Giants 53-man roster projection: Why Tommy DeVito, Lawrence Cager didn't make the cut (2024)

There’s still plenty of time for players to establish themselves as integral members of the New York Giants’ 53-man roster, but after 14 practices and a preseason game, the group we’ll see on the field Week 1 is beginning to take shape:

Quarterbacks: 2

In: Daniel Jones, Drew Lock
Out: Tommy DeVito

Lock (hip) is “100 percent confident” he’ll be good to go by Week 1. Assuming that’s the case, DeVito might not have a place on the 53-man roster. But don’t worry devoted DeVito fans, that’s not really a knock on him. He played well Thursday (8-of-15 for 92 yards) and probably deserves a roster spot after what he accomplished last year. However, new league rules allow for unlimited game day promotions for an emergency quarterback off the practice squad. So, if the Giants don’t think he’ll get poached, they could leave him off their initial roster.

Running backs: 4

In: Devin Singletary, Eric Gray, Tyrone Tracy Jr., Dante Miller
Out: Lorenzo Lingard

The running back room looked like it took a blow Tuesday when Tracy injured his right ankle and was carted off the field in an air cast. However, early reports are that the 2024 fifth-round pick may have avoided a significant injury. If true, it’s a big relief for the Giants, as Tracy was having a good camp and looked like he could be a meaningful contributor in the passing game out of the backfield.

Gray, a 2023 fifth-rounder, would not have been included on this list a few weeks ago. He seemed to be falling out of favor, but his strong performance Thursday (98 total yards and two touchdowns) bumped his stock up.

Eric Gray with the moves.

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— NFL (@NFL) August 9, 2024

Miller, AKA “Turbo,” has impressed with his speed throughout camp and has earned first-team reps in recent days. Coach Brian Daboll was impressed with his running backs after the first preseason game.

“I thought they were decisive,” he said. “I thought there wasn’t a lot of stutter-stepping. They were hitting the hole with good vision. They ran in space.”

Wide receivers: 7

In: Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, Wan’Dale Robinson, Jalin Hyatt, Isaiah McKenzie, Miles Boykin, Isaiah Hodgins
Out: Gunner Olszewski, Allen Robinson, Bryce Ford-Wheaton, Ayir Asante, Dennis Houston, John Jiles

We debated carrying only six WRs, but we’ll keep seven and cut down the tight end room instead. The hard choices in this group came down to McKenzie, Boykin, Hodgins, Olszewski and Ford-Wheaton. McKenzie has a history with Daboll dating back to their days in Buffalo and is a capable punt and kick returner. We gave him the nod over Olszewski. Boykin, a veteran receiver, offers special teams versatility, giving him the edge over Ford-Wheaton, who has struggled with injuries in his first two NFL camps. He tore his ACL last year and then dislocated his finger in Thursday’s game. Hodgins feels like the bubble player. The former Bill arrived in New York in mid-2022 as one of Jones’ favorite targets, but he’s since fallen down the depth chart.

Tight ends: 3

In: Daniel Bellinger, Theo Johnson, Chris Manhertz
Out: Lawrence Cager, Tyree Jackson, Jack Stoll

We initially wanted to go with four tight ends, but Cager’s injury history forced us to re-evaluate. Cager was having an impressive camp but then missed time with a hamstring injury. He returned Monday only to exit practice again with a groin injury. Daboll said he’ll be “down for a while,” which doesn’t bode well for Cager’s hopes of making the 53-man roster in time for Week 1.

Offensive linemen: 10

In: Andrew Thomas, Jermaine Eluemunor, John Michael Schmitz, Jon Runyan, Greg Van Roten, Josh Ezeudu, Aaron Stinnie, Austin Schlottmann, Evan Neal, Jake Kubas
Out: Jimmy Morrissey, Matt Nelson, Yodny Cajuste, Marcus McKethan, Joshua Miles, Jalen Mayfield, Marcellus Johnson

It’s been a decade of disaster for the Giants offensive line, and things aren’t off to a great start this year, either. Key players including Neal (ankle) and Schmitz (shoulder) have both missed a lot of time with injuries, though both returned to practice Tuesday. Neal’s place in the pecking order is a bit of a mystery. After coming off PUP, will he compete with Eluemunor for the starting job at RT, or will the Giants move him inside?

