'Longshot' undrafted rookie Elijah Chatman playing his way onto Giants' roster

The New York Giants have a slew of defensive linemen in camp this summer, perhaps the best bunch they’ve had in years.

There is a dark horse among the group that could just happen to sneak onto the roster — an undrafted free agent rookie out of SMU by the name of Elijah Chatman.

The Giants signed Chatman in May after a tryout at rookie camp. He has been impressing ever since.

Chatman shone in the Giants’ 14-3 preseason win against the Detroit Lions last Thursday night, leading the team in quarterback pressures in the game.

“He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do,” head coach Brian Daboll told reporters on Monday. “Again, he’s a smaller guy, but he’s got some length in his arms. He’s got some explosiveness and quick twitch, maybe a little bit different than some of the bigger guys. I think he’s developed since he’s been here. He had that tryout. I wouldn’t say it’s unusual, but it’s hard to do. So, he’s earned some more playing time.

“We’re going to give it to him and try to see him against as good a competition as we can so we can get a good evaluation. Give him some reps against the first team, whether it’s our team or Houston, so we can get a fair evaluation of him.”

Chatman is just six feet tall and weighs 278 pounds (we know, Aaron Donald wasn’t much bigger, if at all) but possesses great strength. In fact, defensive line coach Andre Patterson believes Chatman could be the strongest player on the Giants.

Chatman has plenty of experience under his belt, having played in 60 games at SMU, where he was a two-time All-AAC selection. Daboll was asked what attracted the Giants to such an obscure player who doesn’t “fit the mold” of the position he plays.

“You always want big, fast, long, strong people. That’s what this league is,” said Daboll. “But he was a talented player in college, too, when you went back and watched him. But sometimes that’s a tougher jump to make when you lack a little bit of height or size or length or quickness. But you can find good football players anywhere, and he’s done a nice job since he’s been here.”

Chatman is not going to displace Dexter Lawrence or Rakeem Nunez-Roches but he can certainly challenge the other defensive lineman on the team for a spot.

The Giants had a feeling that Chatman would make for a tough roster decision and here he is doing just that. At the very least, he’ll be a practice squadder. At the most, he’ll be one of those hidden gems they’ll talk about for years, like Victor Cruz.