The Giants.com crew is presented with four statements and must decide whether they are Fact or Fiction.
Interior offensive line is the biggest question mark on offense heading into Spring football.
John Schmeelk: Fact – Left guard and center are two positions on the interior offensive line where no one knows with any confidence who will line up as the starter and many of the same players will be competing for both positions. At center, Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen have mentioned Ben Bredeson, Jack Anderson, and Shane Lemieux as potential options. At left guard, Bredeson, Lemieux and second-year player Josh Ezedu each got time there at some point last season. Marcus McKethan was a 2022 fifth-round pick and after missing all of the season with a knee injury, will also compete there. No other position has as much uncertainty, and perhaps another player may be added there in the draft.
Dan Salomone: Fiction – That question could be answered by the time we get to Spring practices depending on what the Giants do – or don't do – in the draft. Meanwhile, going on behind the scenes is the status of Saquon Barkley, who was tagged the same day the Giants reached a multi-year deal with quarterback Daniel Jones. The Giants don't want to part with Barkley even for potentially significant assets.
"I don't want to trade him," team president John Mara said at the NFL Annual Meeting. "We're not looking to trade him. We're not shopping him. I'd be very surprised if we made that decision."
Whether they reach a deal or Barkley plays on the one-year tag, the Giants' opinion will not waver.
"I told Saquon this, too, we want him to be a Giant for his entire career if that's possible," Mara said. "The running back market is what it is right now. I'm still hopeful that at some point, we'll be able to come to an agreement with him."
Lance Medow: Fact – As of right now, the biggest question mark is who will assume the center position given last year's starter, Jon Feliciano, left in free agency to sign with the Niners and Nick Gates, who also has experience at that spot, joined the Commanders. Although the Giants have some internal options such as Ben Bredeson, Jack Anderson and Shane Lemieux, none of these players have any starts at center; so it's fair to say there's a bit of unknown surrounding the position. Mark Glowinski will return at right guard and Josh Ezeudu is an option at left guard, but you could make the argument even the latter is open to competition. In comparison to the rest of the offense, while other roles are still up for grabs, you won't find another area that tops the looming questions on the interior of the line, especially at center.
Matt Citak: Fact – As of now, Mark Glowinski is the only incumbent inside. The other starting guard position appears headed toward an open competition during training camp between guys such as Joshua Ezeudu, Shane Lemieux, Ben Bredeson and Jack Anderson, along with a few others. Additionally, the roster does not currently sport a true center. The interior offensive line, especially center, seems like one of the position groups the front office is likely to address somewhat early in this month's draft. Although some people might argue that wide receiver is a bigger question mark, the Giants' receiver room currently boasts an intriguing group of players. Another receiver or two might be added in the draft, but it is not as big of a need as the interior O-line following the team's moves in free agency.
Cornerback is the biggest question mark on defense heading into Spring football.
John Schmeelk: Fact – Who is the second outside cornerback opposite Adoree' Jackson? Did second-year player Cor'Dale Flott show enough last season? Will Nick McCloud continue to hold off competitors? Can third-year player Aaron Robinson finally shake the injury bug and earn the spot? Maybe newcomer Amani Oruwariye, who has the traits to play press coverage, steps up. Or maybe an undrafted player from last year, such as Zyon Gilbert, makes the most of his opportunity? Or perhaps that spot becomes a target in the draft? A case can be made for any of those options, leaving cornerback the biggest question mark.
Dan Salomone: Fact – Like the interior offensive line, we could get some answers before players take the field. Experts seem to agree that cornerback is one of the deepest positions in this year's class. Let's see if that leads to the Giants going in that direction.
Lance Medow: Fact – The questions at cornerback center around the roles individuals will assume and how the depth chart will play out, especially with Aaron Robinson coming off a season-ending knee injury and Rodarius Williams dealing with injuries in each of his first two years in the league. Adoree Jackson is clearly the team's top corner; but outside of Jackson, where do Cor'Dale Flott, Darnay Holmes and Nick McCloud all fit in? Will they bring in more options through the draft? The position group is extremely fluid at this point and the way the depth chart looks at the beginning of the season could be quite different from how it appears now.
