NY Giants roster projection 2024: Resetting the depth chart after 2024 NFL Draft
EAST RUTHERFORD - The New York Giants won't be speaking about closing the gap on the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys, at least not publicly. That was last year's talking point.
The Eagles, Cowboys and Washington Commanders are in their sights. Competing in the NFC East is always a desire, for sure, yet just not the focus right now.
The games that count are not for another five months, so until then, the Giants have to look in the mirror to give this rebuild entering Year 3 with Joe Schoen as general manager and Brian Daboll as head coach its best chance.
"Where we are right now, coming into the offseason, between what we did in free agency, the draft, the trade for Brian Burns - again, we always have room to grow and always have room to improve," Schoen said. "I say it all the time, we don't play until September, so there's still time between now and September where we can acquire players, the final cutdown, whatever it may be."
Here is a post-draft look at the Giants' current depth chart with analysis and needs:
Quarterback
Daniel Jones
Drew Lock
Tommy DeVito
Breakdown: Joe Schoen said he was comfortable with this group prior to the draft. Now that the Giants have not added a quarterback, his promise will be tested. Jones' neck injury history and his recovery status from ACL surgery makes this a group in flux. The Giants are committed to Jones to begin the season as their starter, and the contract they gave him last offseason just hammers that point home for 2024. What happens beyond this year is cause for debate. If Jones does not play well early, the prudent decision for the Giants might be to play someone else - be it Lock or DeVito - in order to prevent his $23 million injury guarantee for 2025 does not get triggered. That would double his salary cap hit without Jones even suiting up. All things to consider here moving forward.
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Running back
Devin Singletary
Eric Gray
Tyrone Tracy Jr.
Dante "Turbo" Miller
Deon Jackson
Gary Brightwell
Jashaun Corbin
Breakdown: The backfield looks plenty different in terms of star power and approach with Saquon Barkley now in Philadelphia. "Motor" Singletary will be solid as the lead, and young backs like Gray and Miller should get chances to work their way into the mix. Tracy has a different style as a converted wide receiver and he could emerge as a third-down option relatively early. Would not surprise me if the Giants add a veteran to complete the room.
Wide receiver
Malik Nabers
Wan'Dale Robinson
Jalin Hyatt
Darius Slayton
Isaiah Hodgins
Isaiah McKenzie
Gunner Olszewski
Miles Boykin
Bryce Ford-Wheaton
John Jiles
Ayir Asante
Dennis Houston
Chase Cota
Breakdown: Nabers is the home run hitter and in all likelihood the centerpiece of the offense sooner rather than later. Slayton, Robinson, Hyatt and Hodgins make for a solid group, especially if Robinson and Hyatt continue to develop into more consistent playmakers. What Nabers’ anticipated emergence will mean in terms of opportunities for Slayton and Hodgins is uncertain. McKenzie and Olszewski could be competing for one returner spot, while Boykin is an outstanding gunner on special teams.
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Offensive line
LT Andrew Thomas
LG Jon Runyan Jr.
C John Michael Schmitz
RG Jermaine Eluemunor
RT Evan Neal
G/T Joshua Ezeudu
G/T Marcus McKethan
G Aaron Stinnie
C/G Austin Schlottman
T Matt Nelson
G Jake Kubas
T Marcellus Johnson
T Yodny Cajuste
T Joshua Miles
G Jalen Mayfield
Breakdown: The Giants were not about to rely on developmental prospects to improve this line a year after injuries, inconsistency and incompetence caused the entire unit to implode for much of the season. Stinnie, Schlottmann and Nelson are all veterans with game experience. Thomas should never play special teams again. The biggest question mark will be the status of Neal and whether he can keep the right tackle job or be forced to kick inside. Eluemunor and Runyan should both be in the starting lineup. Low-key significant factor: Schmitz's Year 2 leap has to be a big one. The Giants are counting on it. Ezeudu and McKethan, just two years removed from being draft picks – Ezeudu a third rounder – need to develop. Keep an eye on Kubas, an undrafted rookie, to make a push for a roster spot in training camp.
Tight end
Daniel Bellinger
Theo Johnson
Chris Manhertz
Jack Stoll
Lawrence Cager
Tyree Jackson
Breakdown: The biggest question at this position, of course, is Darren Waller's status and whether he will retire. Schoen admitted that the selection of Johnson out of Penn State in the fourth round was done with Waller’s uncertain status in mind. The Giants are proceeding as if Waller isn’t playing this year, and they’ll adjust if he does. Waller told NorthJersey.com on Friday that he would like to make a decision soon, but was not there yet. Bellinger's blocking was much better as a rookie than Year 2, so he has to rebound. Manhertz and Stoll have been assets in protection and the run game. Could Cager take a step forward?
