Let’s assess
It’s DRAFT day and the New York Giants have prepared their roster for the annual event where hopes are high and dreams are made. The Giants signed two veteran quarterbacks in free agency, which lessens the immediate importance of the position in a draft that lacks signal-calling star power.
However, the roster is not quite complete and there are vulnerabilities at specific positions that coincide with this draft’s strengths. Here’s the Giants’ depth chart:
Offense
Projected starters in bold (11 personnel)
Quarterback: Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, Tommy DeVito
Running back: Tyrone Tracy Jr., Devin Singletary, Eric Gray, Dante Miller
Wide receiver: Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, Wan’Dale Robinson, Jaylin Hyatt, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Josh Pascal, Montrell Washington, Bryce Ford-Wheaton
Tight end: Theo Johnson, Chris Manhertz, Daniel Bellinger, Greg Dulcich
Offensive tackle: Andrew Thomas, Jermaine Eluemunor, Stone Forsythe, James Hudson III, Joshua Ezeudu, Evan Neal
Offensive guard: Jon Runyan Jr., Greg Van Roten, Jake Kubas, Aaron Stinnie
Center: John Michael Schmitz, Austin Schlottmann, Jimmy Morrissey, Bryan Hudson
Defense
Projected starters in bold (nickel personnel)
Interior defenisve line: Dexter Lawrence, Rakeem Nunez-Roches, Chauncey Golston, Roy Robertson-Harris, Elijah Chatman, Jeremiah Ledbetter, Cory Durden, Casey Rogers, Elijah Garcia, Ross Blacklock
EDGE: Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Tomon Fox, Victor Dimukeje
Linebacker: Bobby Okereke, Micah McFadden, Chris Board, Dyontae Johnson, Darius Muasau, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Ty Summers
Nickel: Dru Phillips, Cor’Dale Flott, Dee Williams
Cornerback: Paulson Adebo, Tae Banks, Tre Hawkins III, Art Green, Nic Jones
Safety: Jevon Holland, Tyler Nubin, Dane Belton, Anthony Johnson Jr., Raheem Layne
Special Teams
Longsnapper: Casey Kreiter
Kicker: Graham Gano, Jude McAtamney
Punter: Jamie Gillan
Kick returner: Tyrone Tracy Jr., Ihmir Smith-Marsette
Punt returner: Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Tyrone Tracy Jr.
Offensive thoughts
The offense has a solid one-two punch at running back with Tracy Jr. entering his second season and the veteran Devin Singletary, but the position could use more depth and a different rushing style/body type. Tracy Jr. has a solid 209-pound build in a 5’11” frame, with good overall quickness. He averaged a respectible 2.84 yards after contact in his rookie year — his second overall season as a running back — with 34 missed tackles forced.
The 27-year-old Singletary, however, is just 5-foot-7 203 pounds. Neither Tracy Jr., nor Singletary, are power backs, but the 2025 NFL Draft has plenty of backs over 220-pounds; Day 2 backs like Quinshon Judkins (Ohio State) and Kaleb Johnson (Iowa) fit that description, as does Ollie Gordon II (Oklahoma State) and Damien Martinez (Miami) on Day 3 (Martinez is 217 pounds and may not be available for the Giants at pick 105).
Joe Schoen and the Giants have discussed and focused on generating explosive plays over the last few seasons. The upgrade at quarterback should help the offense generate explosive plays, but I would not be surprised to see the Giants target more pass catchers who can assist with this goal. New York had Miami tight end Elijah Arroyo in for a Top-30 visit. I would also not rule out another wide receiver, such as a big-bodied one (Elic Ayomanor, Stanford) or an explosive playmaker (Kyle Williams, Washington State), or a combination of both (Savion Williams, TCU).
The Giants must continually replenish their offensive line if there is value. Eluemunor is a free agent after this season, and there is no long-term solution at right guard. Additionally, John Michael Schmitz has underwhelmed in his two professional years. The more competent talent, the better.
Then there is the quarterback position. The Giants will likely have a chance to select Colorado signal caller Shedeur Sanders with the third overall pick. I am not an advocate of this strategy, given the potential presence of either Travis Hunter (Colorado) or Abdul Carter (Penn State) on the board at the time. If I believed in Sanders’ upside and skill-set more, that would be a different story, but I don’t view Sanders as a drastically better quarterback than some of the other signal callers in this very weak quarterback class.
I wouldn’t be shocked, though, to see the Giants trade back up in the first round to select a Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss) or a Jalen Milroe (Alabama) or New York could sit tight at Pick 34 and make that selection as well. It’s a weak quarterback class, but if Brian Daboll and the Giants have a genuine conviction in a player, it behooves them to make that selection at any point in the draft.
Defensive thoughts
The defensive line consists of 10 players, including Golston, who is also an EDGE. That is a lot of men and plenty of options for Andre Patterson and Shane Bowen. Still, the Giants lack a true starting-caliber defensive lineman in base and/or running downs, opposite of Dexter Lawrence.
This draft is DEEP at defensive tackle, with quick gap shooters and two-gapping fire-hydrants throughout. New York could use either style of defensive lineman, but they must figure out a way to fix their run defense and make the linebackers’ job a little less strenuous, especially if Bowen wants to run more two-read coverage. However, Jevon Holland’s presence will likely improve the run defense from two-high shells.
The Giants sent their linebacker coach — John Egorugwu — to UCLA for a private workout with Carson Schwesinger. The 22-year-old linebacker was a personal favorite of mine, but would likely have to be selected early in the second round. It’s rich given the Giants other needs, but long-term linebacker is a sneaky one for New York. The Giants can get out of Okereke’s contract after this season with $8.95-million savings and a dead cap of $5.4-million. Plus, Micah McFadden is a free agent at the end of the year. New York did select Darius Muasau out of UCLA last year on Day 3; Kain Medrano, a UCLA linebacker, may also interest the Giants on Day 3.
New York added Paulson Adebo in free agency to be the number one cornerback opposite former first-round pick Tae Banks. Flott is a free agent at the end of the year and is an adequate backup behind Banks, Adebo, and Phillips as the nickel. However, behind Flott, there’s little proven talent at cornerback. The Giants may look to add another cornerback if one they love falls in the draft.
Holland was a quality addition one year after Xavier McKinney walked out the door. The former Miami Dolphin will join Tyler Nubin in his second season to form a quality tandem on the backend of the defense. There is certainly room for a third safety behind Holland and Nubin. Belton is in a contract year and only earns snaps in sub-packages. Bowen has historically had excellent safeties to rely on. The Giants did have Andrew Mukuba (Texas) and Jaylen Reed (Penn State) in for Top-30 visits.
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