Matt Citak: Fact – Cornerback might be the most important position in Wink Martindale's defense, as the blitz-heavy scheme often leaves the corners in 1-on-1 situations with opposing receivers. We know that Adoree' Jackson will cover the other team's No. 1 wide receiver this year, but who lines up on the other side of the field still remains a mystery. There's a chance someone like Cor'Dale Flott, Aaron Robinson or Amani Oruwariye steps up and takes control of the No. 2 corner spot. But it wouldn't come as a surprise to see the Giants address the CB position early in the draft, as many experts are predicting in recent mock drafts.
View photos of every move made by the Giants during the 2023 cycle.
QB Jacob Eason - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (January 6)
TE Tyree Jackson - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (January 6)
K Mason Crosby - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (January 6)
OT Yodny Cajuste - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (January 6)
S Jason Pinnock - Reserve/Injured (January 6)
QB Jacob Eason - Practice Squad Signing (January 4)
OT Tyre Phillips - Reserve/Injured (January 2)
OLB Jeremiah Martin - Practice Squad Signing (January 1)
K Mason Crosby - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (December 30)
WR Dennis Houston - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (December 30)
LB Darrian Beavers - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (December 30)
TE Lawrence Cager - Reserve/Injured (December 30)
K Mason Crosby - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (December 24)
OLB Tomon Fox - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (December 24)
OT Matt Peart - Activated, from Reserve (December 24)
OT Evan Neal - Reserve/Injured (December 24)
K Mason Crosby - Practice Squad Veteran (December 22)
K Cade York - Practice Squad; Injured (December 22)
K Randy Bullock - Reserve/Injured (December 21)
DL Timmy Horne - Free Agent Signing from ATL Practice Squad (December 21)
OT Matt Peart - Designated for Return / Returned to Practice (December 20)
RB Gary Brightwell - Designated for Return / Returned to Practice (December 20)
TE Darren Waller - Activated, from Reserve (December 16)
S Bobby McCain - Waived, No Recall (December 16)
TE Darren Waller - Designated for Return / Returned to Practice (December 14)
QB Tyrod Taylor - Activated, from Reserve (December 11)
QB Matt Barkley - Practice Squad Veteran Signing (December 5)
QB Jacob Eason - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (December 4)
QB Matt Barkley - Waived, No Recall (December 4)
QB Tyrod Taylor - Designated for Return / Returned to Practice (December 4)
WR Dylan Drummond - Practice Squad Signing (November 30)
OLB Oshane Ximines - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (November 30)
RB Eric Gray - Activated, from Reserve (November 25)
K Cade York - Practice Squad Exception Signing (November 24)
K Randy Bullock - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (November 24)
K Cade York - Waived, No Recall (November 22)
RB Eric Gray - Designated for Return / Returned to Practice (November 22)
OL Joshua Miles - Practice Squad Veteran Signing (November 21)
RB Deon Jackson - Practice Squad Exception Signing (November 21)
RB Hassan Hall - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (November 21)
LB Benton Whitley - Free Agent Signing from MIN Practice Squad (November 21)
RB Deon Jackson - Waived, No Recall (November 20)
OL Joshua Miles - Waived, No Recall (November 20)
K Randy Bullock - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (November 18)
TE Tyree Jackson - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (November 18)
TE Chris Myarick - Waived, No Recall from Reserve/Injured (November 13)
OLB Azeez Ojulari - Activated, from Reserve (November 11)
TE Tyree Jackson - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (November 11)
K Randy Bullock - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (November 11)
OLB Azeez Ojulari - Designated for Return / Returned to Practice (November 8)
QB Matt Barkley - QB Matt Barkley - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (November 8)
QB Daniel Jones - Reserve/Injured (November 8)
QB Jacob Eason - Practice Squad Signing (November 7)
RB Hassan Hall - Practice Squad Signing (November 7)
OLB Justin Hollins - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (November 4)
K Randy Bullock - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (November 4)
TE Lawrence Cager - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (November 4)
