The Giants.com crew reacts to the initial 53-man roster, which was announced on Tuesday:
John Schmeelk: I am struck by the youth on the initial roster. Of the 53 players, only nine are older than 27. Of those nine players, two are special teams players in Graham Gano and Casey Kreiter. Four of that group play on the offensive line, where having more of a veteran presence is essential. All four of those offensive linemen were additions this offseason: Jermaine Eluemunor, Aaron Stinnie, Greg Van Roten and Austin Schlottmann. Of the other three, one is the Bobby Okereke, who is a captain and the signal-caller of the defense. Tight end Chris Manhertz is another and defensive lineman Rakeem Nunez-Roches is the third. Most of those spots are positions where veterans are preferred.
On the other end of the spectrum, 29 of the 53 players are 25 or younger, with 25 only 24 years old or younger. Thirty-two of the initial 53 players on the roster have four years of experience or fewer, which means they are essentially still on their rookie contracts and haven't hit free agency yet.
The other striking part of looking at this roster sorted by age is how many of the essential players on this roster are also some of the youngest. Malik Nabers is the only 21-year-old on the roster and he is expected to be one of the focal points of the offense. Jalin Hyatt is 22, and he should have a prominent role at wide receiver. Wan'Dale Robinson is only 23. Dru Phillips is the other 22-year-old, and he is expected to start at nickel cornerback.
Deonte Banks, Cor'Dale Flott, Dane Belton and Tyler Nubin are all 23, and they are expected, along with Phillips, to be the primary players in the secondary. Nick McCloud (26), Jason Pinnock (25) and Gervarrius Owens (24) are the other two pieces in what must be one of the youngest defensive backfields in the NFL.
There might be some bumps along the way, but watching this young group come together and learn to play as a unit will be a lot of fun this season. The Giants' success this season will largely depend on many of their young players without a huge track record of success take the next step and prove themselves as productive NFL players.
View photos of the New York Giants' 2024 active roster as it currently stands.
CB Deonte Banks
OLB Boogie Basham
TE Daniel Bellinger
S Dane Belton
OLB Brian Burns
DL Elijah Chatman
DL D.J. Davidson
QB Tommy DeVito
OL Jermaine Eluemunor
OL Joshua Ezeudu
CB Cor'Dale Flott
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton
K Graham Gano
P Jamie Gillan (6)
RB Eric Gray
CB Tre Hawkins III
WR Jalin Hyatt
CB Adoree' Jackson
S Anthony Johnson Jr.
FB/TE Jakob Johnson
TE Theo Johnson
QB Daniel Jones
LS Casey Kreiter
G Jake Kubas
DL Dexter Lawrence II
QB Drew Lock
TE Chris Manhertz
CB Nick McCloud
LB Micah McFadden
ILB Darius Muasau
WR Malik Nabers
T Evan Neal
S Tyler Nubin
DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches
OLB Azeez Ojulari
ILB Bobby Okereke
CB Dru Phillips
S Jason Pinnock
DL Jordon Riley
WR Wan'Dale Robinson
G Jon Runyan
C John Michael Schmitz Jr.
S/LB Isaiah Simmons
RB Devin Singletary
WR Darius Slayton
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette
G Aaron Stinnie
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux
OT Andrew Thomas
RB Tyrone Tracy
G Greg Van Roten
OLB Benton Whitley
Dan Salomone: It's not just coach speak when they say every season is different. That's why sustained success is difficult to achieve in the NFL, perhaps there more than any other major sports league. Last year was a reminder of that, even though Brian Daboll issued that same warning multiple times in the buildup to 2023.
One of the major reasons is roster turnover. Just take a look at this year. Of the 44 players who started at least one game for the Giants in 2023, there are 24 still on the active roster as of 4 p.m. Tuesday. Taking it a step further, only five of the 10 team captains from a year ago currently wear a Giants uniform.
The turnover is a mixture of planning for the future and simply the nature of the beast. The hope is, eventually, you assemble a core group that can grow together for multiple years. General manager Joe Schoen is starting to see that come to fruition in his third cycle of assembling a roster, particularly on defense.
