New York Giants Scouting Reports
Scouting Reports Last Updated: November 29, 2023
Quarterbacks:
The Giants signed Tommy DeVito as an undrafted rookie free agent after the 2023 NFL Draft. DeVito lacks height, but he is a physically tough quarterback. However, pressure can bother him and he needs to play with more consistency.
The Giants signed Matt Barkley to the Practice Squad in late October 2023 and 53-man roster in early November 2023. The 6’2”, 227-pound Barkley was originally drafted in the 4th round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. The well-travelled Barkley has spent time with the Eagles (2013–2015), Arizona Cardinals (2015-2016, 2017), Chicago Bears (2016), San Francisco 49ers (2017), Cincinnati Bengals (2018), Buffalo Bills (2018-2020, 2022-2023), Tennessee Titans (2021), Carolina Panthers (2021), and Atlanta Falcons (2021). Barkley has played in 19 regular-season games with seven starts, completing 212-of-363 passing attempts for 2,699 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 22 interceptions. He also has 10 career fumbles.
The Giants signed Jacob Eason to the Practice Squad in early November 2023. The 6’6”, 231-pound Eason was originally drafted in the 4th round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts. He has spent time with the Indianapolis Colts (2020-2021), Seattle Seahawks (2021-2022), Carolina Panthers (2022), San Francisco 49ers (2022), and Carolina Panthers (2023). Eason has only thrown 10 passes in two NFL regular-season games.
After signing a 4-year, $160 million contact in March 2023, the rest of the year was a disaster for Daniel Jones. He suffered his second career neck injury in Week 5 and missed the next three games. When he returned in Week 9, he tore the ACL in his right knee, finishing his season. On top of all of that, Jones was 1-5 in games that he did start, finishing the year with just 909 passing yards, two touchdowns, and six interceptions. His injuries and performance issues now put into question his long-term tenure with the organization. After two disappointing seasons in 2020 and 2021, Jones rebounded in 2022 under the tutelage of new Head Coach Brian Daboll and Offensive Coordinator Mike Kafka, helping to lead the Giants to a surprising 9-7-1 regular-season record and a playoff victory. For the first time as a pro, Jones did not miss a game due to injury. He started 16 regular-season games, being held out of the season finale as a healthy scratch, and finished the season completing 67.2 percent of his passes for 3,205 yards, 15 touchdowns, and five interceptions. He also set a franchise single-season record for quarterback rushing yards with 120 carries for 708 yards and seven touchdowns. The Giants drafted Jones in the 1st round of the 2019 NFL Draft. After a promising rookie season, Jones struggled during the 2-year Joe Judge era, throwing just 21 touchdowns to 17 interceptions with a 9-16 record as a starter. He also missed two games with an ankle injury in 2019, two games due to hamstring and ankle injuries in 2020, and six games due to a neck injury in 2021. Jones has classic quarterback size and is a good athlete who can hurt teams with his feet. He has good but not great arm strength. Jones is competitive, smart, tough, and hard-working. However, ever since his rookie season when he threw 24 touchdown passes, Jones struggled to put points on the board and elevate the play of those around him.
The Giants signed Tyrod Taylor as an unrestricted free agent from the Houston Texans in March 2022. In his first year with the team, Taylor ended up playing at the end of three games, completing 6-of-8 passes for 58 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He also fumbled twice in those limited snaps. In 2023, Taylor would actually start three games for the Giants when Daniel Jones was out with a neck injury. However, Taylor suffered a serious rib injury early in his third start and was placed on Injured Reserve. He finished the season 57-of-87 (65.5 percent) for 579 yards, two downs, and no interceptions with a 1-1 record in the two games he completed. The 6’1”, 217-pound Taylor was originally drafted in the 6th round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens. He has spent time with the Ravens (2011-2014), Buffalo Bills (2015-2017), Cleveland Browns (2018), Los Angeles Chargers (2019-2020), and Texans (2021). Taylor has played in 88 regular-season games with 56 starts, completing 61.6 percent of his passes for 11,373 yards, 62 touchdowns, and 26 interceptions. He has also rushed the ball 388 times for 2,169 yards (5.6 yards per carry) and 19 touchdowns. Most of his starting experience came during a 3-year stretch with Bills where he started 43 games. Taylor made the Pro Bowl in 2015. He is 27-27-1 in games started.
Running Backs/Fullbacks:
After missing most of the 2020 season with a serious knee injury and a disappointing season in 2021, Saquon Barkley had a career revival in 2022 under the new coaching regime. Barkley played a tougher, more physical style and finished the season with a career-high 295 rushing attempts for 1,312 yards (4.4 yards per carry), and 10 touchdowns. He also caught a team-leading 57 passes for 338 yards. Barkley only fumbled the ball once, out of bounds. He also played in every game, except for being a healthy scratch in the regular-season finale. Post-injury, what was missing from his game was the big, explosive plays that were his signature during his rookie season. Nevertheless, Barkley was voted to his second Pro Bowl for his productive performance. The Giants drafted Barkley with the #2 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. He became only the third rookie in NFL history to accrue 2,000 yards from scrimmage and breaking a number of franchise records. He also was voted to the Pro Bowl and named “Associated Press NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year,” “FedEx Ground NFL Player of the Year,” “Pro Football Writers of America Offensive Rookie of the Year,” and “Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year.” As a rookie, Barkley started all 16 games, rushing 261 times for 1,307 yards (5.0 yards per carry) and 11 touchdowns. He also caught 91 passes for 721 yards and four touchdowns. Barkley also led the NFL with seven 40+ yard runs and six 50+ yard runs. Barkley endured a forgettable sophomore season as a pro in 2019. A high-ankle sprain that he suffered in Week 3 nagged him much of the remainder of the season. Nevertheless, Barkley still rushed 217 times for 1,003 yards (4.6 yards per carry) and six touchdowns. He also caught 52 passes for 438 yards and two touchdowns. The Giants placed Barkley on Injured Reserve in late September 2020 after he tore the ACL, partially tore the meniscus, and sprained the MCL in his right knee in Week 2. He finished the season with just 19 carries for 34 yards (1.8 yards per carry) and six catches for 60 yards. In 2021, a softer, more tentative Barkley started all 13 games he played in, missing four contests with an ankle injury. He finished the season with 162 carries for 593 yards (3.7 yards per carry) and just two touchdowns. Barkley also caught 41 passes for 263 yards and two touchdowns.