TE Darren Waller - Reserve/Injured (November 4)
QB Tyrod Taylor - Reserve/Injured (November 4)
WR Gunner Olszewski - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (November 3)
K Cade York - Free Agent Signing from TEN Practice Squad (November 3)
K Randy Bullock - Practice Squad Veteran Signing (November 3)
K Graham Gano - Reserve/Injured (November 3)
QB Matt Barkley - Practice Squad Veteran Signing (October 31)
QB Tommy DeVito - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (October 31)
WR Gunner Olszewski - Practice Squad Veteran Signing (October 31)
OL Jaylon Thomas - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (October 31)
DL Leonard Williams - Traded to Seahawks for 2024 2nd Round Pick & 2025 5th Round Pick (October 30)
CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver III - Practice Squad Veteran Signing (October 30)
WR Gunner Olszewski - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (October 30)
WR Gunner Olszewski - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (October 28)
RB Gary Brightwell - Reserve/Injured (October 28)
QB Tommy DeVito - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 28)
OLB Oshane Ximines - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 28)
RB Jashaun Corbin - Free Agent Signing from CAR Practice Squad
OLB Justin Hollins - Practice Squad Veteran Signing
RB Eric Gray, OT Matt Peart - Reserve/Injured
RB Deon Jackson - Claimed off Waivers from CLV
(October 24)
WR Gunner Olszewski - Practice Squad Veteran Signing (October 23)
QB Tommy DeVito - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 21)
OL Jalen Mayfield - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 21)
TE Lawrence Cager - Practice Squad Signing
OL Sean Harlow - Free Agent Signing from DAL Practice Squad (October 19)
OL Shane Lemieux - Reserve/Injured (October 19)
OL Justin Pugh - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (October 18)
TE Lawrence Cager - Waived, No Recall (October 18)
OL Tyre Phillips - Free Agent Signing from PHI Practice Squad
OL Joshua Miles - Free Agent Signing from ATL Practice Squad
OL Joshua Ezeudu - Reserve/Injured
OL Jalen Mayfield - Practice Squad Exception Signing
DB Alex Cook - Free Agent Signing to CAR Active Roster
(October 17)
OLB Azeez Ojulari - Reserve/Injured (October 14)
OL Jalen Mayfield - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (October 14)
QB Tommy DeVito - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 14)
OL Justin Pugh - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 14)
OT Yodny Cajuste - Practice Squad Veteran (October 11)
WR Cole Beasley - Designated for Return / Restored to Practice Squad (October 10)
WR Cam Sims - - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (October 10)
CB Amani Oruwariye - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (October 10)
OL Jaylon Thomas, OL Jalen Mayfield - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 7)
OL Justin Pugh - Practice Squad Veteran (October 3)
RB Taiwan Jones - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (October 3)
OLB Oshane Ximines - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 21)
OL Jaylon Thomas - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 21)
RB Taiwan Jones - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 16)
OLB Oshane Ximines - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 16)
RB Taiwan Jones - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 9)
K Graham Gano - Signed 3-year contract extension (September 8)
WR Cam Sims - Practice Squad Veteran Signing (September 4)
WR Cole Beasley - Practice Squad; Injured (September 4)
G Jack Anderson - Waived, Injury Settlement
DB Kaleb Hayes, WR Dennis Houston, T Jaylon Thomas - Practice Squad Signing (August 31)
RB Taiwan Jones - Practice Squad Veteran Signing (August 31)
TE Tyree Jackson, G Jalen Mayfield - Practice Squad Exception Signing (August 31)
DB Gemon Green, T Tyre Phillips - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (August 31)
CB Zyon Gilbert - Waived, Injury Settlement
DT Ryder Anderson, ILB Darrian Beavers, DB Alex Cook, QB Tommy DeVito, CB Gemon Green, ILB Dyontae Johnson, TE Ryan Jones - Practice Squad (August 30)
WR Cole Beasley, CB Amani Oruwariye, T Tyre Phillips, OLB Oshane Ximines - Practice Squad Veteran (August 30)
OLB Tomon Fox - Practice Squad Exception (August 30)
DE Boogie Basham - Acquired via Trade (via BUF) with 2025 7th Round Pick for 2025 6th Round Pick (August 30)
DT Ryder Anderson - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
