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2019 NFL Roster Breakdown: New York Giants


Roster Changes

 

Key additions

RB Rod Smith, WR Golden Tate, OT Mike Remmers, G Kevin Zeitler, DL Olsen Pierre, OLB Markus Golden, S Jabrill Peppers, S Antoine Bethea

 

Key losses

RB Jonathan Stewart, WR Odell Beckham Jr., G Jamon Brown, DE Kerry Wynn, OLB Connor Barwin, CB B.W. Webb, S Landon Collins,

 

2019 draft class

QB Daniel Jones (1.06), DT Dexter Lawrence (1.17), CB Deandre Baker (1.30), OLB Oshane Ximines (3.95), CB Julian Love (4.108), LB Ryan Connelly (5.143), WR Darius Slayton (5.171), CB Corey Ballentine (6.180), OT George Asafo-Adjei (7.232), DT Chris Slayton (7.245)

 

Projected Starters

 

Offense

QB: Eli Manning
RB: Saquon Barkley
WR: Sterling Shepard
WR: Golden Tate
TE: Evan Engram
TE: Rhett Ellison
LT: Nate Solder
LG: Will Hernandez
C: Jon Halapio
RG: Kevin Zeitler
RT: Mike Remmers

 

Defense

DE: B.J. Hill
DT: Dexter Lawrence
DE: Dalvin Tomlinson
OLB: Lorenzo Carter
ILB: Alec Ogletee
ILB: B.J. Goodson
OLB: Markus Golden
CB: Deandre Baker
CB: Janoris Jenkins
S: Jabrill Peppers
S: Antoine Bethea

 

Team Outlook

 

Notable depth

QB Daniel Jones, RB Wayne Gallman, RB Rod Smith, WR Corey Coleman, WR Cody Latimer, WR Bennie Fowler, WR Darius Slayton, OT Chad Wheeler, C Spencer Pulley, DE R.J. McIntosh, DE Olsen Pierre, OLB Oshane Ximines, OLB Kareem Martin, ILB Ryan Connelly, ILB Nathan Stupar, CB Julian Love, CB Sam Beal, CB Grant Haley, CB Tony Lippett, CB Corey Ballentine, S Michael Thomas

 

Biggest strength: Running back

It’s difficult to comprehend how so many people continue to criticize the Giants for drafting an all-time great talent like Saquon Barkley with the No. 2 pick last season, but if the Twitter GMs were in charge, half of them probably would have taken Josh Rosen (who was already traded by a team that drafted him No. 10 overall) there, so they aren’t people that should be taken seriously. I think Barkley is already the best running back in the league, and New York also has Wayne Gallman and Rod Smith as two very capable backups.

 

Biggest weakness: Inside linebacker

The entire second level of the defense needs to step up for the Giants, but Lorenzo Carter should make strides in Year 2, and newcomer Markus Golden will hopefully return to 2016 form when he recorded 12.5 sacks with the Cardinals. However, the inside linebackers could remain a weakness with Alec Ogletree and B.J. Goodson returning as starters, so we’ll see if a bolstered defensive line can allow them to stay clean and make more plays.

 

Position battle to watch: Cornerback

New York is suddenly very deep at cornerback, which could lead to a trade of Janoris Jenkins at some point if general manager Dave Gettleman wants to go with all the young guys. As things currently stand, Deandre Baker and Jenkins will start on the outside, but rookie Julian Love, 2018 third-round supplemental pick Sam Beal, and second-year player Grant Haley are all expected to compete for nickel duties.

 

One more thought

I had Daniel Jones ranked higher than anyone in the pre-draft process (No. 18 overall), but I was even higher on the Giants’ next two first-round picks—Dexter Lawrence was my No. 7 prospect, and Deandre Baker was my No. 6 prospect. All three were clear top-20 guys in my opinion, so I don’t think fans should be losing their minds over the haul, especially since Dave Gettleman had an excellent draft in 2018, too.

 

Early over/under: 6 wins (via CBS Sports)

Over. I think the Giants have the pieces in place to surprise in the NFC East, as the trenches on both sides of the ball were improved, and the coaching staff—which won’t have to worry about Odell Beckham Jr. going on ESPN to throw people under the bus—knows what they’re doing. Taking Daniel Jones over Josh Allen likely won’t help New York in 2019, but overall, the roster is still stronger than most realize.

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