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Cover 3: Biggest question heading into training camp

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The Giants.com crew discussed the biggest question heading into the start of training camp this week:

John Schmeelk: What is the offensive line going to look like in Week 1? Will it be what we saw in the spring? Andrew Thomas is the incumbent at at left tackle and John Michael Schmitz at center, while newcomers Jon Runyan and Jermaine Eluemunor look to lock down the guard spots. Evan Neal's health and performance will dictate the final variable at right tackle.

The Giants hope Neal can progress enough to stick outside, but his health has been an issue in his first two seasons. His performance in camp, at the joint practices and in the preseason games will dictate what happens. His play could impact two or three other positions and players. It makes the offensive line my biggest question heading into training camp.

Take a look at rare photos of New York Giants training camps through the years.

Dan Salomone: The biggest question is about the most important position: quarterback. Daniel Jones surprised some people when he participated in 7-on-7 drills at the start of spring practices. While the plan never included full team periods this spring, Jones, who has been rehabbing a torn ACL, is on track for the start of training camp and thus Week 1.

"The knee feels good, really good," Jones said last week before the Giants wrapped up spring practices. "I think every week I've continued to feel better and better and taking steps. Doing a lot of the same things I've been doing, but doing them better and feeling sharper, cleaner with a lot of my cuts. Kind of working on getting that explosiveness back and then taking steps in improving my change of direction and cutting from even where it was before the injury."

Jones added, "I expect to be ready to go the first day of training camp."

When that happens, there will be fewer than 50 days until the start of the season – the 100th in franchise history – on Sept. 8 against the Vikings. In that time, Jones will try to get up to speed with, among others, rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers. The spotlight on these two will only get hotter in the buildup to Week 1.

View photos of the New York Giants' 2024 active roster as it currently stands.

Matt Citak: How will the team's young secondary perform? Let's start at cornerback, where the Giants are relying on Deonte Banks to take a big step in his second season. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound corner was thrown right into the fire as a rookie, being tasked with guarding some of the league's top wide receivers last season. He had the usual rookie growing pains at times, but overall, Banks put together a solid first season. His 84.7 passer rating against ranked 24th out of 74 qualified cornerbacks, according to Pro Football Focus, while his fewest receptions over expected allowed of -6.7 ranked third among all cornerbacks (per Next Gen Stats).

"It's always a big difference between year one and year two," coach Brian Daboll said about Banks during OTAs. "Obviously he's done it for a whole year in terms of how we do things here, learning some new things of what we're putting in defensively, but he has the right mindset, he's working extremely hard and trying to do as good as he can do."

Cor'Dale Flott is currently in line to start opposite Banks on the outside, and while he's shown flashes throughout his first two NFL seasons, he has yet to play more than 56 percent of the team's defensive snaps in a season. Nick McCloud is in a similar situation, as the fourth-year corner forced four turnovers last year despite playing just 28 percent of the Giants' defensive snaps (along with 76 percent of special teams snaps). Rookie third-round pick Dru Phillips should also compete to be the starting slot corner. The two most veteran players among the cornerbacks are David Long Jr. and Tre Herndon, both of whom will have to fight for a spot on the roster.

Jalen Mills is the veteran of the group as he heads into his ninth NFL season, but other than that, none of the team's other safeties have more than one season as a full-time player. Jason Pinnock played 95 percent of the team's defensive snaps last year, the first time he's topped 50 percent of snaps in a season, and put together his best overall campaign. Dane Belton had two interceptions and a fumble recovery last year while playing just 26 percent of the defensive snaps. While the Giants are high on second-round pick Tyler Nubin, the first-year safety knows he will have to prove it first.

While the secondary might not be the most experienced group in the league, they undoubtedly have some talented pieces. It will be up to defensive coordinator Shane Bowen to find the right mix of guys in the right spots that give the defense the best chance to succeed. The secondary should benefit from a talented pass rush up front, but it will be up to the young DBs to develop and hold their own this season against some strong opposing passing attacks.

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