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The Giants' deepest position heading into OTAs is wide receiver. **
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Assuming Victor Cruz is good to go Week 1, I think top to bottom, it's the deepest. We know what the top end can do with Cruz, Odell Beckham Jr. and Rueben Randle, but it goes beyond them. Preston Parker is a competitor. Dwayne Harris, who signed with the Giants this offseason as a free agent, is looking to be more than a return specialist. Geremy Davis was just drafted by the Giants and will do the dirty work. Meanwhile, there are players like Corey Washington and Marcus Harris, who was having a big training camp until suffering a season-ending injury, who will make the competition interesting. They also have a year under their belts in Ben McAdoo's offense.
**>> Is WR Geremy Davis the nex David Tyree?**
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LANCE MEDOW: Fact - **The numbers alone prove that's the deepest position with 12 wide receivers currently on the roster, but there's a lot more substance in the names. With Odell Beckham, Victor Cruz and Rueben Randle penciled in as starters, that trio -- at least on paper -- is one of the most talented and dangerous groups in the league, given its versatility. The other layers of the depth chart will provide for some intense competition during OTAs and training camp. Preston Parker finished fourth in receptions and receiving yards last season; Dwayne Harris was a key free agent addition who should have more opportunities as a receiver here than in Dallas; Corey Washington and Julian Talley are both familiar with Ben McAdoo's system; and don't overlook Marcus Harris, who had an extremely productive training camp and preseason last year before getting hurt. The combination of experience and talent makes the wide receiver corps by far the deepest position.
It is more difficult to switch positions on the offensive line than in the secondary.
JOHN SCHMEELK: Fiction -It is much easier to switch spots on the offensive line than in the secondary. Safety and cornerback are two completely different positions requiring different skill sets and often different types of athletes. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie would simply be incapable of being a box safety. A switch from center to tackle can be almost impossible for some linemen, but the responsibility of blocking is still ultimately the same. The switch from corner to safety or vice versa is much tougher.
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Photos of the Giants Safeties
Mykkele Thompson
Landon Collins
Bennett Jackson
Nat Berhe
Cooper Taylor
Justin Currie
Trevin Wade
Josh Gordy
DAN SALOMONE: Fiction - **
For the most part, all offensive linemen have played more than one position in their careers, whether that's on the college or pro level. That group always prides itself on versatility, and you see changes all the time. On the other hand, that's not the case with cornerbacks and safeties.
LANCE MEDOW: Fiction -They're both challenging, but to me, making the transition in the secondary gets the edge. In this day and age, given the volume of injuries in football, most offensive linemen are moved around during the course of their collegiate careers, whether it be the same position on different sides or different positions such as guard and tackle, so when they enter the NFL, it's more than likely they've already had a taste of another position. While you have to make tweaks to your footwork, the goal, mindset and communication responsibilities that come with the positions don't change drastically on the o-line. In contrast, playing corner and safety are two different animals. While the former focuses mainly on a player, the latter tends to deal with space or a specific area of the field. In addition, depending on the system, the strong and free safeties may have very different responsibilities, making the transition a bit more challenging.
More than two undrafted rookie free agents will make the Giants' 53-man roster.
JOHN SCHMEELK: Fiction - I think there will be one undrafted free agent on the final 53, and it will likely be determined by an injury at a position that may open up an opportunity. The Giants have a lot of young players from last season and past drafts that they hope to continue to develop (Jay Bromley, Damontre Moore, Cooper Taylor, Nat Berhe, Kerry Wynn), which will make it hard for more than one 2015 undrafted free agent to make the roster.
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Photos of all the Giants 2015 undrafted free agent signings
RB Kenneth Harper, Temple
WR Ben Edwards, Richmond
TE Will Tye, Stony Brook
DT Carlif Taylor, Southern Connecticut State
TE Matt LaCosse, Illinois
RB Akeem Hunt, Purdue
OT Sean Donnelly, Tulane
Safety Justin Currie, Western Michigan
LB Cole Farrand, Maryland
DAN SALOMONE: Fiction - **I could see two, but no more than that. Unfortunately, injuries could always change things in a hurry like we've seen in the past. But if you look at the roster right now, I don't think you can pencil in that many given all the new free agents, draft picks and guys coming back from injuries or looking to take larger roles in their second or third seasons.
**>> NOTABLE UNDRAFTED FREE AGENTS TO MAKE THE ROSTER**
LANCE MEDOW: Fiction - *The Giants have a track record of finding undrafted rookies who wind up shining in the preseason and carve out a spot on the 53-man roster, but that's come over a period of several years not necessarily in one season. Last year, it was defensive end Kerry Wynn. In 2013 no player fit that category, and in 2012, Adewale Ojomo earned that honor. I can certainly see one, possibly two undrafted rookie free agents, making the 53-man roster but more than that would be a real surprise.
*A buzzer-beater in the NBA is more thrilling than a last-second field goal in the NFL.
JOHN SCHMEELK: Fact -I'm going with the NBA here because those last-second buzzer beaters often come with a defender (or two) playing great defense that the offensive player has to beat in order to make the shot. The field goal, while not uncontested, is much more a product of the kicker making a good kick, after a good snap and hold. I feel there are more moving parts in the NBA scenario, and a real mano-a-mano aspect that you don't see with field goals.
DAN SALOMONE: Fiction - I know not a lot of people like games coming down to field goals, but you need some "foot" in football. Some of the most memorable moments in Giants history have involved field goals from Lawrence Tynes in overtime (twice) to "wide right."
LANCE MEDOW: Fact -Let's face it, they're both thrilling and dramatic, or whatever word comes to mind, a race against the clock and a heartbreaker for the sake of the opponent, but if I had to choose one, I have to go with basketball (I'm biased given I played the sport competitively all the way through high school). There's just something about beating your defender one-on-one and the ball going through the net just as time expires.