The Giants signed Matt Breida as an unrestricted free agent from the Buffalo Bills in March 2022. He played in every game, with one start, and finished the season with 54 carries for 220 yards (4.1 yards per carry), and one touchdown. He also caught 20 passes for 118 yards. Breida was originally signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the San Francisco 49ers after the 2017 NFL Draft. He has spent time with the 49ers (2017-2020), Miami Dolphins (2020), and Bills (2021). Breida has played in 81 regular-season games with 20 starts, rushing the ball 520 times for 2,501 yards (4.8 yards per carry) and eight touchdowns. He also has caught 103 passes for 847 yards and six touchdowns. Breida lacks size (5’10”, 195lbs), but he is a quick, elusive back with good speed. He can also catch the football.
Gary Brightwell served as the team’s third running back in 2022, and somewhat surprisingly carried the ball 31 times for 141 yards (4.6 yards per carry) and one touchdown. He also caught five passes for 39 yards. The Giants drafted Brightwell in the 6th round of the 2021 NFL Draft, primarily for special teams purposes. He played in 13 games as a rookie and had just one carry. The Giants placed him on Injured Reserve in late December 2021 with a neck injury. Brightwell is a big, physical, no-nonsense, downhill runner with good speed and acceleration for his size (6’1”, 218lbs).
The Giants selected Eric Gray in the 5th round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Gray is an average-sized (5’10”, 207 pounds) but well-built back who plays with good balance, quickness, and strength. Lacking ideal speed, he is best suited as a between-the-tackles runner, although he’s not a power runner. He has some shiftiness to his game and has proven to be very productive. Gray catches the ball well. Tough, aggressive, and physical player with good instincts. Smart and hard working.
The Giants signed Jashaun Corbin as an undrafted rookie free agent after the 2022 NFL Draft. He spent his rookie season on the team’s Practice Squad. The Giants waived Corbin in late August 2023 and he was then signed to the Practice Squad of the Carolina Panthers. The Giants signed him to their 53-man roster from the Carolina Practice Squad in October 2023. Corbin is is a north/south runner who does his best work between the tackles. He has some shiftiness to his game and can run through tackles. Corbin also can catch the ball out of the backfield.
The Giants claimed Deon Jackson off of waivers from the Cleveland Browns in October 2023. The 6’0”, 218-pound Jackson originally signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted rookie free agent after the 2021 NFL Draft. The Colts waived him in September 2023 and he was immediately signed to the Practice Squad of the Browns. The Browns signed him to their 53-man roster and waived him in October 2023. Jackson has played in 26 regular-season games with three starts, carrying the ball 94 times for 281 yards and two touchdowns. He also has caught 35 passes for 223 yards and one touchdown.
Wide Receivers:
The Giants claimed Isaiah Hodgins off of waivers from the Buffalo Bills in early November 2022. Due to the dearth of talent at the position, Hodgins quickly received playing time, playing in eight regular-season games with five starts. He finished with 33 catches for 351 yards (10.6 yards per catch) and four touchdowns. In the playoff game against the Vikings, Hodgins caught eight passes for 105 yards and a touchdown. However, he was limited to one catch against the playoff loss to the Eagles. Hodgins was originally drafted in the 6th round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Bills. He spent most of his rookie season on Injured Reserve and most of 2021 on the Practice Squad. Before coming to the Giants, Hodgins only played in two regular-season games, catching four passes for 41 yards. Hodgins lacks ideal speed, but he has good size (6’3”, 201lbs), runs good routes, and became the steadiest, most-reliable receiver on the roster. The question moving forward is his upside.
The Giants signed Parris Campbell as an unrestricted free agent from the Indianapolis Colts in March 2023. The 6’1”, 208-pound Campbell was originally drafted in the 2nd round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Colts. He had an injury-plagued first three seasons in Indianapolis, missing extensive time in 2019 (sports hernia, broken hand, broken foot), 2020 (MCL and PCL knee injury), and 2021 (broken foot). From 2019-2021, he only played in 15 games, catching a total of 34 catches for 360 yards and two touchdowns. Campbell finally played in all 17 games in 2022 with 16 starts. He finished the year with 63 catches for 623 yards and three touchdowns. Campbell lacks ideal size, but he fast, quick receiver who can play multiple positions, including the slot.
Darius Slayton began the 2022 season as the team’s 7th wideout, barely making the 53-man roster. Due to the revolving door at the position, by the end of the season, he was entrenched as a starter. Slayton played in 16 regular-season games with 11 starts, catching 46 passes for a team-leading 724 yards (15.7 yards per catch) and two touchdowns. However, he also dropped seven passes, or nearly 10 percent of his opportunities. The Giants drafted Slayton in the 5th round of the 2019 NFL Draft. As a rookie, he played in 14 games with nine starts, catching 48 passes for 740 yards and eight touchdowns. But Slayton has not really progressed since that impressive debut season, only catching seven total touchdown passes from 2020-2022, while also dropping 19 passes during that same timespan. Slayton combines decent size (6’1”, 194lbs) with very good overall athleticism and speed. Slayton can stretch the field and get deep. He can adjust well to the football, but his hands are very suspect, even being prone to double-clutching passes he does catch. Slayton is also not a very physical receiver and can have issues beating press coverage.
The Giants selected Jalin Hyatt in the 3rd round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Hyatt lacks ideal size but he is speed merchant who can take the top off a defense. He needs a lot of refinement in terms of route running and understanding pro-level route tree. Hyatt is not shifty or elusive, but he has good hands. Boom-or-bust type of player.
The Giants placed Sterling Shepard on Injured Reserve in late September 2022 after he tore the ACL in his left knee in Week 3. He finished the season with 13 catches for 154 yards and one touchdown. Shepard was selected in the 2nd round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Giants. Shepard started all 16 games in 2016 and 2018, but has now missed significant time due to injury in his five other seasons. He has never come close to cracking the 1,000-yard mark in a single season or duplicating his 8-touchdown season of his rookie campaign (he now has 22 career touchdowns). Shepard had a horrible season in 2021, culminating with a torn left Achilles’ tendon injury in mid-December. Before that, Shepard had already missed seven games with hamstring and quad injuries. He finished the year playing in seven games, catching just 36 passes for 366 yards and one touchdown. Shepard lacks ideal size and speed, but he is a fluid athlete with good quickness. Shepard runs good routes, is tough going over the middle, and adjusts well to the football. Shepard is not a consistent deep threat, but more of a move-the-chains underneath target who is ideally suited for the slot position. Good blocker.