DE Habakkuk Baldonado - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
LB Darrian Beavers - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
DB Alex Cook - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
RB Jashaun Corbin - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
QB Tommy DeVito - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
LB Tomon Fox - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
DB Gemon Green - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
LB Dyontae Johnson - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
TE Ryan Jones - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
LS Cameron Lyons - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
T Tyre Phillips - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
WR Kalil Pimpleton - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
DT Kobe Smith - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
LB Ray Wilborn - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
WR Cole Beasley - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 29)
WR Jamison Crowder - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 29)
C Sean Harlow - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 29)
DB Amani Oruwariye - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 29)
WR David Sills V - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 29)
LB Oshane Ximines - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 29)
TE Tommy Sweeney - Reserve/Non-Football Illness (August 29)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson - Passed Physical (August 29)
CB Aaron Robinson - Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform (August 29)
TE Chris Myarick - Reserve/Injured (August 28)
DB Zyon Gilbert - Waived, Injured (August 28)
G Jack Anderson - Waived, Injured (August 28)
G Wyatt Davis - Waived, Injured (August 28)
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton - Reserve/Injured (August 27)
WR Jaydon Mickens - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 27)
OT Korey Cunningham - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 27)
OT Julién Davenport - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 27)
DT Brandin Bryant - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 27)
DE Tashawn Bower - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 27)
DT Kevin Atkins - Waived, No Recall (August 27)
WR Collin Johnson - Waived, No Recall (August 27)
DB Darren Evans - Waived, No Recall (August 27)
NT Donovan Jeter - Waived, No Recall (August 27)
RB James Robinson - Waived, No Recall (August 27)
S/ILB Isaiah Simmons - Acquired via Trade (via ARZ) for 2024 7th Round Pick (August 25)
OT Devery Hamilton - Waived, Injury Settlement (August 24)
LB Troy Brown - Waived, Injury Settlement
CB Rodarius Williams - Waived, No Recall (August 19)
OT Julién Davenport - Free Agent Signing (August 16)
LB Troy Brown - Waived, Injured (August 16)
LB Ray Wilborn - Claimed off Waivers from DEN (August 15)
OT Devery Hamilton - Waived/Injured (August 15)
DL D.J. Davidson - Passed Physical (August 14)
WR Jeff Smith - Terminated, Vested Veteran, Injury Settlement (August 11)
DT A'Shawn Robinson - Passed Physical (August 7)
OL Marcus McKethan - Passed Physical (August 7)
NT Donovan Jeter - Free Agent Signing (August 4)
WR Jeff Smith - Waived/Injured (August 4)
C Sean Harlow - Free Agent Signing (August 1)
OL J.C. Hassenauer - Reserve/Injured (August 1)
WR Sterling Shepard - Passed Physical (July 30)
WR Jamison Crowder - Passed Physical (July 30)
DT Vernon Butler - Reserve/Injured (July 29)
LB Elerson Smith - Waived, Injury Settlement (July 29)
DT Kevin Atkins - Free Agent Signing (July 27)
T Andrew Thomas - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (July 26)
DT D.J. Davidson - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 25)
G Marcus McKethan - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 25)
CB Aaron Robinson - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 25)
DT A'Shawn Robinson - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 25)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 25)
WR Sterling Shepard - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 25)
WR Jamison Crowder - Declared Non-Football Injury (July 25)
DT Vernon Butler - Reserve/Did Not Report (July 25)
RB Saquon Barkley - Franchise Player Signing (July 25)
OLB Tashawn Bower - Free Agent Signing (July 25)
OLB Elerson Smith - Waived, Injured (July 25)
DB Trenton Thompson - Waived, No Recall (July 25)
DT Brandin Bryant - Free Agent Signing (July 24)
WR Makai Polk - Waived, No Recall (July 24)
