EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Giants open the 2024 regular season against the Minnesota Vikings on Sept. 8 at MetLife Stadium.
They have a lot of decisions to make before then, including at quarterback. Coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen have preferred in their first two years to keep just two quarterbacks on the active roster. Daniel Jones, as long as he's healthy, is the starter. Drew Lock is the backup after getting $5 million guaranteed this offseason. That leaves rookie sensation Tommy DeVito in no-man's land. His spot on the roster is in jeopardy.
Some other positions where there are difficult decisions with notable names will be wide receiver and cornerback.
Here is the 53-man roster projection as the Giants open training camp:
QUARTERBACKS (3): Daniel Jones, Drew Lock, Tommy DeVito
This regime usually likes to keep only two quarterbacks on the active roster. Ask Davis Webb. But they might have to make an exception this year given that Jones has an extensive injury history and they would likely lose DeVito if they tried to shoehorn him onto the practice squad. DeVito proved last year that he's capable of playing in this league and winning games. He's not going to get beaten out by Nathan Rourke, either.
RUNNING BACKS (4): Devin Singletary, Eric Gray, Tyrone Tracy Jr., Jacob Saylors
This group is so thin on experience behind Singletary, the clear-cut starter, that Gray and Tracy are pretty much locks. Saylors, the UFL standout, should show enough as a runner to beat out Jashaun Corbin and Dante Miller, who seems like a potential practice squad project.
TIGHT ENDS (4): Daniel Bellinger, Theo Johnson, Lawrence Cager, Chris Manhertz
Bellinger seems destined for a much bigger role (much like his rookie year) with Darren Waller retired. It was between Manhertz and Jack Stoll here as the fourth tight end. It only makes sense for the Giants to keep one designated blocker at the position.
WIDE RECEIVERS (7): Malik Nabers, Wan'Dale Robinson, Darius Slayton, Jalin Hyatt, Isaiah Hodgins, Bryce Ford-Wheaton, Gunner Olszewski
Nabers is the new No. 1 with Slayton and Hyatt on the other side, and Robinson in the slot. But this is still one of the hardest positions to predict because of all the options. Hodgins has an edge over Allen Robinson and Olszewski over Isaiah McKenzie because they've already done it for Schoen and Daboll in New York.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (8): Andrew Thomas, Jon Runyan, Jermaine Eluemunor, John Michael Schmitz, Evan Neal, Joshua Ezeudu, Aaron Stinnie, Jimmy Morrissey
This unit should be slightly improved with the addition of Runyan and Eluemunor as starters. But line depth is still a concern for this team. Questions remain about whether Neal can be a starter, whether Schmitz and Ezeudu can play at a high level, and who the backup center will be. Morrissey appeared ahead of Austin Schlottmann this spring.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (5): Dexter Lawrence II, Rakeem Nunez-Roches, Jordon Riley, Jordan Phillips, Ryder Anderson
This is a position the Giants could still add to this summer. Behind Lawrence and Nunez-Roches there are serious questions. Phillips and Ryder Anderson seem to be more reliable than D.J. Davidson and Timmy Horne, and Boogie Basham can possibly move inside as a lineman on third downs.
LINEBACKERS (8): Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Azeez Ojulari, Boogie Basham, Bobby Okereke, Micah McFadden, Carter Coughlin, Matthew Adams
Burns is the premier offseason acquisition and should make life easier for Thibodeaux. The Giants seem to have bigger plans for Basham than his performance in the first three years of his career would seem to warrant. Coughlin's and Adams' special teams value earn them the final spots over sixth-round pick Darius Muasau, who should land on the practice squad.
CORNERBACKS (6): Deonte Banks, Cor'Dale Flott, Nick McCloud, Tre Hawkins III, Dru Phillips, Tre Herndon
It may be a mistake to exclude Darnay Holmes again. He keeps surviving. But Phillips, McCloud, Isaiah Simmons and Herndon all can play the slot. That position is going to have some fierce competition.
SAFETIES (5): Jason Pinnock, Tyler Nubin, Dane Belton, Isaiah Simmons, Jalen Mills
Simmons' roles will be different under new defensive coordinator Shane Bowen. He will be a nickel back on first and second down, before moving to moneybacker in passing situations. Belton and Nubin will battle for a starting spot this summer, and Mills provides some versatility.
SPECIALISTS (3): K Graham Gano, P Jamie Gillan, LS Casey Kreiter
This trio is locked in (again), barring some type of injury.