Defensive line
Dexter Lawrence
Rakeem Nunez-Roches
Jordon Riley
Jordan Phillips
D.J. Davidson
Casey Rogers
Ryder Anderson
Timmy Horne
Breakdown: Lawrence is an All-Pro cornerstone and undeniably the centerpiece of the line. But this group will take on a different look than last season when Leonard Williams and A'Shawn Robinson provided depth and presence. Phillips is a veteran just recently signed. Nunez-Roches is a complementary piece and both Riley and Davidson will get opportunities to show they can become more consistent players. Rogers is an undrafted rookie from Oregon.
Outside linebacker
Brian Burns
Kayvon Thibodeaux
Azeez Ojulari
Matthew Adams
Boogie Basham
Ovie Oghoufo
Tomon Fox
Jeremiah Martin
Benton Whitley
Breakdown: Thibodeaux and Burns should provide the Giants with one of the top young tandems in the league. How they mesh together will be fun to watch. Adams is a key special teams contributor. Ojulari's health is the difference between a big-time breakout and someone who fades out of the picture with Burns' arrival. Oghoufo is an undrafted rookie from LSU.
Inside linebacker
Bobby Okereke
Micah McFadden
Isaiah Simmons
Darius Muasau
Carter Coughlin
Darrian Beavers
Dyontae Johnson
Breakdown: Okereke played every snap last season and is one of the best free agent signings the Giants have had in quite some time. McFadden elevated his game playing next to him. With new defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, it'll be interesting to see how and where Simmons fits. Feels like this group could use another piece, and depth was a factor in the Giants’ selectin of Muasau in the sixth round.
Cornerback
Tae Banks
Cor’Dale Flott
Andru Phillips
Nick McCloud
Jalen Mills
Tre Hawkins
Darnay Holmes
Aaron Robinson
Stantley Thomas-Oliver
Kaleb Hayes
Breakdown: Banks is the one certainty. He'll look to build on a solid rookie season during which he competed against the league's best on a week-in, week-out basis. There is a gaping hole opposite him right now. Flott, a 2022 third-round pick, remains one of the youngest players on the roster and should get the first chance. His development in Year 3 could be instrumental. Phillips, the third-round rookie, is talented enough to earn the starting role as the nickel.Don't overlook McCloud to compete for that job. The Giants committed $3 million to bring him back as a restricted free agent. Given their reluctance to dole out big money at the position this offseason, to this point, it's an interesting tell. This could also be a spot for a veteran still on the market post-draft, but at their price. Who plays in the slot? Hawkins could get a chance, too. Expect Mills to play all over the secondary.
Safety
Jason Pinnock
Tyler Nubin
Dane Belton
Gervarrius Owens
Alex Johnson
Breakdown: Xavier McKinney played every snap last season and he's taken his talents to Green Bay. That decision from the Giants to let McKinney walk at a salary of $17 million per year will be debated for as long as there is uncertainty as far as who replaces him. Nubin is a ball hawk with great range and tenacity. The second-rounder should come along quickly. Belton can finally earn significant playing time and he’s a potential core special teamer. Owens was essentially a redshirt as a rookie. Johnson is a talented UDFA from UCLA.
Special teams
1. K Graham Gano
2. LS Casey Kreiter
3. P Jamie Gillan
4. KR Tyrone Tracy Jr.
5. KR Dante “Turbo” Miller
6. PR Gunner Olszewski
7. PR Isaiah McKenzie
Breakdown: The Giants are set with their specialists as Gano returns from injury. Kreiter is quietly one of the league's steadiest performers at the position. Adams and Boykin are strong coverage contributors. Don't be surprised if Tracy and Miller, the pair of rookies, emerge as returners with the new rules on kickoffs. Olszewski is the best punt returner the Giants have had since Dwayne Harris (Pro Bowl in 2016).
NY Giants needs
No team is perfect exiting the NFL Draft and entering the next phase of the offseason. With the compensatory pick qualifying period ending Monday, that means any free agents signed after that are not included in the formula. I think there's still a good chance the Giants look to sign veterans at running back and corner to mix in with younger positions groups. The depth at inside linebacker is also something to keep an eye on.
NY Giants NFL Draft picks 2024
Round 1, Pick 6: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
Round 2, Pick 47: Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota
Round 3, Pick 70: Andru Phillips, CB, Kentucky
Round 4, Pick 107: Theo Johnson, TE, Penn State
Round 5, Pick 166: Tyrone Tracy Jr., RB, Purdue
Round 6, Pick 183: Darius Muasau, LB, UCLA
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Giants roster projection: Depth chart prediction after 2024 NFL Draft