WR Dre Miller - Waived, No Recall (July 24)
RB James Robinson - Free Agent Signing (July 21)
WR Cole Beasley - Free Agent Signing (July 21)
DB Darren Evans - Free Agent Signing (July 18)
LB Jarrad Davis - Reserve/Injured (July 18)
DB Leonard Johnson - Waived/Injured (July 18)
DL Kobe Smith - Free Agent Signing (June 15)
DL Dexter Lawrence - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (May 5)
OLB Oshane Ximines - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
OLB Habakkuk Baldonado - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
LB Troy Brown - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
DB Alex Cook - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
QB Tommy DeVito - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
DB Gemon Green - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
LB Dyontae Johnson - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
TE Ryan Jones - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
LS Cameron Lyons - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
CB Deonte Banks - Selected in Round 1 (Pick No. 24) of 2023 NFL Draft
CB Deonte Banks - Selection List Signing (May 18)
OL John Michael Schmitz - Selected in Round 2 (Pick No. 57) of 2023 NFL Draft
C John Michael Schmitz - Selection List Signing (May 23)
WR Jalin Hyatt - Selected in Round 3 (Pick No. 73) of 2023 NFL Draft
WR Jalin Hyatt - Selection List Signing (May 15)
RB Eric Gray - Selection List Signing (May 5)
CB Tre Hawkins III - Selected in Round 6 (Pick No. 209) of 2023 NFL Draft
CB Tre Hawkins III - Selection List Signing (May 5)
DL Jordon Riley - Selected in Round 7 (Pick No. 243) of 2023 NFL Draft
RB Eric Gray - Selected in Round 5 (Pick No. 172) of 2023 NFL Draft
DL Jordan Riley - Selection List Signing (May 6)
DB Gervarrius Owens - Selected in Round 7 (Pick No. 254) of 2023 NFL Draft
DB Gervarrius Owens - Selection List Signing (May 5)
DT A'Shawn Robinson - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 24)
C J.C. Hassenauer - Free Agent Signing (April 7)
OLB Jihad Ward - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 29)
TE Tommy Sweeney - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 23)
CB Amani Oruwariye - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 23)
WR Jamison Crowder - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 23)
S Bobby McCain - Free Agent Signing (March 23)
WR Darius Slayton - Free Agent Signing (March 20)
DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches - Free Agent Signing (March 17)
WR Parris Campbell - Free Agent Signing (March 17)
WR Jeff Smith - Free Agent Signing (March 17)
LB Bobby Okereke - Free Agent Signing (March 16)
WR Sterling Shepard - Free Agent Signing (March 15)
TE Darren Waller - Acquired via trade with Las Vegas Raiders (March 15)
RB Matt Breida - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 14)
P Jamie Gillan - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 13)
LS Casey Kreiter - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 13)
G Wyatt Davis - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 13)
QB Daniel Jones - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 7)
RB Saquon Barkley - Designated Franchise Player (March 7)
LB Jarrad Davis - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 7)
WR Isaiah Hodgins - Signed, Exclusive Rights (February 16)
G Jack Anderson - Signed, Exclusive Rights (February 14)
TE Lawrence Cager - Signed, Exclusive Rights (February 13)
WR David Sills V - Reserve/Future Signing (January 26)
DB Terrell Burgess - Reserve/Future Signing (January 26)
TE Chris Myarick - Reserve/Future Signing (January 23)
T Devery Hamilton - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
WR Dre Miller - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
DB Zyon Gilbert - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
DT Vernon Butler - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
WR Makai Polk - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
T Korey Cunningham - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
WR Jaydon Mickens - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
WR Kalil Pimpleton - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
RB Jashaun Corbin - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
DB Trenton Thompson - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
DB Terrell Burgess - Waived/Injured (May 5)
G Solomon Kindley - Waived
WR Kenny Golladay - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (March 15)
Wide receiver Parris Campbell has the most to gain this season.
