Giants.com is counting down to the start of 2024 Giants Training Camp with 24 questions in 24 days.
17) What is the most improved position on the roster?
John Schmeelk: It's hard for me not to go wide receiver here. When we did our Giants position group rankings on Big Blue Kickoff Live last season, I had the receiving corps as a question mark. Darius Slayton was a reliable veteran, but Wan'Dale Robinson was coming off an ACL injury and Jalin Hyatt was a raw, unproven rookie.
This year, the receivers ranked third on my preseason list behind the defensive tackle and edge player groups. Slayton is still here. Robinson showed a lot of progress at the end of the last season and told me on the Giants Huddle podcast this is the first time he feels completely like his old self since tearing his ACL. This will be like his second season from a games played perspective, but he has three years of mental work under his belt. Hyatt is far more comfortable in the offense and has worked on becoming a more well-rounded wide receiver this offseason.
On April 25, the Giants used the sixth overall pick on Malik Nabers. He has the physical skills to be the best receiver in the room. He can run all the routes, has good hands, and is already one of the most explosive players on the roster. His ability to catch short passes and turn them into big gains, plus winning over the top with his speed, should give the Giants an explosive threat they haven't had since Odell Beckham Jr.
Is the room still a bit more potential than production? Yes, but I believe in the players in the room and that they'll come together to give the Giants one of their best wide receiver groups in recent memory.
My runner-up is the edge position on defense. Adding a player like Brian Burns immediately elevates the group, with potential internal improvement from a developing Kayvon Thibodeaux and a healthier Azeez Ojulari to round things out.
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