With the open dates announced, the Giants.com crew discusses the first thing to look for at training camp:
John Schmeelk: Offensive line vs. defensive line 1-on-1 drills. I realize I am cheating a little bit here because we won't see the players in pads until nearly a week into camp, but I don't care. We saw more than enough practice without contact during OTAs for me to have any level of excitement for more of that. Once the pads come on and more contact is encouraged, practice starts looking a lot more like real football.
Real football starts up front. If anything meaningful is going to change, it has to start there. The Giants have a new offensive line coach and two new starters at guard in Jon Runyan and Jermaine Eluemunor, but my attention will be on two younger players: Evan Neal and John Michael Schmitz.
Both players were premium draft picks, with Neal being selected seventh overall and Schmitz going in the second round. Neal has dealt with leg injuries his first two seasons and knows that how he plays in camp and preseason games will go a long way in determining how the team will use him this year. Schmitz had growing pains as a rookie center with instability at the two guard positions around him. He looks stronger after a full offseason in a professional weight program, and the team needs him to be sturdier in the middle of the line.
What will make 1-on-1s up front even more exciting is the skill level of defenders this group will have to block on a daily basis. Dexter Lawrence and Brian Burns are elite athletes with large pass rush repertoires that should test both Schmitz and Burns daily. Kayvon Thibodeaux had double-digit sacks last year, and when healthy, Azeez Ojulari has pure rusher ability to challenge the edge. Neal will have a chance to show what he can do against some very good football players, while Schmitz will have to block the best nose tackle in football in Lawrence. Watching good-on-good with Andrew Thomas against the Giants' edge rushers should also be a treat. I can't wait to see it.
Get excited for the 2024 season with photos from Media Day at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97), ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
WR Malik Nabers (9)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58), CB Deonte Banks (3)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
RB Devin Singletary (26)
WR Darius Slayton (86)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
S Jason Pinnock (27)
S Dane Belton (24)
S/ILB Isaiah Simmons (19)
S Jason Pinnock (27)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
WR Darius Slayton (86)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
DL D.J. Davidson (98)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
CB Tre Hawkins III (37)
CB Tre Hawkins III (37)
QB Tommy DeVito (15)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
QB Tommy DeVito (15)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
TE Lawrence Cager (83)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
QB Tommy DeVito (15)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
QB Tommy DeVito (15)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58), CB Deonte Banks (3)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58), CB Deonte Banks (3)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
S Dane Belton (24)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
S Dane Belton (24)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
DB Jalen Mills (21)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97), ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97), ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97), ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
T Evan Neal (73)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
RB Devin Singletary (26)
RB Devin Singletary (26)
RB Devin Singletary (26)
RB Devin Singletary (26)
RB Devin Singletary (26)
RB Devin Singletary (26)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
RB Devin Singletary (26)
OLB Azeez Ojulari (51)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
S/ILB Isaiah Simmons (19)
QB Drew Lock (2)
CB Darnay Holmes (30)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
T Evan Neal (73)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
T Evan Neal (73)
S/ILB Isaiah Simmons (19)
DB Jalen Mills (21)
DB Jalen Mills (21)
S/ILB Isaiah Simmons (19)
S/ILB Isaiah Simmons (19)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
DT Jordon Riley (95)
ILB Darius Muasau (53)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
WR Malik Nabers (9)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
WR Malik Nabers (9)
WR Malik Nabers (9)