"I know the players that are under contract for more than one year – Dexter [Lawrence] is under contract, [Brian] Burns is for five years, Kayvon [Thibodeaux] for three, [Bobby] Okereke for another three, Tae Banks for four, and got [Tyler] Nubin for four years," Schoen said back at the draft. "You've got a young core group of players that will be able to be together for [years]. And again, I know people want instant gratification, but it takes time to build this, and then over time, you have guys that are able to create continuity because they play together year over year. It was something we experienced in Buffalo. By the time we left, some of those guys had been playing together for four years in the same exact scheme, same defense, and playing together. … I'm excited about the young core that we have together and the guys that are under contract for multiple years and even guys that may only have a year left that potentially we can extend down the road. But I do think we have pieces in place that I like that are going to be together for a couple of years here."
View photos of every move made by the Giants during the 2024 cycle.
WR Gunner Olszewski - Reserve/Injured (September 14)
OLB Tomon Fox - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 14)
LB Ty Summers - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 14)
WR Chase Cota - Waived, Injury Settlement (September 13)
FB/TE Jakob Johnson - Free Agent Signing (September 10)
G Cade Mays - Practice Squad Exception (September 10)
OT Marcellus Johnson - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 10)
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette - Free Agent Signing (September 9)
LB Curtis Bolton - Practice Squad Veteran (September 9)
LB Carter Coughlin - Practice Squad; Injured (September 9)
LB Ty Summers - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 7)
LB Carter Coughlin - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 7)
LB Curtis Bolton - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (September 7)
ILB Carter Coughlin - Practice Squad Veteran (September 6)
TE/FB Jakob Johnson - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 6)
ILB Carter Coughlin - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (September 5)
OT Yodny Cajuste - Terminated, Vested Veteran, Injury Settlement (September 4)
WR Isaiah McKenzie - Terminated, Vested Veteran, Injury Settlement (September 3)
FB/TE Jakob Johnson - Practice Squad Veteran (September 2)
WR Miles Boykin - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 2)
CB Adoree' Jackson - Free Agent Signing (August 31)
FB/TE Jakob Johnson - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 31)
S Gervarrius Owens - Practice Squad (August 30)
LB K.J. Cloyd - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (August 30)
FB/TE Jakob Johnson - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (August 29)
C Austin Schlottmann - Reserve/Injured (August 29)
DB Duke Shelley - Practice Squad Veteran (August 29)
DE Elijah Garcia - Practice Squad (August 29)
DB Art Green - Practice Squad (August 29)
LB Curtis Bolton - Free Agent Signing (August 28)
ILB Dyontae Johnson - Reserve/Injured (August 28)
OLB Tomon Fox - Practice Squad Exception (August 28)
C Jimmy Morrissey - Practice Squad Exception (August 28)
K Jude McAtamney - International Practice Player Signing (August 28)
WR Miles Boykin, TE Lawrence Cager, WR Isaiah Hodgins, FB/TE Jakob Johnson, OT Joshua Miles, LB Ty Summers - Practice Squad Veteran (August 28)
LB K.J. Cloyd, DB Alex Johnson, OT Marcellus Johnson, DB Raheem Layne, RB Dante Miller, DL Casey Rogers - Practice Squad (August 28)
S Anthony Johnson - Claimed off Waivers from GB (August 28)
S Gervarrius Owens - Waived, No Recall (August 28)
LB Matthew Adams - Reserve/Injured - Designated for Return (August 27)
WR Isaiah McKenzie - Reserve/Injured; Prior to Cut to 53 (August 27)
LB Darrian Beavers, LB K.J. Cloyd, LB Tomon Fox, DB Alex Johnson, OT Marcellus Johnson, DB Raheem Layne, K Jude McAtamney, RB Dante Miller, C Jimmy Morrissey, DT Casey Rogers, TE Jack Stoll - Waived (August 27)
WR Miles Boykin, TE Lawrence Cager, DB Tre Herndon, WR Isaiah Hodgins, DB Darnay Holmes, FB/TE Jakob Johnson, DB David Long, OT Joshua Miles, OT Matt Nelson, WR Allen Robinson - Terminated, Vested Veteran (August 27)
DB Mario Goodrich, G Jalen Mayfield, DE Ovie Oghoufo - Waived, Injured, Prior to Cut to 53 (August 27)
RB Joshua Kelley - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 25)
DB Breon Borders - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 25)
DB Jonathan Sutherland - Waived, Injured, Prior to Cut to 53 (August 25)
DT Timmy Horne - Waived, Injured, Prior to Cut to 53 (August 25)
WR Ayir Asante, DT Kyler Baugh, DB Christian Holmes, DB Clayton Isbell, WR John Jiles, LB Trey Kiser, RB Lorenzo Lingard, T Marcus McKethan - Waived, No Recall (August 25)
