EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Giants opened training camp on Tuesday at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Giants finished the 2020 season 6-10, which was almost good enough to win the NFC East. It was still their fourth straight season with double-digit losses, even if they did show improvement in their first year under coach Joe Judge.
The Giants return 19 starters from last season's team as well as Judge and coordinators Jason Garrett (offense), Patrick Graham (defense) and Thomas McGaughey (special teams). Here's a 53-man roster projection:
QUARTERBACK (2): Daniel Jones, Mike Glennon
The Giants went with two quarterbacks last season and will likely do so again. Jones is the unquestioned starter and they signed Glennon to be the backup. Clayton Thorson could end up on the practice squad again.
RUNNING BACK (4): Saquon Barkley, Devontae Booker, Corey Clement, Gary Brightwell
It's imperative the Giants have Barkley insurance with his timetable for return uncertain after he tore the ACL in his right knee last season. Booker is considered more of a three-down option than former backup Wayne Gallman (now with the San Francisco 49ers) ever was.
Clement has also proven to be a capable pass-game option.
FULLBACK (1): Eli Penny
It's Penny versus Cullen Gillaspia. May the best special teams contributor win? Penny, however, does provide significantly more value as insurance at running back and as a plus pass-game option.
WIDE RECEIVER (6): Kenny Golladay, Sterling Shepard, Darius Slayton, Kadarius Toney, John Ross, Austin Mack
This has become a loaded position. The first four players are locks, but after that, the competition is on. Ross, if he can stay healthy, has big-play potential, averaging 14.4. yards per catch for his pro career. Mack earns the final spot here because of special teams (sense a trend here?) while Dante Pettis, Alex Bachman and David Sills will find their way onto rosters elsewhere.
TIGHT END (4): Evan Engram, Kyle Rudolph, Kaden Smith, Levine Toilolo
It's rare for teams to have four veteran options at this position, but this is the way general manager Dave Gettleman and Judge have built their roster. It was obviously done with an eye on using a lot of two tight-end sets to help the offensive line. And, no, they are not looking to move on from Engram.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Andrew Thomas, Matt Peart, Nate Solder, Will Hernandez, Shane Lemieux, Chad Slade, Kyle Murphy, Nick Gates, Brett Heggie
This is a young group, and that is the way the Giants wanted it, for better or worse. They are hoping Peart wins the starting right tackle job over Solder. And Slade's versatility makes offseason acquisition Zach Fulton expendable.
DEFENSIVE LINE (5): Leonard Williams, Dexter Lawrence, Danny Shelton, Austin Johnson, B.J. Hill
This is a deep and solid group. Shelton and Johnson were signed to help replace defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson. Williams and Lawrence are the centerpieces, and Hill provides some ability to shoot the gap and get after the quarterback. It's a well-rounded front.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER (6): Azeez Ojulari, Lorenzo Carter, Ifeadi Odenigbo, Oshane Ximines, Cam Brown, Elerson Smith
The Giants threw numbers at the position this offseason, and offseason signing Ryan Anderson didn't even make this list. He has to prove he can stay healthy, and he wasn't seen on the field at all this spring. Carter and Ximines are also coming off injury. It will be interesting to see how they all look this summer. There could be some surprise cuts.
INSIDE LINEBACKER (4): Blake Martinez, Tae Crowder, TJ Brunson, Carter Coughlin
Martinez is the leader of this group and Crowder is coming off a promising rookie season. Reggie Ragland is left off because it's hard to envision a part-time linebacker his size sticking on the roster under Judge without being a significant special teams contributor. That opens the door for younger players such as Brunson and Coughlin, who was working at inside linebacker this offseason.
CORNERBACK (5): James Bradberry, Adoree' Jackson, Aaron Robinson, Darnay Holmes, Madre Harper
Jackson and Robinson completely change the outlook of this group. The Giants are now deep at the position, making players such as Isaac Yiadom (last season's starter at CB2) and rookie Rodarius Williams (practice squad?) expendable. Former third-round compensatory pick Sam Beal doesn't stand a chance. Harper is on this list because he opened some eyes this offseason and can be used in a lot of different ways.
SAFETY (4): Jabril Peppers, Logan Ryan, Xavier McKinney, Julian Love
This is a solid group that will be tough to crack. The Giants are able to go light at cornerback because of the versatility of Ryan, McKinney and Love. Nate Ebner is also likely to be added to this safety group, if he's healthy.
SPECIALISTS (3): Graham Gano, Riley Dixon, Casey Kreiter
The same group as last season. Gano missed one of his 32 field goal attempts last season, his first with New York. The Giants are confident Dixon, the punter, can get back to his 2019 form.