WR Malik Nabers (9)
WR Malik Nabers (9)
TE Theo Johnson (47)
ILB Darius Muasau (53)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
OL Jermaine Eluemunor (72)
S Tyler Nubin (31)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
S Tyler Nubin (31)
S Tyler Nubin (31)
S Tyler Nubin (31)
S Tyler Nubin (31)
S Tyler Nubin (31)
DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (93)
DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (93)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
OLB Boogie Basham (55)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
CB Cor'Dale Flott (28)
QB Drew Lock (2)
DB Jalen Mills (21)
QB Drew Lock (2)
CB Cor'Dale Flott (28)
DB Jalen Mills (21)
S/ILB Isaiah Simmons (19)
S/ILB Isaiah Simmons (19)
S Jason Pinnock (27)
S Jason Pinnock (27)
S Jason Pinnock (27)
OLB Boogie Basham (55)
S Jason Pinnock (27)
OLB Boogie Basham (55)
OLB Boogie Basham (55)
WR Darius Slayton (86)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
OLB Boogie Basham (55)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Boogie Basham (55)
WR Darius Slayton (86)
WR Darius Slayton (86)
WR Darius Slayton (86)
CB Tre Hawkins III (37)
WR Darius Slayton (86)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
Jimmy Morrissey (67)
WR Dennis Houston (88)
DL D.J. Davidson (98)
ILB Micah McFadden (41)
P Jamie Gillan (6)
P Jamie Gillan (6)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
DL Ryder Anderson (90)
DL D.J. Davidson (98)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
G Aaron Stinnie (64)
C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61)
G/C Austin Schlottmann (65)
ILB Carter Coughlin (52)
DT Jordon Riley (95)
ILB Darrian Beavers (43)
DT Jordon Riley (95)
C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61)
ILB Carter Coughlin (52)
ILB Darrian Beavers (43)
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (6)
ILB Darrian Beavers (43)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
S Dane Belton (24)
RB Eric Gray (20)
TE Lawrence Cager (83)
TE Daniel Bellinger (82)
DB Kaleb Hayes (38)
DB Kaleb Hayes (38)
WR Dennis Houston (88)
TE Lawrence Cager (83)
RB Eric Gray (20)
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (6)
RB Eric Gray (20)
LS Casey Kreiter (59)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
ILB Micah McFadden (41)
CB Nick McCloud (44)
S Dane Belton (24)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
OLB Boogie Basham (55)
TE Daniel Bellinger (82)
Nathan Rourke (3)
G Aaron Stinnie (64)
K Graham Gano (9)
OLB Boogie Basham (55)
S Jason Pinnock (27)
WR Miles Boykin (81)
Elijah Riley (34)
OL Marcus McKethan (60)
TE Chris Manhertz (85)
WR John Jiles (0)
WR Malik Nabers (9)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
RB Devin Singletary (26)
T Evan Neal (73)
TE Theo Johnson (47)
S/ILB Isaiah Simmons (19)
CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver III (36)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
G Jon Runyan (76)
WR Darius Slayton (86)
WR Ayir Asante (19)
WR Ayir Asante (19)
DT Casey Rogers (91)
OL Joshua Ezeudu (75)
Elijah Chatman (94)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
RB Dante Miller (25)
Jake Kubas (63)
DB Jalen Mills (21)
RB Dante Miller (25)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
DB Jalen Mills (21)
QB Drew Lock (2)
Marcellus Johnson
WR Allen Robinson II (15)
CB Cor'Dale Flott (28)
CB Tre Hawkins III (37)
WR Allen Robinson II (15)
OLB Azeez Ojulari (51)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
OLB Azeez Ojulari (51)
LB Matthew Adams (49)
DL Timmy Horne (96)
DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (93)
DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (93)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
OLB Benton Whitley (48)
S Gervarrius Owens (39)
TE Chris Manhertz (85)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
TE Jack Stoll (89)
QB Nathan Rourke (3)
Daniel Bellinger (82)
Lawrence Cager (83)
John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61)
John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61)
Darrian Beavers (43)
Darrian Beavers (43)
Lawrence Cager (83)
Lawrence Cager (83)
Dane Belton (24)
Darrian Beavers (43)
Dane Belton (24)
Darrian Beavers (43)
Dane Belton (24)
Dane Belton (24)
Daniel Bellinger (82)
Daniel Bellinger (82)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
LS Casey Kreiter (59)
QB Tommy DeVito (15)
QB Tommy DeVito (15)
LS Casey Kreiter (59)
QB Tommy DeVito (15)
LS Casey Kreiter (59)
RB Eric Gray (20)
LS Casey Kreiter (59)
RB Eric Gray (20)
Micah McFadden (41)
Micah McFadden (41)
RB Eric Gray (20)
Micah McFadden (41)
Micah McFadden (41)
Micah McFadden (41)
