EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Giants open the 2021 NFL regular season against the Denver Broncos on Sept. 12 at MetLife Stadium. The Giants finished the 2020 season 6-10, which was almost good enough, but not enough, to win the NFC East.
Looking ahead, the Giants have some tough decisions at running back, wide receiver and outside linebacker. Veteran running back Corey Clement failed to make this 53-man roster projection. So did wide receiver and preseason star David Sills V, despite his consistent production throughout the summer. Think special teams, special teams, special teams in this version.
The roster will be cut to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Here is a projection:
QUARTERBACK (2): Daniel Jones, Mike Glennon
There really isn't another realistic option. Everything is riding on Jones, who is entering his third year this season.
RUNNING BACK (3): Saquon Barkley, Devontae Booker, Gary Brightwell
Three might seem light (especially with Brightwell primarily a special-teamer), but fullback Elijhaa Penny is also in the mix to handle some of this workload. Clement becomes expendable if the Giants go this route.
FULLBACK (2): Elijhaa Penny, Cullen Gillaspia
There are teams that don't have a fullback. The Giants have two, although Penny doubles as a running back and Gillaspia could fall under the special teams designation.
WIDE RECEIVER (6): Kenny Golladay, Sterling Shepard, Darius Slayton, Kadarius Toney, John Ross, C.J. Board
This is a tough position to predict because of injuries. Ross appears close to a return though and was guaranteed $1 million this offseason; he gets a chance. Austin Mack missed most of the summer, so he's out. It's Board over Sills for the final spot because of special teams.
TIGHT END (4): Evan Engram, Kaden Smith, Kyle Rudolph, Jake Hausmann
What was once a deep position is now incredibly thin. Rudolph, recovering from foot surgery, gets on the final roster instead of the physically unable to perform list (PUP) because there seems to be hope he will be ready early in the season. Hausmann falls into Levine Toilolo's pass-blocking role.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Andrew Thomas, Matt Peart, Nate Solder, Will Hernandez, Shane Lemieux, Chad Slade, Kenny Wiggins, Nick Gates, Jonothan Harrison
There aren't many other serious candidates at this point, aside from recently signed veteran Ted Larsen, thanks to some retirements early in training camp. Wiggins and Slade could be replaced by outside options via a waiver claim or trade acquisition.
DEFENSIVE LINE (5): Leonard Williams, Dexter Lawrence, Danny Shelton, Austin Johnson, B.J. Hill
It was tempting to put undrafted rookie Raymond Johnson on the roster, but just couldn't find a way. This is a solid group.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER (6): Azeez Ojulari, Lorenzo Carter, Trent Harris, Niko Lalos, Oshane Ximines, Cam Brown
The hardest of the positions to predict. Offseason acquisition Ifeadi Odenigbo gets lost in this shuffle because of Harris' and Lalos' value on special teams. Brown also could be considered special teams only. Sense a theme here? And here's a prediction: the Giants will find a way to stash 2021 fourth-round draft pick Elerson Smith for a redshirt year.
INSIDE LINEBACKER (4): Blake Martinez, Reggie Ragland, Tae Crowder, Carter Coughlin
Ragland makes it over Devante Downs because of his ability as a run-defender. Coughlin is somewhat of a surprise here after a position change this offseason, but he has impressed.
CORNERBACK (5): James Bradberry, Adoree' Jackson, Rodarius Williams, Darnay Holmes, Keion Crossen
Crossen, a trade acquisition from the Houston Texans, essentially took the role of Madre Harper, who just missed out. This year's third-round draft pick, Aaron Robinson, seems destined to spend the first six games of his rookie season on PUP. The Giants, meanwhile, have been fawning over Williams.
SAFETY (4): Jabrill Peppers, Logan Ryan, Xavier McKinney, Julian Love
The rare group that has basically remained untouched from the start of training camp. All are quality players who bring versatility to the position.
SPECIALISTS (3): Graham Gano (PK), Riley Dixon (P), Casey Kreiter (LS)
New York returns the same group from last season.