottmann, (G) Jon Runyan, Greg Van Roten, Aaron Stinnie, Jake Kubas, Jalen Mayfield
Scans came back clean on Schmitz and Neal, two individuals with knowledge told NorthJersey.com. The true battle is whether this unit can avoid injuries. Ezeudu and Neal are likely competing to be the swing tackle for the moment. But watch for Tyre Phillips, who is a free agent, to emerge as a possibility to sign as he gets healthy from the torn quad he suffered as a Giant late last season. Do the Giants keep Schlottmann on the 53, or assume in a game situation, if JMS can't play, Van Roten would shift to C and Stinnie would step up. Maybe Schlottmann signs with the PS. Kubas would be a developmental prospect I don't want to expose to waivers.
In: LT Thomas, LG Runyan, C Schmitz, RG Van Roten, RT Eluemunor, Stinnie, Neal, Kubas, Ezeudu
Changes from last week: Schlottmann out
Defensive line (5)
On the roster: Dexter Lawrence, Rakeem Nunez-Roches, Jordon Riley, D.J. Davidson, Casey Rogers, Elijah Chatman
Riley is best suited as the backup NG to Lawrence, who is going to play a ton of snaps. Chatman has earned a spot as a rookie camp tryout. His best fit is in pass rush situations lining up next to Lawrence. I need to see more from Davidson this week, and he could be at risk of a waiver claim. Rogers, another UDFA rookie, has flashed and is someone they should bring back to PS to keep developing.
In: Lawrence, Nunez-Roches, Chatman, Riley and Davidson
Changes from last week: None
Outside linebackers (4)
On the roster: Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Azeez Ojulari, Boogie Basham, Tomon Fox, Ovie Oghoufo, Benton Whitley
Burns and Thibodeaux are rarely going to come off the field. Ojulari could be a trade chip if the right offer comes along. Basham has had a role this summer, but Whitley is a darkhorse here. He has played well in the preseason games and has the potential of being a core special teamer. Keep an eye on this one, in addition to possible waiver claims to improve the depth here. The Titans could part ways with either Caleb Murphy or Rashad Weaver, and given their history with DC Shane Bowen, I could see a potential reunion.
In: Burns, Thibodeaux, Ojulari, Whitley
Changes from last week: Basham out, Whitley in
Inside linebackers (6)
On the roster: Bobby Okereke, Micah McFadden, Carter Coughlin, Darius Muasau, Darrian Beavers, Dyontae Johnson, Matthew Adams, K.J. Cloyd
Dyontae Johnson really missed an opportunity to cement his spot due to the ankle injury that has him sidelined, especially with Micah McFadden also down with a groin injury. Muasau had some good snaps against the Texans. Coughlin (quad) should be back on the field this week. Adams was injured against the Texans and his status is TBD. There could be a lot of changes at this position over the coming week or so.
In: Okereke, McFadden, Johnson, Muasau, Adams, Coughlin
Changes from last week: Coughlin in
Cornerbacks (6)
On the roster: Tae Banks, Cor'Dale Flott, Dru Phillips, Nick McCloud, Tre Hawkins III, Tre Herndon, Darnay Holmes, David Long, Mario Goodrich, Isaiah Simmons
Flott (quad) should return to the field this week. The competition with McCloud for the CB2 spot opposite Banks could pick back up, and they'll both have to fight the possibility of a waiver claim or a free agent signing at the position. Phillips is the best option at nickel and he should be back full. The Giants really need him. Hawkins is on, but he's fighting to stave off any potential newcomers.
In: Banks, Flott, Phillips, McCloud, Hawkins, Simmons
Changes from last week: None
Safeties (4)
On the roster: Jason Pinnock, Tyler Nubin, Dane Belton, Isaiah Simmons, Gervarrius Owens, Raheem Layne, Alex Johnson
Nubin is making his move to take the starting job from Belton, but those two plus Pinnock will be on the field a lot together. The fourth spot is there for Owens to claim, but he has not been on the field the last two weeks due to a knee injury. Johnson has made plays as an undrafted rookie, so he'd be a solid add to the practice squad. This could be a spot for a waiver claim.
In: Pinnock, Nubin, Belton, Owens
Changes from last week: None
Specialists (3)
On the roster: (K) Graham Gano, (P) Jamie Gillan, (LS) Casey Kreiter, (K) Jude McAtamney
With the new kickoff rules, more pressure is going to be placed on Gano to get involved in tackling and being a true last line of defense. Do the Giants want to risk their highly valued kicker getting hurt? The teams that can find someone else to do kickoffs might find an unexpected edge. McAtamney, the Rutgers product, booted two field goals against the Jets. He should wind up on the practice squad and continue to develop as an International Pathway Program exemption.
In: Gano, Gillan, Kreiter
Changes from last week: None
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Giants: Here's our final 53-man roster projection prior to Tuesday's cut deadline
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