The Giants.com crew is presented with four statements and must decide whether they are Fact or Fiction.
There were no surprises on the initial 53-man roster.
John Schmeelk: Fiction – Wide receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton surprised me in a good way. He had a very strong camp as a rookie last summer, but a torn ACL eliminated his chances of making the final roster. In 2024, he was competing with veteran Miles Boykin, a six-year pro with the measurables and experience of a core special teams player who could contribute on all the units. He was also competing with veterans Allen Robinson and Isaiah Hodgins. It's possible they selected Ford-Wheaton because of a combination of his youth (24 years old), and ability to not only contribute on special teams (which he has the last two summers – especially as a gunner) but also his developmental potential to play wide receiver at 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds that ran a sub 4.4 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.
Dan Salomone: Fiction – If you got the lay of the land right before Tuesday's deadline, then no, there weren't many surprises. That's why you go through the process of the past six months, which includes the combine, draft, free agency, offseason workouts, spring practices, rookie minicamp, veteran minicamp, training camp, joint practices, and preseason games. But if you're talking about the start of it all, when you saw a 5-foot-11, 278-pound rookie in the same drill line as a 6-foot-4, 340-pound two-time Pro Bowler like Dexter Lawrence, then yes, I would have been surprised right then and there that Elijah Chatman was going to make the team. As we learned throughout each checkpoint, however, he was no surprise.
Matt Citak: Fact – For the most part, the initial 53-man roster was just about what we expected. After all of the injuries the offensive line endured last season, I assumed the Giants would roll with 10 linemen to start the season, ensuring they have plenty of depth behind the starters. It was also not surprising to see undrafted rookie free agents Elijah Chatman and Jake Kubas make the team following their strong performances this summer. I was curious what they would do with tight end/fullback Jakob Johnson, who was released and re-signed to the practice squad.
Four rookies started at least one game for the Giants last season. There will be more than that in 2024.
John Schmeelk: Fact – This was an easy answer for me. I would be shocked if we don't see Malik Nabers, Dru Phillips, and Tyler Nubin start at some point this season. That means we only need to see two of the following players earn a starting role or be forced to start a game due to injury: Theo Johnson, Tyrone Tracy Jr., Darius Muasau, Elijah Chatman and Jake Kubas. I like my odds given the attrition rate in the NFL and the performance of those players in training camp.
Dan Salomone: Fiction – I'll go with a push here. Wide receiver Malik Nabers and nickel cornerback Dru Phillips were the only two rookies penciled in as starters on the unofficial depth charts throughout the preseason. Of the other four draft picks and two undrafted free agents, two is not hard to imagine given the attrition of a season. Getting to five overall rookie starters, however, is not a guarantee.
Matt Citak: Fact – Three rookies could start for the Giants right off the bat between Malik Nabers, Tyler Nubin and Dru Phillips. Theo Johnson could also push to start at tight end at some point this season, which gives us four. Then between Tyrone Tracy, Elijah Chatman and Jake Kubas, all three rookies could find themselves in a starting role if the Giants' starters suffer an injury or two. I've been very encouraged about the Giants' rookie class since right after the draft, and if given the opportunity to start this season, or at least see extended action, I believe the rookies will step up in a big way.
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
The defensive front four is the biggest strength on the 2024 roster.
John Schmeelk: Fact – I'm assuming this is the sub-package group of Brian Burns, Dexter Lawrence, Kayvon Thibodeaux and likely Rakeem Nunez-Roches. The group has two of the team's highest salaried players and a top-five pick from three years ago. With a very young secondary, the defensive front is going to have to put consistent pressure on the quarterback for the team to be successful on that side of the ball.
Dan Salomone: Fact – Don't forget about the "fourth" either. Ten-year veteran Rakeen Nunez-Roches had a strong camp and looked just as fiery as any rookie. "Nacho, a lot of people count him out as being an older guy," Kayvon Thibodeaux said this summer, "but he's playing like he's one of the young guys."
Matt Citak: Fact – This one is easy. Dexter Lawrence has arguably been the Giants' best player over the last two seasons. He is now joined in the front four by Brian Burns on one side and Kayvon Thibodeaux on the other. Burns and Thibodeaux were recently named among the NFL's top pass rushing duos by ESPN, and when you add in Lawrence in the middle, it's hard to find a more talented trio up front. Shane Bowen's defense relies on the front four getting pressure on the quarterback, which I don't think will be an issue given the talent the Giants have at those spots.
The player you're most excited to see finally make his Giants debut in Week 1 is wide receiver Malik Nabers.