DB Clayton Isbell - Free Agent Signing (August 20)
WR Dennis Houston - Waived/Injured (August 20)
DT Kyler Baugh - Free Agent Signing (August 19)
LB Trey Kiser - Free Agent Signing (August 19)
DL Ryder Anderson - Waived/Injured (August 19)
OT Yodny Cajuste - Reserve/Injured (August 19)
TE/FB Jakob Johnson - Free Agent Signing (August 16)
TE Tyree Jackson - Waived/Injured, Prior to Cut to 53 (August 16)
RB Joshua Kelley - Free Agent Signing (August 15)
S Raheem Layne - Free Agent Signing (August 15)
S Jonathan Sutherland - Free Agent Signing (August 15)
DL Jordan Phillips - Traded to Dallas Cowboys (August 15)
S Jalen Mills - Terminated, Vested Veteran, Failed Physical (August 15)
DB Elijah Riley - Reserve/Injured (August 15)
RB Lorenzo Lingard - Free Agent Signing (August 12)
RB Jacob Saylors - Waived, No Recall (August 11)
OT Evan Neal - Passed Physical (August 11)
DB Kaleb Hayes - Waived, No Recall (August 11)
LB K.J. Cloyd - Free Agent Signing (August 11)
CB Christian Holmes - Claimed off Waivers from WAS (August 5)
RB Jashaun Corbin - Waived/Injured (August 5)
CB Mario Goodrich - Claimed off Waivers from PHI (July 31)
CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver - Terminated, Vested Veteran, Non-Football Injury (July 31)
OL Greg Van Roten - Free Agent Signing (July 30)
CB Aaron Robinson - Waived, Failed Physical (July 30)
DB Breon Borders - Free Agent Signing (July 28)
QB Nathan Rourke - Waived, No Recall (July 28)
TE Theo Johnson - Passed Physical (July 28)
OT Evan Neal - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 23)
CB Aaron Robinson - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 23)
DB Jalen Mills - Declared Non-Football Injury (July 23)
DB Stantley Thomas-Oliver - Declared Non-Football Injury (July 23)
TE Theo Johnson - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 16)
RB Jacob Saylors - Free Agent Signing (June 18)
WR Chase Cota - Reserve/Injured (June 18)
CB Tre Herndon - Free Agent Signing (June 12)
TE Darren Waller - Reserve/Retired (June 10)
S Tyler Nubin - Selection List Signing (May 31)
DB Elijah Riley - Free Agent Signing (May 30)
RB Gary Brightwell - Waived, Injured (May 30)
TE Theo Johnson - Selection List Signing (May 22)
LB Darius Muasau - Selection List Signing (May 15)
CB Dru Phillips - Selection List Signing (May 14)
DL Elijah Chatman - Free Agent Signing (May 13)
OLB Jeremiah Martin - Waived (May 13)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. - Selection List Signing (May 10)
WR Malik Nabers - Selection List Signing (May 10)
K Jude McAtamney - Free Agent Signing: Exempt/International Player (May 10)
WR Ayir Asante, WR John Jiles, DB Alex Johnson, OT Marcellus Johnson, G Jake Kubas, DE Ovie Oghoufo, DL Casey Rogers - Free Agent Signing (May 10)
RB Deon Jackson - Waived, Injured (May 10)
WR Allen Robinson - Free Agent Signing (May 9)
QB Nathan Rourke - Claimed off waivers from New England (May 7)
DB David Long - Free Agent Signing (May 1)
Giants select LB Darius Muasau with No. 183 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
Giants select RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. with No. 166 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
Giants select TE Theo Johnson with No. 107 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
Giants select CB Dru Phillips with No. 70 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
Giants select S Tyler Nubin with No. 47 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
Giants select WR Malik Nabers with No. 6 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
DB Nick McCloud - Restricted Free Agent Signing (April 15)
LB Matthew Adams - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 12)
DL Jordan Phillips - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 11)
WR Miles Boykin - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 9)
S/LB Isaiah Simmons - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 5)
RB Dante Miller - Free Agent Signing (April 5)
WR Isaiah Hodgins - Free Agent Signing (March 24)
CB Darnay Holmes - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 22)
OT Matt Nelson - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 22)
OL Austin Schlottmann - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 18)
OL Aaron Stinnie - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 18)
TE Chris Manhertz - Free Agent Signing (March 16)
TE Jack Stoll - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 15)
OL Jon Runyan - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
OL Jermaine Eluemunor - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
RB Devin Singletary - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
QB Drew Lock - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
