Which one has a better chance of being correct?
Projections of what the New York Giants’ 53-man roster might look like are standard fare at this time of year, with spring practices concluded and a break of several weeks before the beginning of training camp.
I did one recently. If you haven’t read it, well, get to it. Patricia Traina of Giants on SI also did one.
If you have followed Big Blue View for any length of time you know that Traina and I are friends, that we were long-time podcast co-hosts, that we still swap appearances on each other’s shows, and that when it comes to the Giants we manage to agree a high percentage of the time.
As such, it is no surprise that her 53-man projection and mine are eerily similar, with differences mostly in places where I admitted things could turn out differently in September than I projected in late June.
I thought it might be fun to compare some of the places where Traina and I differ, and offer some of my thoughts.
Eric Gray vs. Thomas Fidone
This is the major difference between Traina’s predictions on the offensive side of the ball and mine. Patty has Gray making the roster as a fourth running back. I have three running backs (Tyrone Tracy, Cam Skattebo, Devin Singletary) with a fourth tight end making the roster in Fidone. Patty keeps only three tight ends (Theo Johnson, Daniel Bellinger, Chris Manhertz).
Here’s why Patty kept Gray:
The wild card in this mix is Skattebo, not because I don’t think he makes the roster, but because he didn’t practice all that much during the spring, which puts him behind the curve.
For that reason, I’m projecting that four running backs will be kept, at least until we gain clarity on what Skattebo has been dealing with and if it will keep him out of practice when the team starts up again next month.
Here’s why she hopes to get Fidone through waivers to the practice squad:
I have Fidone going to the practice squad so he can work on polishing up his game and adding some bulk to better hold up in line. But, like running backs, there is a question about Chris Manhertz, who didn’t work much this past spring.
If Manhertz is ready to roll, then I think you have to consider the future of this position in terms of who the team keeps and who it does not. The Giants will probably have two openings at tight end next year if they move on from Daniel Bellinger and Manhertz, so I think Fidone is more for the 2026 roster than he is for this year.
I get the debate about Fidone, and I agree that he was drafted with 2026 (when Bellinger can be a free agent and Manhertz might not be re-signed) than for 2025. In my post-draft 53-man roster projection, I also had Fidone going to the practice squad. So, yes, I am on the fence as to whether or not the rookie seventh-round pick makes the roster.
What I do not get is keeping Gray.
Yes, Gray can return kickoffs and punts. But, he’s not good at either and his overall ball security (6 fumbles in 79 career touches) is highly questionable. He’s an OK receiver, but has a 2.5 yards per carry average on 31 rushes in two seasons.
I get the caution about Skattebo, but to me it seems like there has to be a better way to use a roster spot than holding on to Gray. Pass him through waivers, get him to the practice squad and make him a game day elevation if need be.
The seventh wide receiver
Patty and I agree that the Giants will keep seven wide receivers, and the seventh will be one of the impressive undrafted free agent rookies currently on the 90-man roster.
Her choice?
Da’Quan Felton.
Patty writes:
The wild card is the seventh receiver. I have Da’Quan Felton slotted in as the seventh guy, but to be honest, this is way too close to call right now. I picked Felton because I thought he had the most consistent spring out of all the practices the media was allowed to attend.
My choice was Dalen Cambre. I wrote:
I am on record as having said an undrafted free agent rookie receiver will make the roster. Right now, it is a coin flip for me between Cambre, Felton and Collins. Even though spring production in shorts and t-shirts doesn’t mean much, right now I am going with Cambre because of his spring performance. I was shocked by his play as a receiver this spring after getting just 10 receptions in his college career. He is a special-teamer first, and we haven’t seen him do that yet.
I disagree with Patty that Felton had the most consistent spring. He made a couple of highlight reel catches, and his 6-foot-5, 216-pound frame is attractive. Cambre was the UDFA receiver I kept gravitating to.
We both agree, though, that Cambre, Felton, Beaux Collins, and Juice Wells all have a shot at this roster spot.
Dyontae Johnson vs. Korie Black
Believe it or not, this is our only disagreement on the defensive side of the ball. I told you, Traina and I often see things in similar fashion.
Should the Giants keep Johnson, an athletic young linebacker who played in only two games last season after injuring an ankle during an otherwise impressive preseason as a fifth inside linebacker? Or, should they keep Black, a seventh-round pick, as a sixth cornerback?
Patty opted for Johnson. I grudgingly cut Johnson after keeping him in my post-draft projection and kept Black.
Patty writes:
I kept Johnson as the fifth option for now because I thought he showed promise last year before suffering his ankle injury. Also, I’m more than mildly curious about what’s going on with Bobby Okereke and why they suddenly held him out of practices toward the latter part of the spring.
I would agree that backing off Okereke, who had a herniated disc in his back last season, was curious.
One of the reasons, probably the only one, I cut Johnson is the reality that Abdul Carter is going to be frequently used in that spot. I never really considered cutting Black, although doing so is hardly outlandish.
Anyway, that’s how our end of spring practices rosters compare. Whose makes more sense, Giants fans?