John Schmeelk: Fact – This is my 18th season, and Malik Nabers is the most impressive rookie I have ever seen in training camp. Keep in mind that Odell Beckham Jr. missed much of camp with a hamstring injury his rookie year. Nabers has been dominant throughout camp and shown his receiving ability at all three levels of the defense. He can score a touchdown from anywhere on the field and should provide Daniel Jones a target he can have confidence delivering the ball to even if he isn't open. He can separate, win with speed, run strong routes, make contested catches and create more yards after the catch.
Dan Salomone: Fact – When the rookie steps on the field, he will be the first Giants player to wear jersey No. 1 since 1935. Now that's how you launch a career and the Giants' 100th season at the same time.
Matt Citak: Fiction – Nabers is 1B on my list of players I'm most excited to see make their Giants debut in the season opener, but 1A is Brian Burns. The outside linebacker was the Giants' big offseason splash, and as I mentioned in my previous answer with Bowen's defensive scheme, Burns' importance to the defense cannot be overstated. We saw a glimpse of what the 26-year-old is capable of in the preseason matchup against the Texans, where he used an impressive spin move to get around the offensive tackle and into the face of quarterback C.J. Stroud, who was forced to quickly get rid of the ball on a fourth-down play. Burns should be the most talented edge rusher the Giants have had in a long time, and I cannot wait to see him go after quarterbacks, alongside Lawrence and Thibodeaux, beginning Week 1 against the Vikings.
Check out the evolution of the New York Giants' uniforms through the years.
The 1934 N.Y. Giants pose for a team photo. The Giants won the 1934 NFL Championship Game over the Chicago Bears in what's known as "The Sneakers Game" after their players switched from cleats to sneakers to help with their footing in their upset win. (AP Photo/Pro Football Hall of Fame)
1927 New York Giants team photo (Pro Football Hall of Fame via AP Images)
New York Giants' center Mel Hein is seen Oct. 11, 1945, in New York. (AP Photo/John Lindsay)
RB Ward Cuff is shown in this 1945 photo. (AP Photo)
Kyle Rote, halfback for the New York Giants Oct. 24, 1951 at the Polo Grounds in New York. (AP Photo)
Arnie Weinmeister, New York Giant tackle, during workout at the Polo Grounds in New York City in 1952. (AP Photo/Ray Howard)
This Dec. 11, 1956 file photo shows Andy Robustelli (81), an end for the New York Giants. (AP Photo/File)
Frank Gifford heads upfield during an NFL game on Nov. 3, 1957 (AP Photo/NFL Photos/Vernon Biever)
New York Giants halfback Frank Gifford, shown at a workout on Sept. 9, 1958 in New York. (AP Photo/Rooney)
Photo shows Dick Nolan, half back for the New York Giants on Sept. 17, 1960. (AP Photo/John Rooney)
Y.A. Tittle after leading Giants to stunning 38-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Nov. 12, 1961. (AP Photo/John Lindsay)
In this Sept. 3, 1963, file photo, New York Giants running back Alex Webster poses at the team's NFL training camp in Fairfield, Conn. (AP Photo/Harry Harris, File)
New York Giants QB Fran Tarkenton, Nov. 5, 1967 (AP Photo.Robert Walsh, File)
Fran Tarkenton, quarterback, New York Giants, (10) flanked by left Joe Morrison, and Joe Koontz (47) right, in 1968. (AP Photo)
Linebacker Pat Hughes watches play in 1972. (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt)
Carl "Spider" Lockhart poses for a photo during training camp in Fairfield, Ct., 1974. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)
RB Doug Kotar and Joe Dawkins clutch hands during an NFL game against the Green Bay Packers, Nov. 23, 1975. (AP Photo/Vernon Biever)
New York Giants linebacker Brad Van Pelt (10) during a 24 to 10 Giants win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 26, 1976 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles.(AP Photo/NFL Photos)
Hall of Fame RB Larry Csonka watches from the sideline against the Los Angeles Rams at the Los Angeles Coliseum on September 26, 1976. (Peter Read Miller via AP)
QB Phil Simms throws a pass during the NFL football game against the New York Jets in East Rutherford, New Jersey on August 28, 1982. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
New York Giants linebacker Harry Carson (53) looks on during the NFL football game against the St. Louis Cardinals on September 22, 1985 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Giants won the game 27-17. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
New York Giants' quarterback Phil Simms is seen in action, 1984. (AP Photo)
Lawrence Taylor is congregated by Mark Collins and Carl Banks after his interception and touchdown run on a Joe Montana pass on Sunday, Jan. 4, 1986 in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Ray Stubblebine)
New York Giants running back Ottis Anderson (24) catches a pregame pass during the NFL game against the Philadelphia Eagles on October 12, 1986 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Giants won the game 35-3. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Mark Collins watches pre-game warm-ups before the 1986 NFC Championship NFL game against the Washington Redskins, Jan. 11, 1987. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Phil Simms vs. San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park Monday, November 27, 1989. (AP Photo/Al Golub)