The Giants placed Wan’Dale Robinson on Injured Reserve in November 2022 with a torn ACL that he suffered in Week 11. Robinson played in six games, with three starts, finishing the year with 23 catches for 227 yards (9.9 yards per catch) and one touchdown. He also missed four games in September and October with a knee sprain. The Giants selected Robinson in the 2nd round of the 2022 NFL Draft. The 5’8”, 178-pound Robinson is an explosive, diminutive receiver/running back hybrid who plays bigger than his size with good strength and leaping ability. He is a threat to score every time he touches the football. Robinson is a tough, super-competitive, and makes big plays in the clutch. He has experience returning both punts and kickoffs.
The Giants signed Gunner Olszewski to the Practice Squad and then 53-man roster in late October 2023. The 6’0”, 190-pound Olszewski was originally signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted rookie free agent after the 2019 NFL Draft. After three seasons with the Patriots, Olszewski signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers in March 2022. The Steelers waived him in October 2023. Olszewski was named first-team All-Pro as a punt returner in 2020. He has played in 55 regular-season games with four starts, catching 15 passes for 180 yards and one touchdown. He also has carried the ball 14 times for 71 yards. Olszewski has returned 41 kickoffs for 904 yards (22 yards per return) and 75 punts for 897 yards (12 yards per return) and one touchdown. Olszewski has eight career fumbles on returns.
The Giants signed Dennis Houston to the Practice Squad in late August 2023. The 6’1”, 202-pound Houston originally signed with the Dallas Cowboys after the 2022 NFL Draft. He spent most of 2022 on Dallas’ Practice Squad, playing in two regular-season games and catching two passes for 16 yards. The Cowboys waived him in late August 2023.
The Giants signed Dylan Drummond to the Practice Squad in late November 2023 after he was cut from the Practice Squad of the Detroit Lions. The 6’0”, 186-pound Drummond was originally signed by the Lions as an undrafted rookie free agent after the 2023 NFL Draft. He spent September-November on Detroit’s Practice Squad. Drummond was elevated to the Lions’ 53-man roster for one game in October.
The Giants placed Bryce Ford-Wheaton on Injured Reserve in late August 2023 with a torn ACL that he suffered in the preseason finale. The Giants signed Ford-Wheaton as an undrafted rookie free agent after the 2023 NFL Draft. Wheaton combines excellent size, speed, and overall athletic ability. However, he is inconsistent catching the football and needs work on his route running. Ford-Wheaton flashed as a gunner in the preseason.
Tight Ends/H-Backs/Fullbacks:
The Giants selected Daniel Bellinger in the 4th round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Despite suffering a serious eye injury that included a fractured orbital bone in Week 7, missing four games in the process, Bellinger ended up starting 11 games as a rookie. He finished the regular season with 30 catches for 268 yards and two touchdowns. Bellinger also scored a touchdown on his only rushing attempt. The 6’5, 253-pound Bellinger combines good size and athletic ability. He was used more of an in-line blocker than receiver in college, but has flashed catching the ball when given an opportunity. He has good hands.
The Giants acquired Darren Waller from the Las Vegas Raiders in March 2023 in exchange for a 3rd-round pick. The 6’6”, 238-pound Waller was originally drafted in the 6th round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens. He has spent time with both the Ravens (2015-2018) and Raiders (2018-2022). Waller has played in 74 regular-season games with 52 starts, catching 298 passes for 3,572 yards and 19 touchdowns. His best two seasons were 2019-2020, when he caught an incredible 197 passes for 2,341 yards and 12 touchdowns. However, Waller has missed 13 regular-season games the past two seasons with injuries, specifically ankle and knee sprain injuries in 2021 and a nagging hamstring issue in 2022. Waller is receiving-type tight end who runs good routes and can threaten defenses vertically down the field. Due to his tall, lanky frame, he’s more of a position blocker.
The Giants signed Lawrence Cager to the Practice Squad in October 2022 and the 53-man roster in November 2022. He ended up playing in six regular-season games with three starts, catching 13 passes for 118 yards and one touchdown. The 6’5”, 220-pound Cager was originally signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the New York Jets after the 2020 NFL Draft. He has spent time with the Jets (2020-2021, 2022) and Cleveland Browns (2021). The Jets cut him in mid-October 2022. Cager has played in 10 regular-season games with five starts. A former collegiate wideout, Cager is a much better pass receiver than blocker. He has good overall athleticism and hands for the position.
The Giants signed Tyree Jackson to the Practice Squad in late August 2023. The 6’7”, 249-pound Jackson was originally signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the Buffalo Bills after the 2019 NFL Draft. He has spent time with the Bills (2019), DC Defenders (2020), and Philadelphia Eagles (2021-2023). The Eagles cut him in late August 2023. A quarterback in college and with the Bills and Defenders, the Eagles converted him to tight end in 2021. Jackson has played in 14 regular-season games with the Eagles, with three starts, catching just three passes for 22 yards and one touchdown.
The Giants signed Ryan Jones as an undrafted rookie free agent after the 2023 NFL Draft. Jones caught 41 passes for 413 yards and five touchdowns in his final collegiate season.
Offensive Tackles:
In his third season with the Giants, Andrew Thomas developed into one of the best left tackles in football, earning second-team All-Pro honors. A healthy scratch from the regular-season finale, Thomas started all 16 regular-season games and the two playoff games. He was only flagged once (illegal formation). The Giants drafted Thomas in the 1st round of the 2020 NFL Draft. An inconsistent rookie, especially in pass protection, Thomas started 15 games at left tackle despite playing on a left ankle injury that required offseason surgery. In 2021, despite nagging foot and ankle injuries that caused him to miss four games and affected his play all year, Thomas rapidly improved. Thomas has a big frame (6’5”, 315lbs) and long arms. He is a strong, physical run blocker who can get movement at the point-of-attack. He is athletic enough to get to the second level and works to finish his blocks. Thomas has rapidly evolved into one of the game’s best pass protectors with superb get-off quickness, footwork, and arm/hand technique.
The Giants selected Evan Neal in the 1st round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Neal started 13 regular- and two post-season games at right tackle, missing a month with a knee injury. As a rookie, Neal struggled in pass protection, often not keeping his feet moving upon contact with quick defenders. He did not seem to improve as the year progressed and was also flagged six false starts. The 6’7”, 350-pound Neal is mammoth man who was a 3-year starter at left guard, right tackle, and left tackle in college. Smart, hard working, and dependable. Neal is a good athlete for his size. He can muscle and maul his opponent in the running game, but must develop better technique and consistency in pass protection.
