3 Giants position battles to watch at 2023 NFL training camp

Here are a few positional battles to monitor as the Giants are at training camp.

Position: Running back

Frontrunner: Eric Gray

Competing: Matt Breida, Gary Brightwell

Saquon Barkley is back. That’s a big one for the Giants. He’s undeniably the offense’s best player. This might be the back’s final year in blue, though, unless the Giants decide to tag him again. If it is, it’s time for the coaching staff to start thinking about contingency plans. One of them might be the bell cow next year. Breida and Brightwell averaged 4.1 and 4.5 yards per carry last year, respectively. That’s pretty solid.

Gray has quite a bit more potential than both, though. The rookie, drafted out of Oklahoma in the fifth round, rushed for 1,366 yards (6.4 per carry) and 11 touchdowns last season.

Position: Outside receiver

Frontrunners: Isaiah Hodgins, Parris Campbell

Competing: Darius Slayton, Jalin Hyatt

This will be a very intriguing one to watch play out. There’s no denying Hodgins and Slayton earned Brian Daboll’s trust last year. The Giants had virtually nothing at wideout and the two of them stepped up time and time again. Clearly, though, upgrading the position was a priority. That’s why the Giants signed Campbell (a player with legitimate No. 2 upside) and drafted Hyatt.

Slayton will likely be used as a deep threat while Hyatt acclimates himself to the league behind the three. Depending on how quickly that happens for the rookie, though, could determine how fast he cracks the starting lineup. He has more raw ability than anyone in the room.

Position: Nickelback

Frontrunner: Darnay Holmes

Competing: Cor’Dale Flott, Nick McCloud, Aaron Robinson

Deonte Banks is almost certainly going to start for the Giants. He’ll still need to earn coordinator Wink Martindale’s trust, though. Assuming he does, he and Adoree’ Jackson will give the Giants an above-average 1-2 punch at cornerback.

Banks’ arrival creates a logjam at nickelback, though. The Giants will need to work through that this summer. Holmes is the frontrunner now, but it truly is an open competition. Flott, a third-round pick a year ago, could easily unseat him for the starting job.