Giants running back Ottis Anderson (24) on Monday, December 3, 1990. (AP Photo/Al Golub)
Jeff Hostetler celebrates after throwing a first quarter touchdown pass against the Chicago Bears at Giants Stadium, Jan. 13, 1991. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
Jessie Armstead (98) during a game from his 1993 season with the New York Giants. (David Durochik via AP)
New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor (56) pressures Minnesota Vikings quarterback Jim McMahon Jan. 9, 1994 in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
Rodney Hampton during a game from his 1995 season with the New York Giants. (David Durochik via AP)
Phillippi Sparkes holds his second interception of the night with teammates Tito Wooten (29) and Corey Widmer (90) during overtime against the Washington Redskins, Nov. 23, 1997. (AP/Doug Mills)
Keith Hamilton against the Oakland Raiders on September 13, 1998 in Oakland. (AP Photo/G. Newman Lowrance)
Amani Toomer celebrates after catching a 17 yard touchdown pass against the Cleveland Browns, Nov. 5, 2000 (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Cedrick Jones (94) and Thabiti Davis (82) celebrate their 17-13 win over the Dallas Cowboys in Irving, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2000. With the win the Giants are NFC East champions. (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam)
Kerry Collins sets to pass against the St. Louis Rams during their football game in St. Louis Sunday, Sept. 15, 2002. (AP Photo/James A. Finley)
Eli Manning (10) throws a pass during the first quarter Sunday, Oct. 23, 2005 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
Tiki Barber breaks through the Oakland Raiders' defense on his way to 95-yard rushing touchdown in the first half of NFL football on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2005 (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Michael Strahan celebrates after sacking Dallas Cowboys quarterback Drew Bledsoe during the third quarter Sunday, Dec. 4, 2005 at Giants Stadium (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
Lawrence Tynes celebrates after kicking the game-winning field goal in overtime during the NFC Championship football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2008, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
New York Giants QB Eli Manning (10) celebrates after his 13-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl XLII football game against the New England Patriots at University of Phoenix Stadium on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008 in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
New York Giants defensive end Justin Tuck (91) looks on before an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
The Giants introduce their alternative uniforms with white pants vs. the Raiders November 10th, 2013
David Diehl (66) blocks during a week 10 football game against the Oakland Raiders on November 10, 2013 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (AP Photo/Evan Pinkus)
Sterling Shepard (87) during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz.(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Saquon Barkley scores a 1st quarter touchdown during a week 16 game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday December 23, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
Saquon Barkley hurdles Philadelphia Eagles' Malcolm Jenkins (27) during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Leonard Williams and Dexter Lawrence react during the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Monday, Nov. 4, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
Azeez Ojulari (51) Jason Pinnock (27)
Daniel Jones (8)
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) during a game against the Washington Commanders on Sunday December 4, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Jerry Pinkus/ New York Giants)
New York Giants place kicker Graham Gano (9) during a game against the Washington Commanders on Sunday December 4, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Jerry Pinkus/ New York Giants)
Azeez Ojulari (51)
Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) Azeez Ojulari (51)
Darius Slayton
New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during a game against the Washington Commanders on Sunday December 4, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Jerry Pinkus/ New York Giants)
Jon Feliciano (76)
Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
Graham Gano (9)
Isaiah Hodgins (18)
Darius Slayton (86)
Isaiah Hodgins (18)
Daniel Jones
Daniel Jones, Saquon Barkley
Daniel Jones
Daniel Jones
Jihad Ward (55)
Dexter Lawrence (97)
Daniel Jones (8)
Daniel Jones (8), Saquon Barkley (26)
Darius Slayton (86), Daniel Jones (8)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Jihad Ward (55)
Daniel Jones (8)
Azeez Ojulari (51)
Jihad Ward (55)
Daniel Jones (8)
Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
Daniel Jones (8), Daniel Bellinger (82)
Daniel Jones (8)
Dexter Lawrence (97)
Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
Azeez Ojulari (51)
Isaiah Hodgins (18)
Isaiah Hodgins (18)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13), CB Deonte Banks (3)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5), CB Deonte Banks (3)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
CB Deonte Banks (3), OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