The Giants selected Matt Peart in the 3rd round of the 2020 NFL Draft. It was anticipated that Peart would push for a starting position at right tackle in 2021. However, he could not beat out the struggling Nate Solder. Peart ended up playing in 15 games with five starts in 2021 (three at left tackle, two at right tackle) and was up-and-down in his play. The offensive line coach publicly questioned his toughness during the middle of the season. Peart tore the ACL in his left knee in late December 2021, not only ending his season but causing him to miss all of the 2022 offseason and preseason, and much of the regular season. He was activated from the PUP in mid-November 2022 and ended up playing in nine games with no starts. Most of his playing time came on special teams though he did see significant snaps at right tackle in Weeks 11 and 18, when he struggled. He was also flagged with false starts in both games. Peart combines excellent size, long arms, and good overall athletic ability. But he may simply lack the physicality needed to play at the NFL level.
The Giants re-signed Tyre Phillips to the 53-man roster from the Practice Squad of the Philadelphia Eagles in October 2023. The Giants originally claimed Phillips off of waivers from the Baltimore Ravens in early September 2022. He played in 12 games with five starts, including four games at right tackle when Evan Neal was out, and the regular-season finale at left tackle. Phillips performed much better as a run blocker than pass blocker, where he struggled at times. He was also flagged with four penalties in his limited playing time (three false starts and one illegible down field). The 6’5”, 330-pound Phillips was originally drafted in the 3rd round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Ravens. In his first two years in the NFL with Baltimore, Phillips played in 22 regular-season games with 13 starts, despite suffering an ankle injury in 2020 and a torn ACL in 2021. He has experience playing both guard and tackle.
The Giants signed Josh Miles to the 53-man roster from the Practice Squad of the Atlanta Falcons in October 2023. The 6’5”, 325-pound Miles was originally drafted in the 7th round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals. He has played in 17 games with no starts. Miles missed all of 2022 with an undisclosed injury and was signed by the Falcons in March 2023.
The Giants signed Jalen Mayfield to the Practice Squad in late August 2023 and the 53-man roster for one game in October 2023. The 6’5”, 320-pound Mayfield was originally drafted in the 3rd round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. He played tackle in college but the Falcons named him their starting left guard during his rookie season when he started 16 games. Mayfield missed all of 2022 with a lower back injury. The Falcons waived him in late August 2023.
The Giants signed Yodny Cajuste to the Practice Squad in October 2023. The 6’5”, 310-pound Cajuste was originally drafted in the 3rd round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. In four seasons with the Patriots, Cajuste played in 17 games with five starts. In May 2023, he was waived by the Patriots and signed by the New York Jets, who then cut him in August.
Offensive Guards:
The Giants signed Mark Glowinski as an unrestricted free agent from the Indianapolis Colts in March 2022. Glowinski started 16 regular-season games and two post-season games at right guard, only being a healthy scratch in the regular-season finale. He was flagged three times (one holding and two ineligible downfield). The 6’4”, 310-pound Glowinski was originally drafted in the 4th round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks. The Colts claimed him off of waivers in December 2017. Glowinski has played in 111 regular-season games with 90 starts. Glowinski lacks ideal power and athleticism, but he is a tough, dependable blue-collar lineman who gets the most out of his ability. He can have issues with powerful or more athletic defensive tackles.
After a disappointing debut season with the Giants in 2021, Ben Bredeson played better in 2022. He ended up playing in 11 regular-season games with eight starts, primarily at left guard early in the season. Bredeson split snaps with Gates at left guard in the second half of the season after missing six games with a knee injury. He was flagged three times (two false start and one holding penalty). Bredeson was originally drafted in the 4th round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens. He played in 10 games with no starts as a rookie. The Giants acquired Bredeson by trade from the Ravens in late August 2021. He did not make the contribution hoped for, playing in just eight games with one start at left guard in Week 3. Bredeson missed five games due to hand and ankle injuries. Bredeson has good size (6’5”, 315lbs). While he lacks ideal power and athleticism, he proved to be a tough, steady blue-collar lineman in 2022 who could also play center. Bredeson can have issues with the bigger or more athletic defensive tackles in the NFL.
The Giants placed Marcus McKethan on Injured Reserve in early August 2022 after he tore the ACL in his right knee during a training camp scrimmage. The Giants selected McKethan in the 5th round of the 2022 NFL Draft. The 6’6”, 340-pound McKethan is massive, powerful lineman with strong hands. He can muscle and maul defenders, but he needs development. McKethan has some balance issues and needs to keep his feet active on contact. Before he got hurt, he was receiving second-team snaps at both right guard and right tackle.
The Giants signed Justin Pugh to the Practice Squad and then the 53-man roster in October 2023. The 6’5”, 311-pound Pugh was originally drafted by the Giants in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft. After five seasons in New York, Pugh signed with the Arizona Cardinals in 2018, where he played five more seasons. Pugh tore the ACL in his right knee in October 2022 and missed the rest of the year. Pugh has played in 120 regular-season games with 119 starts. He has experience at playing both tackle and guard.
The Giants drafted Joshua Ezeudu in the 3rd round of the 2022 NFL Draft. As a rookie in 2022, he played in 10 games, with two starts at left guard before being placed on Injured Reserve with a neck injury in mid-December. In 2023, due to the injury situation on the offensive line, Ezeudu was forced to play left tackle despite not practicing there during the spring and summer. He started five games before being placed on Injured Reserve with toe injury in October. The 6’4”, 308-pound Ezeudu was a 3-year starter in college who played primarily at guard, but saw some action at tackle. He lacks ideal athleticism, but he has decent feet and a powerful frame. To date, he has struggled in pass protection. He was flagged three times in 2022 and five times in 2023.
After a promising rookie season in 2020, Shane Lemieux has had three disastrous, injury-plagued seasons in a row from 2021 to 2023. The Giants drafted Lemieux in the 5th round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He surprisingly ended up playing in 12 games with nine starts starts at left guard. In 2021, Lemieux injured his knee in training camp. He tried to play with the injury in the opener, but could not finish the game and spent the rest of the year on Injured Reserve. In 2022, Lemieux injured his toe in training camp and was placed on Injured Reserve in late August. The Giants activated him off of Injured Reserve in mid-November. He started in Week 11 against the Lions but could not finish the game and was placed on Injured Reserve again in late December. In 2023, Lemieux played in four games with one start, missing another game with a groin injury before being placed on Injured Reserve in October with a torn biceps. In all, Lemieux has only played in six games the past three years. Ironically, the 6’4”, 310-pound Lemieux started an incredible 52 games in college, never missing a game. He is a tough, feisty, blue-collar lineman with some athletic limitations. To date, Lemieux has proven to be a good run blocker who struggles at times in pass protection.
