What can we learn from the first depth chart of the regular season?
With Week of the 2024 NFL season let’s take a look at the New York Giants depth chart. What you see in the tables below is what was released by the team, and is considered unofficial. We will go through it, but there are some differences from what we might actually see Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.
There are a few interesting things about the Week 1 offensive depth chart.
- If a backup quarterback is needed, I wonder if it will be Tommy DeVito. Drew Lock (abdomen) still does not seem to be 100%, and has worked very little since being injured in the first preseason game against the Detroit Lions.
- Is Eric Gray really RB2? I suspect not. I think the majority of the work will go to rookie Tyrone Tracy when starter Devin Singletary comes off the field.
- Rookie Theo Johnson is listed as TE2. I am curious to see how the Giants divide tight end snaps between Johnson, Daniel Bellinger, and Chris Manhertz.
- Evan Neal is listed as the backup right tackle. If something were to happen to Jermaine Eluemunor, I think it is possible (maybe even likely) that the Giants would play Joshua Ezeudu in that spot.
- At guard, undrafted rookie free agent Jake Kubas is listed as the backup left guard. If something happens to Jon Runyan Jr., I think Aaron Stinnie is the first guard off the bench.
- If Micah McFadden (groin) can’t play I wonder if the Giants would actually start rookie Darius Muasau, or if they would go in another direction. They don’t have a lot of options there.
- Adoree’ Jackson is listed as a third-team cornerback. We know that’s not the case. It will be surprising if Jackson does not play more snaps than Cor’Dale Flott and Nick McCloud, both listed ahead of him.
- Dane Belton is listed as a starting safety. Between Belton’s back injury and what we saw the last couple of weeks of training camp, I believe rookie Tyler Nubin is going to get the bulk of the playing time at that spot.
- It is noteworthy to see Isaiah Simmons listed as a cornerback. That is where he practices.
- I will be surprised if we see Wan’Dale Robinson or Darius Slayton used on punt or kickoff returns. Jackson is not listed among the punt returners, but if Gunner Olszewski (groin) can’t play, best guess is Jackson gets that role for Week 1. As for kickoff returners, special teams coordinator Michael Ghobrial was cagey this week about who would do that, saying it would be “game-plan specific.” I think Tracy is part of that group. I also wonder if the Giants elevate rookie Dante Miller to be a kickoff returner.
