Which training camp battle is the biggest?
Football is back!
Well, almost back. We still have a few more days before the pads go on and things really look like football, but close enough.
We’ll watch the 2025 New York Giants take shape over the coming month. Part of that will be integrating new pieces into the final 53-man roster with free agents and rookies. Another will be realizing the visions for the offense and defense and implementing changes to the schemes.
And while the Giants’ roster isn’t terribly unsettled, there will also be some camp battles to be fought to decide some starting jobs. We want to know which of the biggest battles you’re looking forward to watching play out the most.
Offensive guard – Greg Van Roten vs. Evan Neal
Neal will be transitioning from tackle to guard, and trying to win a starting job to prove that he’s worth a second contract. Van Roten, meanwhile, is a well-travelled veteran who was a late addition to the team a year ago. In fact, it was Neal’s setback in his recovery from ankle surgery that opened the door for Van Roten to become a Giant.
four of the Giants’ five offensive line spots are secured with Andrew Thomas and Jermaine Eluemunor at tackle, John Michael Schmitz at center, and Jon Runyan Jr. at guard.
Van Roten brings experience and familiarity, while Neal is much younger and has significantly more physical upside.
The final guard spot — whether that’s left or right guard — will be determined by this battle.
Cornerback – Deonte Banks vs. Cor’Dale Flott
It was a surprise when Flott started taking reps with the starters at outside corner in the spring. Banks is, as far as we know, healthy and is expected to be one of the Giants two starting corners.
The Giants traded up to draft him in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and Banks has prototypical traits for a starting corner at the NFL level. Teams generally give every opportunity to players with that level of investment as well as upside.
Flott improved significantly over the last two seasons, and got a significant amount of starting reps thanks to injury last year. He’s also a versatile player who can cover the slot as well as the outside.
Banks has Flott beat in terms of raw physical traits. He has the size and speed to match up with just about any receiver in the NFL, where Flott’s slight frame can give him trouble against bigger, more physical receivers. But while Banks is very good at forcing tight window throws, he’s struggled at the catch point and has tended to give up tight window completions.
Is this a true competition, or are the Giants simply rewarding Flott while also giving him reps against starters as their primary depth at two positions?
Wide receiver – Darius Slayton vs. Jalin Hyatt
Of the camp battles, this is the one that’s most likely to produce fireworks and highlight reel plays.
Slayton has been one of the Giants’ primary options at wide receiver since he was drafted back in 2019. The fifth round pick out of Auburn created an immediate rapport with Daniel Jones, and his deep speed (4.38 second 40 time) made him the Giants’ only truly consistent deep threat for several years.
Hyatt is another speed merchant and was drafted in the third round of the 2023 draft to add another deep threat to the offense. The more aggressive philosophy never really took hold on the Giants’ offense and Hyatt has largely been relegated to running vertical clear-outs for concepts attacking the short area of the field.
The Giants’ acquisition of Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, and Jaxson Dart all suggest a desire to attack deep, which could raise the profile of both Slayton and Hyatt.
So will Slayton’s experience and superior size win out? Or will Hyatt’s efforts to add mass and convince the coaching staff to move him around the formation pay off?
Defensive tackle – Rakeem Nunez-Roches vs. Darius Alexander
This is one of the higher-stakes battles in camp. Nunez-Roches (I’ll use his nickname “Nacho” from here on out) has been the starter next to Dexter Lawrence and is still an adequate player. However, the Giants are not only very excited about Darius Alexander, Nacho carries a $5 million cap hit, and the team could save $3.6 million by cutting him.
Nacho is a 10-year veteran and on the wrong side of 30, so the job should eventually be Alexander’s — whether it happens this year or next. This battle is more about holding off Alexander and making the rookie earn it, as well as potentially extending Nacho’s career.
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