Offensive Centers:
The Giants selected John Michael Schmitz in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Schmitz lacks ideal bulk and athleticism but he is a solid, consistent pivot man who can generate movement in the ground game. Smart, technically sound, and understands blocking angles, Schmitz is a physical and aggressive anchor. He can have issues with quickness and power in pass protection.
The Giants signed Sean Harlow as an unrestricted free agent from the Arizona Cardinals in early August 2023 and waived him four weeks later on cutdown day. In October, the Giants re-signed him to the 53-man roster off of the Practice Squad of the Dallas Cowboys. The 6’4”, 284-pound Harlow was originally drafted in the 4th round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. He has spent time with the Falcons (2017, 2018-2020), Indianapolis Colts (2018), and Cardinals (2021-2022). Harlow has played in 34 regular-season games with eight starts, five at left guard in 2021 and three at center in 2022 with the Cardinals.
The Giants placed J. C. Hassenauer on Injured Reserve in early August 2023 with a torn triceps he suffered in a training camp practice that required surgery. The Giants signed Hassenauer in April 2023 as a free agent from the Pittsburgh Steelers after they did not tender him as a potential restricted free agent. The 6’2”, 295-pound Hassenauer was originally signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the Atlanta Falcons after the 2018 NFL Draft. He was cut before the season started in 2018 and signed with the Steelers in April 2019, cut in August, and then re-signed in November. From 2020-2022, Hassenauer played in 45 regular-season games for the Steelers with seven starts, five at center and two at left guard. He also started one playoff game at center. Hassenauer is viewed mainly as a steady, reliable back-up.
Defensive Ends:
The Giants signed A’Shawn Robinson as an unrestricted free agent from the Los Angeles Rams in April 2023. The 6’4”, 330-pound Robinson was originally drafted in the 2nd round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions. After spending four seasons with the Lions, Robinson signed a free agent contract with the Rams in 2020. In seven NFL seasons, Robinson has played in 93 regular-season games with 61 starts, accruing 293 tackles, seven sacks, 17 pass defenses, one interception, five forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries. He started all 10 games he played in for the Rams in 2022 before missing the rest of the season with a torn meniscus in his knee. Robinson is a good run defender.
The Giants signed Ryder Anderson as an undrafted rookie free agent after the 2022 NFL Draft. He split time on both the Practice Squad and 53-man roster in 2022, ending up playing in seven regular-season games with two starts. Anderson finished the season with eight tackles, two tackles for losses, and two sacks. He played 33 percent of defensive snaps in the seven games that he appeared. Anderson has good size (6’6”, 276lbs), strength, and length. He flashed at times as a rookie, but also had issues in run defense at times.
Nose Tackles:
Under the tutelage of new Defensive Line Coach Andre Patterson, Dexter Lawrence had a breakout season in 2022, earning second-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl recognition. Lawrence started 16 regular-season games, being a healthy scratch in the regular-season finale. He played in an astounding 82 percent of defensive snaps. Lawrence was credited with 68 tackles, seven tackles for losses, 7.5 sacks, 28 quarterback hits, three pass defenses, and two forced fumbles. Despite being regularly double-teamed, Lawrence was a difference-maker in many contests as both a run defender and pass rusher. The Giants drafted Lawrence in the 1st round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He was named to the Pro Football Writers of America’s All-Rookie Team. However, in his first three seasons with New York, Lawrence was inconsistent and had not developed into the stud presence expected of him. Built like a prototypical run-stuffing nose tackle (6’4”, 242 pounds) with excellent size and strength, previous coaching regimes surprisingly played him more at 3-4 defensive end. The current coaching staff moved him to his more natural nose tackle position and coached him up to a new level of play.
The Giants signed Rakeem Nunez-Roches as an unrestricted free agent from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in March 2023. The 6’2”, 307-pound Nunez-Roches was originally drafted in the 6th round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. He has spent time with the Chiefs (2015-2018), Indianapolis Colts (2018), and Buccaneers (2018-2022). Nunez-Roches has played in 102 regular-season games with 38 starts. His best season was in 2022 when he played in 17 regular-season games with 10 starts, accruing 33 tackles and two sacks. Nunez-Roches is a good run defender who rarely flashes as a pass rusher. Tough and a good locker room presence.
The Giants selected D.J. Davidson in the 5th round of the 2022 NFL Draft. The Giants placed him on Injured Reserve in October 2022 with a torn ACL knee injury that he suffered in Week 5. Davidson finished the season playing in five games with no starts, accruing four tackles. He flashed at times despite playing only 43 defensive snaps. Davidson is strong and powerful with good size (6’3”, 327lbs). He was not much of a pass rusher in college.
The Giants selected Jordon Riley in the 7th round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He’s a huge (6’5”, 338 pounds) tackle with decent overall athleticism for his size, but he did not stand out at the collegiate level.
Outside Linebackers:
The Giants selected Kayvon Thibodeaux in the 1st round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He suffered an MCL knee sprain in the second preseason game and missed the final pre- and first two regular-season games. Thibodeaux was also a healthy scratch in the regular-season finale. In all, Thibodeaux started 14 regular-season games, being credited with 49 tackles, six tackles for losses, four sacks, 13 quarterback hits, five pass defenses, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. The high-point of his season was his “Defensive Player of the Week” performance against the Washington Commanders in Week 15 when he caused a sack/forced fumble/recovery defensive score. He played in 79 percent of defensive snaps in the games he appeared. Thibodeaux combines excellent size (6’4”, 258lbs), athleticism, power, and strength. While he flashed as a rookie and was the victim of countless uncalled holding penalties, Thibodeaux needs to become a more consistently disruptive run defender and pass rusher to justify his lofty draft status. Contrary to pre-draft reports, he was a high-effort player who worked very hard at his craft as a rookie.