The 10 linemen who made the roster in this projection reflect the Giants’ offseason priorities to invest in their front: Six were not with New York last year. And all 10 players, save Neal, have taken first-team reps. At the least, the depth seems to have improved from last season. One player who has helped on that front is Kubas. The undrafted rookie is having a strong camp and worked at first-team left guard this week when Runyan (shoulder) missed time Tuesday. Daboll said Runyan’s injury was “nothing serious.”

Defensive linemen: 5

In: Dexter Lawrence, Rakeem Nunez-Roches, Jordon Riley, Ryder Anderson, Elijah Chatman
Out: D.J. Davidson, Casey Rogers, Timmy Horne

There’s been a lot of rotation of these players throughout camp as defensive line coach Andre Patterson tries to figure out who to start alongside Lawrence and Nunez-Roches. Anderson has looked good, but the big surprise has been the play of Chatman, who signed with the Giants after rookie minicamp. His speed and athleticism from the interior have stood out.

“He’s a smaller guy, but he’s got some length in his arms,” Daboll said. “He’s got some explosiveness and quick twitch, maybe a little bit different than some of the bigger guys. I think he’s developed since he’s been here.”

Look for Chatman to see more first-team reps, maybe even in the upcoming preseason game against Houston, to give coaches a better evaluation.

Outside linebackers: 4

In: Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Azeez Ojulari, Boogie Basham
Out: Tomon Fox, Benton Whitley, Ovie Oghoufo

The acquisition of Burns pushed Ojulari down the depth chart, which should strengthen the unit. Basham had a strong spring and looks like he’ll get the last spot. Both Ojulari and Basham got the start in the preseason game, and we’ve seen Ojulari at times run with the first team this camp.

Inside linebackers: 5

In: Bobby Okereke, Micah McFadden, Carter Coughlin, Matthew Adams, Darius Muasau
Out: Dyontae Johnson, Darrian Beavers

Coughlin, Adams and Muasau should be core special teams players, though it will be interesting to see if Muasau, a sixth-round rookie, gets any action on defense this year.

Johnson was having a solid camp and looking like a roster lock before he suffered an ankle injury in the first preseason game and made this decision more complicated.

“You feel for those guys that are competing for roster spots that get injured,” Daboll said. “A guy like Dyontae, he’s worked his tail off. He’s been productive in camp. They’ll do everything they can do to get back, but (these are) valuable reps you miss in terms of the evaluation process when you’re not out there.”

Cornerbacks: 6

In: Deonte Banks, Cor’Dale Flott, Nick McCloud, Dru Phillips, Isaiah Simmons, Tre Hawkins
Out: Tre Herndon, Darnay Holmes, David Long, Alex Johnson

The Giants didn’t get a starting cornerback who could play opposite Banks in the draft or free agency, so the position has rotated between Flott and McCloud. Phillips is out with an ankle injury leaving Simmons to fill in the role during practice this week. Simmons, while listed as a safety/inside linebacker by the Giants, has been playing a lot of nickel this offseason, so we’re putting him here. Frankly, he doesn’t really have a set position thanks to his athleticism. Herndon and Long have also filled in at slot. It’s possible one of them nabs the final roster spot.

Safeties: 4

In: Jason Pinnock, Dane Belton, Tyler Nubin, Gervarrius Owens
Out: Jalen Mills, Elijah Riley

Mills has been out with a non-football injury; Riley has a concussion, and Owens is out, too, leaving the Giants with limited players to compete for jobs. The starting spots have belonged to Pinnock and Belton, especially after Nubin missed time early this camp. The second-round pick did play with the first-team defense this week, but whether that was due to a lack of healthy bodies or improved play is unknown.

Specialists: 3

In: K Graham Gano, P Jamie Gillan, LS Casey Kreiter
Out: K Jude McAtamney

McAtamney, the Irish-born undrafted free agent, isn’t a competitor of Gano’s but rather a developmental project. The Giants will get an international exemption for him, so he won’t count toward the 16-man practice squad limit.

(Photo of Brian Daboll and Tommy DeVito: Scott Rausenberger / USA Today)

Charlotte Carroll covers the New York Giants for The Athletic. She previously covered the University of Connecticut basketball and the WNBA's Connecticut Sun for The Athletic and wrote for Sports Illustrated. She interned at The Denver Post and Field & Stream magazine. Follow Charlotte on Twitter @charlottecrrll