Micah McFadden (41)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
Dennis Houston (88)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
DB Kaleb Hayes (38)
Dyontae Johnson (54)
Bryce Ford-Wheaton
DB Kaleb Hayes (38)
Dennis Houston (88)
Bryce Ford-Wheaton
Bryce Ford-Wheaton
Dyontae Johnson (54)
Bryce Ford-Wheaton
QB Nathan Rourke (3)
QB Nathan Rourke (3)
Dyontae Johnson (54)
John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61)
Boogie Basham (55)
Jason Pinnock (27)
Nick McCloud (44)
Nick McCloud (44)
Miles Boykin (81)
Nick McCloud (44)
Miles Boykin (81)
Jimmy Morrissey (67)
Jimmy Morrissey (67)
Marcus McKethan (60)
Marcus McKethan (60)
Aaron Stinnie (64)
Elijah Riley (34)
Elijah Riley (34)
Boogie Basham (55)
Aaron Stinnie (64)
Matt Nelson (68)
Ryder Anderson (90)
Aaron Stinnie (64)
Ryder Anderson (90)
Graham Gano (9)
Boogie Basham (55)
Gunner Olszewski (80)
Graham Gano (9)
Jordon Riley (95)
Elijah Riley (34)
Graham Gano (9)
Austin Schlottmann (65)
Aaron Stinnie (64)
Matt Nelson (68)
Jordon Riley (95)
Austin Schlottmann (65)
Austin Schlottmann (65)
Andrew Thomas (78)
Jamie Gillan (6)
D.J. Davidson (98)
Jamie Gillan (6)
Carter Coughlin (52)
Andrew Thomas (78)
Carter Coughlin (52)
Tomon Fox (45)
Tomon Fox (45)
Tomon Fox (45)
Andrew Thomas (78)
Tomon Fox (45)
Andrew Thomas (78)
Andrew Thomas (78)
John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61)
Chris Manhertz (85)
Jermaine Eluemunor (72)
Jalen Mills (21)
Jude McAtamney (99)
Drew Lock (2)
Benton Whitley (48)
Deonte Banks (25)
Matthew Adams (49)
Drew Lock (2)
Darnay Holmes (30)
Azeez Ojulari (51)
Jermaine Eluemunor (72)
Drew Lock (2)
Joshua Miles (77)
Tre Hawkins III (37)
Benton Whitley (48)
Cor'Dale Flott (28)
Deonte Banks (25)
Deonte Banks (25)
Gervarrius Owens (39)
Deonte Banks (25)
Jason Pinnock (27)
Deonte Banks (25)
Jason Pinnock (27)
Jason Pinnock (27)
Rakeem Nunez-Roches (93)
Gervarrius Owens (39)
Cor'Dale Flott (28)
Cor'Dale Flott (28)
Bobby Okereke (58)
Matthew Adams (49)
Gervarrius Owens (39)
Timmy Horne (96)
Jack Stoll (89)
Rakeem Nunez-Roches (93)
Bobby Okereke (58)
Jack Stoll (89)
Jack Stoll (89)
David Long Jr. (20)
Rakeem Nunez-Roches (93)
Chris Manhertz (85)
David Long Jr. (20)
Deonte Banks (25)
Bobby Okereke (58)
Bobby Okereke (58)
Bobby Okereke (58)
Matthew Adams (49)
Rakeem Nunez-Roches (93)
Chris Manhertz (85)
Chris Manhertz (85)
Malik Nabers (9)
Jalin Hyatt (13)
Joshua Ezeudu (75)
Elijah Chatman (94)
Darius Muasau (53)
Malik Nabers (9)
Jalin Hyatt (13)
Daniel Jones (8)
Brian Burns (0)
Malik Nabers (9)
Darius Muasau (53)
Jon Runyan (76)
Dru Phillips (22)
Elijah Chatman (94)
Devin Singletary (26)
Malik Nabers (9)
Dante Miller (25)
Dante Miller (25)
Joshua Ezeudu (75)
Darius Muasau (53)
Isaiah Simmons (19)
Jon Runyan (76)
Jalen Mills (21)
Darius Muasau (53)
Darius Muasau (53)
CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver III (36)
ILB Micah McFadden (41)
G/C Austin Schlottmann (65)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
TE Daniel Bellinger (82)
RB Eric Gray (20)
OLB Tomon Fox (45)
TE Lawrence Cager (83)
LS Casey Kreiter (59)
DL D.J. Davidson (98)
ILB Darrian Beavers (43)
ILB Carter Coughlin (52)
S Dane Belton (24)
DT Jordon Riley (95)
P Jamie Gillan (6)
DL Ryder Anderson (90)
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (6)
Nathan Rourke (3)
WR Dennis Houston (88)
C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61)
S Jason Pinnock (27)
DB Jalen Mills (21)
DB Kaleb Hayes (38)
DB Kaleb Hayes (38)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
LB Matthew Adams (49)
DT Casey Rogers (91)
WR Allen Robinson II (15)
Jimmy Morrissey (67)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (93)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
WR Gunner Olszewski (80)
OL Marcus McKethan (60)
OLB Boogie Basham (55)
Alex Johnson (25)
QB Drew Lock (2)
CB Nick McCloud (44)
K Graham Gano (9)
TE Chris Manhertz (85)
G Aaron Stinnie (64)
OL Jermaine Eluemunor (72)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
CB Cor'Dale Flott (28)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
RB Dante Miller (25)
S/ILB Isaiah Simmons (19)
WR Malik Nabers (9)
Jake Kubas (63)
T Evan Neal (73)
TE Theo Johnson (47)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
RB Devin Singletary (26)
WR John Jiles (0)
OLB Jeremiah Martin (53)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
ILB Dyontae Johnson (54)
Dan Salomone: The No. 1 thing to look for is No. 8 in 11-on-11. Daniel Jones, who made headlines this spring when he opened OTAs in 7-on-7 drills, is on track to be full-go for the start of training camp. That will be the first box to check at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center on July 24.
