Who will John Harbaugh keep, as he puts his stamp on the Giants?
And who will the new head coach cut, since he has final say on personnel?
Those questions linger as the Giants prepare to report to training camp Tuesday in West Virginia.
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NFL cutdown day this year is Aug. 30 — just that one cutdown day, as teams reduce their rosters to the initial 53 players.
So before camp, let’s take a look at our first Giants 53-man roster projection.
QUARTERBACK
Retained (2): Jaxson Dart, Jameis Winston
Cut: Brandon Allen
Analysis: Pretty straightforward here. The top two spots on the Giants’ depth chart are set heading into camp. Will they keep Allen on the practice squad? That’s the only question at quarterback.
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RUNNING BACK
Retained (4): Cam Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy, Devin Singletary, Patrick Ricard (fullback)
Cut: Dante Miller, Damon Bankston, Eric Gray
Analysis: Miller has special teams value, so he could make the team over Singletary, who took a pay cut to return for the final year of his contract. Even if the Giants cut Miller, look for him to land on the practice squad.
WIDE RECEIVER
Retained (6): Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, Calvin Austin, Darnell Mooney, Malachi Fields, Braxton Berrios
Cut: Odell Beckham, Dalen Cambre, Beaux Collins, Xavier Gipson, Isaiah Hodgins, Jalin Hyatt, Ryan Miller, JuJu Smith-Schuster
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Injured reserve: Gunner Olszewski
Analysis: Those first five receiver spots are set. Berrios has returner potential, so we’re giving him the nod over Beckham, Smith-Schuster, Hodgins and Hyatt for that final job. Olszewski, who is primarily a returner, is out for the season (torn Achilles tendon).
TIGHT END
Retained (3): Theo Johnson, Isaiah Likely, Chris Manhertz
Cut: Tanner Conner, Thomas Fidone
Analysis: No surprises here. Fidone (a seventh-round draft pick last year) is a practice squad candidate.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Retained (10): Andrew Thomas, Jon Runyan, John Michael Schmitz, Francis Mauigoa, Jermaine Eluemunor, Marcus Mbow, J.C. Davis, Aaron Stinnie, Bryan Hudson, Daniel Faalele
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Cut: Jake Kubas, Joshua Ezeudu, Jarrod Gray, Evan Neal, Lucas Patrick, Ryan Schernecke
Analysis: Will Neal (the seventh overall pick in 2022) make the team as a backup guard? No. There are too many better options available. He has a shot at sticking around on the practice squad, though, since it’s unlikely another team would claim him off waivers.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Retained (6): Darius Alexander, Leki Fotu, Shelby Harris, Bobby Jamison-Travis, D.J. Reader, Chauncey Golston
Cut: Anquin Barnes, Ben Barten, Chauncey Golston, Zacch Pickens, C.J. Ravenell, Josh Tupou, Sam Roberts, Roy Robertson-Harris
Analysis: The big question here is how the Giants will replace Dexter Lawrence’s production, after the blockbuster trade with the Bengals.
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LINEBACKER
Retained (8): Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Tremaine Edmunds, Arvell Reese, Micah McFadden, Cam Jones, Jack Kelly
Cut: Zaire Barnes, Darius Muasau, Trace Ford, Khalid Kareem, Caleb Murphy
Analysis: Those first three guys are the outside linebackers, though Reese has edge rushing potential. Jones should help boost the Giants’ special teams, which matter a lot to Harbaugh.
SECONDARY
Retained (11): Paulson Adebo, Greg Newsome, Colton Hood, Dru Phillips, Jevon Holland, Tyler Nubin, Jason Pinnock, Ar’Darius Washington, Elijah Campbell, Deonte Banks, Korie Black
Cut: Jarrick Bernard-Converse, Art Green, Nic Jones, Beau Brade, Raheem Layne
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Injured reserve: Thaddeus Dixon
Analysis: These corner spots are set — Adebo, Newsome, Hood and Phillips. And these safeties definitely (or likely) will stick around — Holland, Nubin, Pinnock and Washington. That leaves three spots up for grabs. As of now, we think Banks will get one of them. This is his last shot with the Giants.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Retained (3): Jordan Stout, Dominic Zvada, Ben Mann
Cut: Ben Sauls
Analysis: Stout is the punter, and Mann is the long snapper. Will Zvada win the kicking job over Ben Sauls? It sure looks like it.
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