DB Jalen Mills - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
WR Isaiah McKenzie - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
WR/PR Gunner Olszewski - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
LB Carter Coughlin - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
OLB Brian Burns - Acquired via trade with Carolina Panthers (March 13)
LB Benton Whitley - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 12)
LS Casey Kreiter - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 12)
G Mark Glowinski - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (March 4)
C Jimmy Morrissey - Reserve/Future Signing (January 23)
WR Chase Cota - Reserve/Future Signing (January 23)
LB Tomon Fox - Reserve/Future Signing (January 10)
DL Ryder Anderson - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
OT Yodny Cajuste - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
DB Kaleb Hayes - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
WR Dennis Houston - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
RB Deon Jackson - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
ILB Dyontae Johnson - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
OLB Jeremiah Martin - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
G Jalen Mayfield - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
OT Joshua Miles - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
DB Stantley Thomas-Oliver - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
Matt Citak: The Giants were faced with some tough roster decisions, specifically at the bottom of the roster. No one that made the initial 53-man roster should be considered that big of a surprise. There are a few players that only a month ago would have been thought of as longshots to make the team, but strong performances throughout the summer led them to landing on the initial 53.
Let's start on offense, where two players in particular stood out. First up is guard Jake Kubas, who signed with the team as an undrafted free agent back in May. The former North Dakota State lineman had his work cut out for him to make the team, as he began as one of the third-team guards. But to put it simply, Kubas shined throughout the preseason. He allowed just one pressure on 23 pass block snaps in the preseason opener against the Lions, and followed that up by giving up one pressure on 17 pass block snaps against the Texans. He saved his best for the preseason finale when he was on the field for 28 pass block snaps and did not surrender a single pressure against the Jets. You love to see undrafted guys make the 53-man roster, and Kubas undoubtedly earned his spot. Then there's wide receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton, who had his rookie season cut short due to a torn ACL during last year's preseason. Ford-Wheaton worked extremely hard over the last 12 months to get back to his pre-injury form, as the young wideout showed plenty of promise in the first few weeks of last year's training camp. Ford-Wheaton made the initial 53-man roster not only as depth at wide receiver, but also for his abilities on special teams, where he will likely be a key contributor.
On the defensive side of the ball, let's start with defensive lineman Elijah Chatman. The undrafted rookie out of SMU became a fan favorite with his tremendous hustle play against the Texans in which he chased down running back J.J. Taylor 45 yards down the field. While that one play garnered the most attention, Chatman flashed throughout the summer. In the preseason opener, the young lineman led the Giants with five total pressures, including a sack and a 17.9 percent win rate on pass rush snaps. Chatman could see playing time in passing situations early on, a role he earned with a strong showing over the last month and one he could thrive in given his athleticism. Finally, there's outside linebacker Benton Whitley, who was the Giants' most consistent pass rusher in the preseason. Whitley originally went undrafted in 2022 and bounced around a few teams before the Giants signed him off the Vikings' practice squad last November, but he played limited snaps in a couple of games. Whitley ended up leading the Giants with 12 total pressures this preseason, including four pressures in each game. He registered 2.5 sacks and five quarterback hits across the three games while also playing on special teams, where he figures to contribute come Week 1.
The New York Giants unveiled a "Century Red" uniform to commemorate their 100th season.
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13), CB Deonte Banks (3)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5), CB Deonte Banks (3)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
CB Deonte Banks (3), OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