John Schmeelk: Fact – You can immediately start with the players who only have one year left on their contracts. Players such as Dexter Lawrence and Saquon Barkley have already shown what they can do, but obviously production and health will be important for them. Same for Adoree' Jackson and Leonard Williams, who are on the back-end of their contracts. But all four of those players have banked a lot of money so far in their NFL career. Two guys who haven't? Xavier McKInney and Parris Campbell. Lean to Campbell for a couple of reasons. McKinney has already shown he is an excellent NFL player and the safety market, generally speaking, is not a lucrative one. Campbell plays a premium position at WR and he has had only one season of decent production in the NFL. If he earns a big role and has a 1,000-yard season, Campbell could be in line for a monster payday next off-season. He has the most to gain.
Dan Salomone: Fact – The only thing tougher than finding success in the NFL is sustaining it. After playing in just nine games over his first three seasons due to injuries, Campbell played a full schedule last season and consequently posted career numbers. He'll look to build on that in an offense that excited him from a distance last year.
Lance Medow: Fiction – Parris Campbell is coming off a career-year in the final season of his rookie deal after dealing with his fair share of injuries over his first three campaigns so he's definitely in another prove-it type of situation. But you can put Azeez Ojulari ahead of him in terms of the most to gain on the roster. Like Campbell, Ojulari was struck by the injury bug in 2022 and was limited to just seven games. He's now entering a key third year in the NFL, which takes on even more significance given he was a second-round pick and doesn't have a fifth-year option on his contract. Ojulari burst onto the scene with eight sacks as a rookie but the Giants are hoping he and Kayvon Thibodeaux can form a consistent 1-2 punch moving forward. The upcoming season can go a long way in helping that cause while proving Ojulari's durability.
Matt Citak: Fiction – Campbell certainly has a lot to gain this season, but let's go with new Giants tight end Darren Waller. Waller had back-to-back seasons with 1,100+ receiving yards in 2019-20, totaling 197 receptions for 2,341 yards and 12 touchdowns during that span. In the two seasons since, the 6-foot-6 tight end has registered a total of 83 receptions for 1,053 yards and five touchdowns while missing 14 games. If Waller can remain healthy and return to his 2020 form, he not only has the chance to emerge as Daniel Jones' No. 1 option in the passing game, but he also could once again be mentioned among the best tight ends in the NFL. The connection between Jones and Waller might be the key to the offense's success this season.
Outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux will have more sacks than tight end Darren Waller has touchdowns this season.
John Schmeelk: Fiction – Let's count on Waller's health because if he misses a lot of games all bets are off. The nature of Wink Martindale's blitz-happy defense is that sacks get spread out across the defense. It is extremely difficult to get to double-digit sacks … or even eight. For that reason and that reason alone, go with fiction. Figure that Waller gets to six and Thibodeaux gets to five.
Dan Salomone: Fact – Wink Martindale called him the can opener last season, but with some additions aimed at stopping the run, Thibodeaux might be the one feasting more on quarterbacks in his second season.
Lance Medow: Fact – Darren Waller is averaging just under three touchdowns per season in his seven years in the league and he's only had more than three in one of those campaigns. Kayvon Thibodeaux's sample size is much smaller because he's played just one season in the league, but let's lean toward him getting more sacks than Waller has touchdowns. The sacks and receiving scores will be spread across the board, but given Thibodeaux's motor and relentlessness, he has a bit more control over his fate than Waller does.
Matt Citak: Fiction – Let's take the optimistic route and say that Waller will be able to stay on the field for the most part this season. This could lead to a bevy of red zone looks that will feature the talented tight end. This answer has nothing to do with Thibodeaux, himself, as the second-year outside linebacker could be one of the team's biggest breakout players in 2023. However, Martindale's defensive scheme has a history of spreading sacks across the unit. In Martindale's five seasons as a coordinator (one with Giants, four with Ravens), the most amount of sacks any player has gotten was 9.5 (Matt Judon in 2019). If both Waller and Thibodeaux stay healthy this season, it could be a situation where Waller maybe grabs eight touchdown passes and Thibodeaux finishes with seven sacks.
New uniform numbers have been revealed for the Giants.
Reserve your free tickets now!
The Giants Draft Party is back! Watch the first round of the NFL Draft live from MetLife Stadium.