Azeez Ojulari had an injury-plagued season to forget in 2022. Ojulari missed the first three weeks of training camp with a hamstring injury. He then hurt his right calf in training camp and missed the first two regular-season games of the season. Then in Week 4, Ojulari injured his left calf. After waiting for three weeks for it to improve, the Giants finally put him on Injured Reserve. Ojulari did not return to the active roster until early December, missing two full months. He then left the Week 16 game early with an ankle injury and barely played the following week. He was held out of the regular-season finale and then came out of the playoff game against the Vikings with a quad contusion. In all, Ojulari played in seven regular-season games with five starts (49 percent of defensive snaps in those games). While he was only credited with 14 tackles, he also flashed in his limited playing time with 5.5 sacks, the second-most on the team in 2022. He also had three forced fumbles. The Giants drafted Ojulari in the 2nd round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He played in all 17 games with 13 starts as a rookie (67 percent of defensive snaps), finishing with 48 tackles, eight tackles for losses, eight sacks, 13 quarterback hits, two pass defenses, and one forced fumble. Ojulari flashes natural pass rush skills, but needs to disengage from blockers and set the edge better against the run. He obviously also needs to stay on the field.
The Giants signed Jihad Ward as an unrestricted free agent from the Jacksonville Jaguars in March 2022. Ward surprisingly became an important on-field and locker-room veteran presence for the rebuilding ball club. He played in all 17 regular-season games with 11 starts (58 percent of defensive snaps), finishing the year with 43 tackles, seven tackles for losses, three sacks, 13 quarterback hits, four pass defenses, and two forced fumbles. It was the most-productive season in Ward’s seven-year NFL career. The 6’5”, 287-pound Ward was originally drafted in the 2nd round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders. He has spent time with the Raiders (2016-2017), Dallas Cowboys (2018), Indianapolis Colts (2018-2019), Baltimore Ravens (2019-2020), and Jaguars (2021). Ward has played in 85 regular-season games with 26 starts. While not flashy pass-rush presence, Ward is a tough, gritty edge-setter against the run. He also also shift inside when called upon.
The Giants acquired Boogie Basham by trade in late August 2023 from the Buffalo Bills. He has played in 23 regular-season games with no starts, accruing 37 tackles, 4.5 sacks, one interception, and one fumble recovery. Basham is a powerful hybrid 3-4/4-3 end who has inside-outside versatility. He plays the run well and flashes on the pass rush.
The Giants signed Benton Whitley off of the Practice Squad of the Minnesota Vikings in November 2023. The 6’4”, 260-pound Whitley was originally signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the Los Angeles Rams after the 2022 NFL Draft. He has spent time with the Rams (2022), Kansas City Chiefs (2022), and Vikings (2022-2023). Whitley has played in one regular season game, in 2023 for the Vikings.
The Giants signed Tomon Fox as an undrafted rookie free agent after the 2022 NFL Draft. He made the team and played in 16 regular-season games, starting in the regular-season finale. He played in 30 percent of defensive snaps in those 16 games. Fox finished the year with 24 tackles, three tackles for losses, and one sack. Fox has good size (6’3”, 260lbs). The highlight of his season was his 8-tackle performance against the Seahawks in Week 8. Fox had a bit of an up-and-down season. While he flashed at times, the question remains as to his upside. Fox is a hard worker.
Inside Linebackers:
The Giants signed Bobby Okereke as an unrestricted free agent from the Indianapolis Colts in March 2023. The 6’2”, 235-pound Okereke was originally drafted in the 3rd round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Colts. In four seasons, Okereke played in 64 regular-season games with 49 starts. His best season was in 2022 when he started 16 regular-season games, finishing with 151 tackles, five pass defenses, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. Okereke is a good athlete who can play the run and cover in the passing the game. Super productive, he was credited with 283 tackles the past two seasons.
The Giants traded for Isaiah Simmons in late August 2023 from the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for a 7th-round pick. The 6’4”, 238-pound Simmons was originally drafted by the Cardinals in the 1st round of the 2020 NFL Draft (8th overall selection). In three seasons in Arizona, Simmons played in 50 regular-season games with 37 starts and was credited with 258 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 16 pass defenses, four interceptions, seven forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. Simmons is an extremely athletic and versatile player who has played at multiple positions, including on the defensive line, linebacker, and in the secondary. He was never able to settle in at one position in Arizona. Simmons is a fast, run-and-hit player who is at his best when blockers are kept off of him. Simmons has one year and $1,010,000 left on his current contract.
The Giants selected Micah McFadden in the 5th round of the 2022 NFL Draft. McFadden was surprisingly pressed into significant playing time as a rookie and had an up-and-down season in 2022. He played in all 17 regular-season games with seven starts (39 percent of defensive snaps). McFadden was credited with 59 tackles, six tackles for losses, two sacks, and one forced fumble. His best game came in the regular-season finale when he was credited with seven tackles and a sack. However, McFadden was a healthy scratch for both playoff games. McFadden is a well-built, 6’1”, 240-pound inside linebacker who lacks ideal athleticism. This impacts his lateral agility against the run and his ability to cover receivers down the field. But McFadden is tough, competitive, and plays hard.
Carter Coughlin played almost exclusively on special teams in 2022. He played in all 17 regular-season games, playing 85 percent of special teams snaps and only six snaps on defense. Coughlin finished the season with nine tackles and one forced fumble. The Giants selected Coughlin in the 7th round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He played in 14 games as a rookie with two starts (20 percent of all defensive snaps). He missed most of 2021 with an ankle injury that landed him on Injured Reserve. Coughlin has not been used much on defense since his rookie season. He’s an average athlete, but is tough and competitive.
Cam Brown played almost exclusively on special teams in 2022. He played in all 17-regular season games, playing in 85 percent of special teams snaps and only three snaps on defense. Brown was credited with six tackles. The Giants selected Brown in the 6th round of the 2020 NFL Draft. In three seasons, Brown has played in 44 regular-season games with no starts. He saw 93 defensive snaps as a rookie, but only 14 the next two seasons. Brown is a tall, lanky athlete who runs well.
The Giants placed Darrian Beavers on Injured Reserve in August 2022 after he tore the ACL in his left knee during the second preseason game. The Giants drafted Beavers in the 6th round of the 2022 NFL Draft. The 6’4”, 237-pound Beavers was a Butkus Award Finalist in his senior season in college, where his coaches used him all over the defensive front. Beavers was impressing as an all-around defender and receiving first-team snaps in training camp before he was injured.