"The knee feels good, really good," Jones said before the Giants wrapped up spring practices. "I think every week I've continued to feel better and better and taking steps. Doing a lot of the same things I've been doing, but doing them better and feeling sharper, cleaner with a lot of my cuts. Kind of working on getting that explosiveness back and then taking steps in improving my change of direction and cutting from even where it was before the injury."
Jones added, "I expect to be ready to go the first day of training camp."
When that happens, there will be fewer than 50 days until the start of the season – the 100th in franchise history – on Sept. 8 against the Vikings.
View photos of the New York Giants' 2024 active roster as it currently stands.
LB Matthew Adams
DL Ryder Anderson
WR Ayir Asante
CB Deonte Banks
OLB Boogie Basham
LB Darrian Beavers
TE Daniel Bellinger
S Dane Belton
WR Miles Boykin
OLB Brian Burns
TE Lawrence Cager
OT Yodny Cajuste
DT Elijah Chatman
RB Jashaun Corbin
LB Carter Coughlin
DL D.J. Davidson
QB Tommy DeVito
OL Jermaine Eluemunor
OL Joshua Ezeudu
CB Cor'Dale Flott
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton
OLB Tomon Fox
K Graham Gano
P Jamie Gillan (6)
RB Eric Gray
CB Tre Hawkins III
DB Kaleb Hayes
CB Tre Herndon
WR Isaiah Hodgins
CB Darnay Holmes
DL Timmy Horne
WR Dennis Houston
WR Jalin Hyatt
TE Tyree Jackson
WR John Jiles
CB Alex Johnson
ILB Dyontae Johnson
T Marcellus Johnson
TE Theo Johnson
QB Daniel Jones
LS Casey Kreiter
G Jake Kubas
DL Dexter Lawrence II
QB Drew Lock
CB David Long Jr.
TE Chris Manhertz
G Jalen Mayfield
K Jude McAtamney
CB Nick McCloud
LB Micah McFadden
WR Isaiah McKenzie
OL Marcus McKethan
T Joshua Miles
RB Dante Miller
DB Jalen Mills
C Jimmy Morrissey
LB Darius Muasau
WR Malik Nabers
T Evan Neal
T Matt Nelson
S Tyler Nubin
DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches
OLB Ovie Oghoufo
OLB Azeez Ojulari
ILB Bobby Okereke
WR Gunner Olszewski
S Gervarrius Owens
CB Dru Phillips
DL Jordan Phillips
S Jason Pinnock
DB Elijah Riley
DL Jordon Riley
CB Aaron Robinson
WR Allen Robinson II
WR Wan'Dale Robinson
DL Casey Rogers
QB Nathan Rourke
G Jon Runyan Jr.
RB Jacob Saylors
OL Austin Schlottmann
C John Michael Schmitz Jr.
S/LB Isaiah Simmons
RB Devin Singletary
WR Darius Slayton
OL Aaron Stinnie
TE Jack Stoll
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux
OT Andrew Thomas
CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr.
OLB Benton Whitley
Matt Citak: In order for a team to develop, it needs its draft picks to step up. This begins with first-round picks who are expected to contribute right away because of their draft position. That is why the first thing I will look for at training camp is the performance of cornerback Deonte Banks and wide receiver Malik Nabers, and how the two match up against each other.
Banks essentially served as the team's No. 1 cornerback during his rookie season, despite the presence of veteran Adoree' Jackson. Banks found himself on an island against the opposing team's top wide receiver week in and week out. While he endured some bumps along the way, he showed enough promise that the Giants felt comfortable going into the 2024 campaign with him sitting atop the CB depth chart. During his rookie season, Banks earned a passer rating against of 84.7, according to Pro Football Focus, which ranked 24th out of 74 qualified cornerbacks, while allowing a 57.6 completion rate (53 receptions allowed on 92 targets). He also ranked third among all cornerbacks in fewest receptions over expected allowed at -6.7, according to Next Gen Stats.
Then there's the rookie receiver, who comes to the Giants with potentially more hype than any other Giants prospect in recent memory. Nabers was electric at LSU last year, recording 89 receptions for 1,569 yards and 14 touchdowns while leading the nation in 10+ yard plays, 20+ yard plays and 30+ yard plays. It didn't take long for the 20-year-old to dazzle us this spring, as he made incredibly athletic catches on a near daily basis, including a couple of jaw-dropping touchdown grabs during OTAs. Nabers put up quite the performance throughout the spring, showing that he has the potential to elevate the entire offense right out of the gate.
It's fair to say that both young players could help transform their respective units this season, which is why the battles between the two in training camp should be wildly entertaining. Unlike in the spring when contact is not permitted, Banks will be able to get right up in the face of the rookie wideout and press him at the line of scrimmage. The competitions between Banks and Nabers will be fun to watch, but more importantly, it should help both players grow as they prepare for the start of the season.
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