The New York Giants, along with the rest of the NFL, have set their initial 53-man rosters. Now comes the effort to use the waiver wire and free agency to upgrade what teams are starting with.
Most players released have the opportunity to latch on to their respective franchises’ practice squad. Each team is allowed 16 practice squad players. However, waiving a player subjects him to opportunity; if an NFL team values a waived player, they can claim him onto their 53-man roster. Players can also opt to join another team’s practice squad if there’s mutual interest.
The Giants currently hold the third waiver priority, meaning only the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns can claim a waived player before them. That’s, of course, if the Giants claim a waived player.
Joe Schoen and his staff were active at this time of year in 2022. They claimed Jason Pinnock, Nick McCloud, Justin Layne, and Jack Anderson. New York did not claim anyone in 2023 and claimed safety Anthony Johnson Jr. from the Green Bay Packers in 2024.
The Giants’ Pro Scouting Department will have a busy 24 hours to contemplate spending the third waiver priority on any of the players released. Primary positions to target are wide receiver, cornerback, and defensive line, but the Giants should not be shy to upgrade other positions if the right player is waived.
Also noteworthy, only players released with less than four years of NFL experience are subject to waivers; other players that are released will become free agents, and the Giants would not have to burn their waiver priority spot. Here are some players to consider:
DT Phidarian Mathis, Jets
The Giants received an up-close and personal look at Mathis through two joint practices and a preseason game. Mathis was involved in a fight with Giants’ guard Aaron Stinnie at the end of the first joint practice. The 27-year-old former Crimson Tide gap specialist was a 2022 second-round pick by the Washington Commanders. He suffered a knee injury in his rookie season and returned in 2023 to play in 12 games, totaling 25 tackles and seven pressures.
Washington waived Mathis in December of last season, and the Jets claimed him. The Jets traded for Harrison Philips last week, making Mathis’ presence on the roster expendable. This would be a low-upside depth signing to help fortify the run defense of the unit.
DL DeMarvin Leal, Steelers
The release of Leal comes as a surprise, given that the Steelers’ first-round pick, Derrick Harmon, suffered a knee injury. Still, the Texas A&M 2022 third-round pick never scratched his potential since entering the league. He appeared in 28 regular-season games over three seasons with the Steelers, starting six. His career stats include 33 total tackles (18 solo), one sack, three tackles for loss, three quarterback hits, and four pass deflections. The Giants could use help on their defensive front — more so from a bigger body than the 6-foot-4, 390-pound Leal — but he is still a young player who was productive in college, who could interest New York.
Muma only started seven games in his career with Jacksonville, after the franchise selected him 70th overall in 2022, two rounds after their second first-round selection, linebacker Devin Lloyd. Muma recorded 94 tackles (58 solo), with 1.5 sacks and three passes defended in his career. Muma is a big-bodied (6-2, 239 pounds) linebacker with a 95th percentile broad jump and a 94th percentile vertical; he also ran a 4.63 40-yard dash at that weight.
His career is off to a slow start, and a change of scenery may benefit the former Wyoming star. By many accounts, Muma had a solid preseason, and he clocked just under 19 MPH on GPS tracking. Linebacker is not the Giants’ most significant need, but I see value here in the 26-year-old.
CB Jalyn Armour-Davis, Ravens
Baltimore surprisingly released the 2022 fourth-round selection out of Alabama. Armour-Davis has been recognized for his intelligence on the field. Ravens linebackers coach Zach Orr described him as “one of the smartest DBs, if not the smartest,” noting his versatility and ability to play both cornerback and safety. This adaptability has been particularly beneficial for the Ravens’ secondary, especially in light of injuries to other defensive backs.
The Ravens have a deep secondary, and Armour-Davis has only started three games in his career, but the 6-1, 200-pound, 25-year-old had an active preseason.
OG Kenyon Green, Eagles
Howie Roseman and the Philadelphia Eagles traded CJ Gardner-Johnson and a sixth-round pick to Houston for the former first-round pick. Green spent this off-season with the Eagles and renowned offensive line coach, Jeff Stoutland. However, the 24-year-old, who was drafted 15th overall by the Texans in 2022, was waived by the Eagles on Monday.
Green is 6-4, 323 pounds, and is known for his ability to generate push in the run game. He has significantly struggled in pass protection, allowing 47 pressures and four sacks in 2022 as a rookie. He missed the entire 2023 season with a shoulder injury. His 2024 campaign was an issue as well; he graded 132nd out of 136 guards in 2024 by Pro Football Focus. Some teams may still want to take a shot on the talent and upside — I don’t know if the Giants will entertain that idea.
Center, Ricky Stromberg, Bears
Ricky Stromberg entered the NFL with a standout collegiate résumé, including top-level blocking awards and consistent play at Arkansas. His rookie year was derailed by a knee injury, limiting him to just four games. The Giants wouldn’t likely have to use the waiver priority on a player who has done little in his professional career, despite his solid college pedigree. Stromberg is just 24 years old, though, and was a third-round pick in 2023. New York could use depth behind center John Michael Schmitz.
RB Audric Estime, Broncos
Jordan Schultz reported that the former Golden Domer was waived by the Denver Broncos — a team that signed J.K. Dobbins and added R.J. Harvey in the second round of the draft. The St. Joseph’s product averaged 5.9 yards per carry in his final season at Notre Dame, and the Broncos spent the 147th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on his talents. Estime rushed for 4.1 yards per carry with two touchdowns (76 rushes for 310 yards) with five catches for 27 yards last season.