The Giants signed Dyontae Johnson as an undrafted rookie free agent after the 2023 NFL Draft. Johnson had 109 tackles, eight tackles for losses, three pass defenses, three sacks, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries in his final collegiate season. He is productive and instinctive, but lacks ideal size and speed.
The Giants placed Jarrad Davis on Injured Reserve in July 2023 with a knee injury that required surgery, ending his season before training camp even started. The team originally signed Davis to the 53-man roster from the Practice Squad of the Detroit Lions in late December 2022. He was pressed into service immediately, starting the regular-season finale and the two playoff games at inside linebacker. In those three contests, he was credited with 18 tackles, one tackle for a loss, and two quarterback hits. Davis was originally drafted in the 1st round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Lions. He has spent time with the Lions (2017-2020, 2022) and New York Jets (2021). Davis has played in 68 regular-season games with 51 starts. He’s big, strong, fast, and physical. However, he lacks ideal lateral agility and the ability to diagnose complex running schemes. Davis will flash, but he is not consistent enough.
Cornerbacks:
Adoree’ Jackson was clearly team’s best cornerback in 2022, being able to match-up against the League’s better wide receivers. However, for the fourth year in a row, and second year with the Giants, Jackson was not able to complete a full season due to injuries. Jackson missed seven regular-season games in 2022 with an MCL knee sprain that he suffered in Week 11. He did not return to the field until the first playoff game. In all, Jackson started 10 games, and finished the regular-season with 51 tackles, seven pass defenses, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries. He played in 87 percent of defensive snaps in those 10 games and was flagged three times (pass interference, holding, and illegal hands). Jackson was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the 1st round of the 2017 NFL Draft. In his four seasons with the Titans, Jackson played in 46 regular-season games with 41 starts. The Giants signed Jackson in March 2021 after he was cut by the Titans. Jackson missed five games in 2019 with a knee injury, 13 games in 2020 with another knee injury, and four games in 2021 with a quad injury and COVID. Jackson is an average-sized corner (5’11”, 185 pounds) and a good athlete. When healthy, Jackson is a fast, physical corner who can play press man coverage. He does not make a lot of plays on the football, however, with just three career interceptions and 15 pass breakups the past two seasons. Jackson needs to stay healthy.
The Giants selected Deonte Banks in the 1st round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Banks combines good size (6’0”, 197lbs) with outstanding overall athleticism, quickness, and speed. He performs well in aggressive man coverage, but he needs to make more plays on the football, especially when his back is turned to the quarterback. Banks has a big upside.
The Giants selected Tre Hawkins III in the 6th round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Hawkins is a tall corner with very good speed and overall athleticism, but he is very raw and needs a lot of technique development.
Darnay Holmes served as the team’s primary slot corner in 2022, playing in 15 regular-season games with two starts (59 percent of defensive snaps in those 15 games). He missed one game due to a shoulder injury and was a healthy scratch in the regular-season finale. Holmes was credited with 38 tackles, eight pass defenses, and one forced fumble. The Giants drafted Holmes in the 4th round of the 2020 NFL Draft. In his first two seasons with the team in 2020 and 2021, Holmes played in 23 games with nine starts. He missed four games with neck and knee injuries in 2020 and six games with a neck injury in 2021. Holmes lacks ideal height, but he is well-built with good speed and quickness. He plays a physical, aggressive game, but has had issues in coverage at key moments of football games. Holmes has also been a penalty machine, being flagged 17 times in three seasons, including nine times in 2022 (six defensive holding, two pass interference, and one illegal contact). He also needs to make more plays on the football with only 15 pass breakups and two interceptions in three seasons.
The Giants drafted Cor’Dale Flott in the 3rd round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Flott played in 11 games with six starts, missing six contests with a calf injury. He played 45 percent of the defensive snaps in the 11 games, and finished the regular-season with 26 tackles, two pass defenses, and one forced fumble. He was not flagged. Flott is a thinly-built (6’1”, 175lb), fluid coverman with experience both at nickel and outside corner. He flashed in coverage with good speed and agility, but his slight frame caused issues at times against physical receivers, tackling, and defending the run. Flott has an upside but needs to get bigger and stronger.
The Giants claimed Nick McCloud off of waivers from the Buffalo Bills in late August 2022. He ended up being a surprising contributor, being force fed into the starting line-up after Adoree’ Jackson was lost for most of the second half of the regular-season. McCloud played in 14 regular-season games with eight starts, accruing 43 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and seven pass defenses. He played in 57 percent of defensive snaps in those 14 games. He was flagged with two defensive penalties (illegal contact and roughing the passer). McCloud was originally signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the Bills after the 2021 NFL Draft. The Cincinnati Bengals claimed him off of waivers in September 2021 and cut him in November. The Bills then re-signed McCloud to their Practice Squad. McCloud combines good size (6’0”, 193lbs) and overall athleticism. He plays a physical game with decent anticipation. McCloud had his ups and downs in coverage, particularly against upper echelon receivers, but played better than expected.
Beginning the season as a starting corner, the Giants placed Aaron Robinson on Injured Reserve in early October 2022 with a partially torn ACL and torn MCL that he suffered in Week 4. He underwent surgery in November and is expected to be out at least nine months. Robinson also missed Weeks 2 and 3 with with appendicitis. Robinson started the two games he played and finished with six tackles and one pass defense. The Giants drafted Robinson in the 3rd round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He underwent offseason surgery on a core muscle and missed all of training camp, the preseason, and the first half of the regular season in 2021. That season, Robinson ended up playing in nine games with two starts (43 percent of snap counts in those games), and finished the year with 24 tackles and three pass defenses. The current coaching staff converted him from slot to outside corner.
The Giants signed Kaleb Hayes to the Practice Squad in late August 2023. The 6’0”, 195-pound Hayes was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted rookie free agent after the 2023 NFL Draft. The Jaguars waived him in late August 2023.
The Giants signed Stantley Thomas-Oliver to the Practice Squad in late October 2023. The 6’0”, 190-pound Thomas-Oliver was originally drafted in the 7th round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers, who cut him in September 2023. In his first three years with the Panthers, Thomas-Oliver played in 25 regular-season games with no starts, accruing 17 tackles.
Safeties:
Xavier McKinney saw nearly half his 2022 season wiped out due to an off-the-field ATV accident during the bye week that caused multiple fractures in his left hand, requiring surgery. McKinney missed seven regular-season games. He also was a healthy scratch in the regular-season finale. In all, McKinney started nine regular-season games, being credited with 45 tackles, one sack, five pass defenses, and one forced fumble. He played in 98 percent of the defensive snaps in those nine games. He was also flagged with one pass interference penalty. The Giants drafted McKinney in the 2nd round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He missed 10 games with a fractured left foot that required surgery, playing in six contests with four starts. In 2021, McKinney had a breakout season. He played in all 17 games with 16 starts (97 percent of all defensive snaps), and finished the season with 88 tackles, 10 pass defenses, and a team-high five interceptions (one of which he returned for a touchdown). The 6’0”, 201-pound McKinney is versatile performer, who is capable of playing multiple positions. He is a good athlete with fine range, anticipation, and instincts for the position.
The Giants claimed Jason Pinnock off of waivers from the New York Jets in late August 2022. Pinnock became a valuable addition, playing in 14 games with 5 starts (49 percent of defensive snaps in those 14 games). He missed three games due to shoulder and ankle injuries. Pinnock finished the season with 41 tackles, 1.5 sacks, three pass defenses, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. He was not flagged on defense. Pinnock was originally drafted in the 5th round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Jets. He played in 12 games with two starts as a rookie, accruing 16 tackles, one pass defense, and two forced fumbles. Pinnock’s play with the Giants improved as the 2022 season progressed. An aggressive and physical player with good speed, he was an asset as a run defender and blitzer. Pinnock also flashed at times in pass coverage.
The Giants selected Dane Belton in the 4th round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Belton broke his clavicle in early August in training camp. He missed the entire preseason and first regular-season game. He also appeared on the injury report a few times in November and December with a clavicle injury. Belton ended up playing in 15 regular-season games with five starts (39 percent of defensive snaps in those 15 games). He was credited with 31 tackles, three pass defenses, two interceptions, and two fumble recoveries. Belton was flagged twice (illegal contact and illegal use of hands). Belton was a better athlete than his pre-draft scouting reports indicated, demonstrating fine agility and range for the position. While he had an up-and-down season, he flashed with a couple of interceptions, and improved as the year progressed despite the clavicle issue and losing playing time to Jason Pinnock. Belton needs to become a more consistent and reliable tackler and run defender.
The Giants signed Bobby McCain as a free agent in March 2023 after he was cut by the Washington Commanders. The 5’11”, 192-pound McCain was originally drafted in the 5th round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins. After six seasons and 55 regular-season starts, the Dolphins cut him in May 2021 and McCain spent the next two seasons with the Commanders. McCain has started 32 of 34 regular-season games in Washington in 2021 and 2022. Last season, he finished with 54 tackles, five pass defenses, and one forced fumble. McCain has 11 career interceptions, four of which came in 2021.
The Giants selected Gervarrius Owens in the 7th round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Owens is a former cornerback with average size for a safety (6’0”, 195lbs). He’s well-built with good overall athleticism for the position. Owens flashes the ability to make big plays, but he must cut down on his mistakes and improve his tackling. He is physical and aggressive, but needs better discipline.
Punters, Kickers, and Snappers:
Jamie Gillan became the new Giants’ punter in 2022 after signing a reserve/future contract in February 2022. Gillan played all 17 regular-season games and averaged 46.8 yards per punt (40.6 net). Those stats were 17th and 25th in the NFL, respectively. Twenty-six of his punts were downed inside the 20-yard line, or 35 percent of his punts (14th-best in the NFL). Nine of his punts resulted in touchbacks (tied for third-most in the NFL). He had one punt blocked. Gillan is Scottish born. He was originally signed by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted rookie free agent after the 2019 NFL Draft. Gillan served as Cleveland’s punter for all of 2019 and 2020, as well as most of 2021. The Browns waived him in late December and he was then signed to the Practice Squad of the Buffalo Bills. In 61 regular-season games, Gillan has averaged 45.2 yards per punt (40.2 net yards per punt). Gillan has a strong leg, but is not a strong directional punter. He did improve the number of inside-the-20 punts and avoiding touchbacks as the season progressed.
The Giants signed Randy Bullock to the Practice Squad and then the 53-man roster in November 2023. The 5’9”, 210-pound Bullock was originally drafted in the 5th round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans. He has spent time with the Texans (2012-2015), New York Jets (2015), Giants (2016), Pittsburgh Steelers (2016), Cincinnati Bengals (2016-2020), Detroit Lions (2021), and Tennessee Titans (2021-2022). In his last season with Tennessee, Bullock was 17-of-20 on field goal attempts (85 percent) and 28-of-28 on extra points.
The Giants signed Cade York to the 53-man roster from the Practice Squad of the Tennessee Titans in early November 2023. They shifted him to the Practice Squad a few weeks later. The 6’1”, 206-pound York was originally drafted in the 4th round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. The Browns waived York in late August 2023 and he was immediately signed by the Titans to their Practice Squad. In 2022, York was 24-of-32 (75 percent) on field goal attempts and 35-of-37 on extra point attempts.
The Giants placed Graham Gano on Injured Reserve in early November 2023 with a left knee injury that required surgery, ending his most disappointing season as Giant. Gano finished the season 11-of-17 (64.7 percent) on field goal attempts, including one blocked kick returned for a touchdown. Playing hurt before being placed on IR, he also missed a 35-yard field goal against the Jets which cost the team the game. Gano was arguably the team’s best player from 2020 to 2022. In his initial season with New York in 2020, Gano converted on 31-of-32 field goal attempts (96.9 percent – second highest in team history) and 21-of-23 extra point attempts (91.3 percent). He followed that up in 2021 by making 29-of-33 field goal attempts (87.9 percent) and all 17 of his extra point attempts (100 percent). In 2022, Gano played in all 17 regular-season games and finished the year 29-of-32 (90.6 percent) on field goal attempts and 32-of-34 (94.1 percent) on extra point attempts. One kick was blocked. Graham was 8-of-9 on 50+ yard field goal attempts, with a long of 57 yards. Fifty-nine percent of his kickoffs resulted in touchbacks. Gano spent most of his NFL career with the Washington Redskins (2009-2011) and Carolina Panthers (2012-2019). The Panthers released him in late July 2020. Gano made the Pro Bowl in 2017.
The Giants signed long snapper Casey Kreiter as an unrestricted free agent from the Denver Broncos in April 2020. He has been a steady performer in his three years with the team. Kreiter was originally signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the Dallas Cowboys after the 2014 NFL Draft. After spending two camps with the Cowboys, Kreiter made the Denver Broncos in 2016. He made the Pro Bowl for his performance in 2018.