Saying Sean Payton is a particular coach would be an understatement. Payton used a heavy rotation last year with the Broncos, and Estime was rendered inactive for the team’s wild-card playoff game. Estime was talented and physical for three seasons at Notre Dame. He’s only 21 years old! The Giants drafted Cam Skattebo in the fourth round and have Tyron Tracy Jr., as well as Devin Singletary and an explosive Dante “Turbo” Miller on the roster.
Still, Estime’s talents may be difficult not to contemplate seriously. ESPN’s Jordan Raanan also stated, on a podcast with Bobby Skinner, that he heard the Giants are interested in running backs. If that’s the case, Estime’s a name to watch.
RB Damien Martinez, Seahawks
I was a big Martinez fan at Miami. The former Hurricane slipped to the 7th round and ended up in a running back room with Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet. The rookie rushed for just 3.5 yards per carry on 24 attempts (84 yards) with one touchdown in the preseason. He caught all six of his targets for 43 yards. Martinez is just 21 years old and is 232 pounds at six feet tall. Here’s my report from the predraft process:
Damien Martinez is a physical downhill runner with an excellent combination of size, short-area quickness, and nimble feet to make defenders miss in the box. He also possesses excellent spatial awareness to maximize blocks in space. Martinez has excellent vision and patience behind the line of scrimmage, and he possesses varying tempo speeds with a quick downhill trigger. As a runner, Martinez can move the pile and displays high levels of toughness and physicality.
He lacks deep speed and an expanded receiving profile – and his ability in pass protection can be ironed out, albeit it’s solid – but overall, Martinez is a young rushing option with a firm understanding of the position’s nuance with the size and makeup to be a three-down back. With that said, Martinez is an excellent option, and a compliment for Tyrone Tracy Jr., for the New York Giants to target on day three of the draft.
WR Matt Landers, Titans
Landers went undrafted in 2023 after posting 1,547 yards on 79 catches with 14 touchdowns across 50 college games at Arkansas; 901 of those receiving yards and eight of those touchdowns were in his 2022 season. Landers ran a quick 4.37 40-yard dash at 6-4, 200 pounds during the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine.
Landers hasn’t done enough to warrant a waiver claim in my opinion. Since entering the league, he’s bounced around practice squads: Seahawks, Panthers, Browns, Patriots, and Titans. Still, he fits a size/speed mold that should interest the Giants.
Not subject to waivers
SAF Mike Edwards, Chiefs
The Giants parted ways with safeties Raheem Layne and Makari Paige. Edwards, isn’t subject to waivers — he’s a vested veteran.
Edwards is a proven safety with two Super Bowl rings who brings savvy, versatility, and a knack for creating turnovers. The Kansas City Chiefs signed him to a one-year contract after his second stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He spent much of 2024 jumping around on practice squads (Buccaneers, Bills, and Titans). The 29-year-old would offer a different skill set and quality experience to the Giants’ safety room.
LB Jamin Davis, Jets
Another former Commander turned Jet that was recently waived. Davis had an impressive tackle at the goal line against Tyrone Tracy Jr. in preseason Week 2. I am a bit surprised to see him released. The former first-round pick never lived up to his pedigree, but is just a 26-year-old with elite size (6-4, 234 pounds). I watched the Jets vs. Packers preseason game in Week 1, and he made several quality plays there, too. The Jets are reportedly high on Kiko Mauigoa, who secured a roster spot over the veteran.
Davis started 36 of 50 games with the Commanders, totaling 287 tackles, eight sacks, two forced fumbles, and six pass deflections. Davis is known for his athleticism.
The Giants aren’t weak at linebacker, but Davis has value and upside. Davis should not be subject to waivers.
CB Ambry Thomas, Vikings
The former third-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers spent four seasons in the Bay area. He broke his forearm at the end of the 2024 season and was waived by the 49ers. Since then, he spent time with the Colts — but failed a physical — and then landed with the Vikings, who just released him. The 25-year-old has played in 42 games with 79 tackles, 12 PBUs, and two interceptions. He is a vested-veteran and not subject to waivers.
WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, Saints
The former Michigan Wolverine is 6-2, 205 pounds, and had a few solid years with the Cleveland Browns from 2020 to 2022. The Detroit Lions traded for People-Jones, but the receiver hardly saw the field. New Orleans recently cut him after the team traded for Devaughn Vele. He’s a big-bodied receiver, but it’s unclear if he’s that much of an upgrade over a player like Beaux Collins — still, someone to consider. People-Jones has 122 catches for 1,895 yards with eight touchdowns through his 58 NFL games. Peoples-Jones is a vested-veteran and is not subject to waivers.
DT Shy Tuttle, Panthers
The Carolina Panthers released the veteran 29-year-old defensive lineman. Tuttle is experienced, with 95 games under his belt and quality production: he has 232 total tackles, 32 solo tackles in 2024 (19th most of all IDLs), with just four pressures. He also had 22 pass deflections at the line of scrimmage. He signed a three-year $19.5 million contract in March after playing 63 games in New Orleans. Tuttle was more of a run-defending defensive lineman than a pass rusher. New York waived Elijah Chatman and could be in line for an upgrade on the front.
RB JaMycal Hasty, Patriots
The Giants saw Hasty up close in preseason Week 3, where the 28-year-old veteran rushed for 30 yards on 11 carries. Hasty has 121 rush attempts in his career for 479 yards with four touchdowns and 60 catches for 375 receiving yards and a pair of receiving touchdowns. He’s played for three teams. I include Hasty on this list because the Giants placed a waiver bid on him in 2022, but the team had already reached their waiver bid limit, and Hasty went on to play 17 games for the Jacksonville Jaguars that season — his most productive to date in the NFL. It’s something to keep in mind.
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