EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Giants open the 2023 NFL regular season against the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 10 at MetLife Stadium. They will do so with a new look and a more talented roster -- if running back Saquon Barkley has signed his franchise tag tender by then -- than the one that produced a 9-7-1 record and playoff victory last season.
It begins with tight end Darren Waller and an improved receiving corps. Four wide receivers who started games for the Giants in 2022 (Kenny Golladay, Marcus Johnson, Richie James, Kadarius Toney) are no longer on their roster heading into training camp.
The Giants added wide receivers Parris Campbell, Jamison Crowder and Jeff Smith in free agency and re-signed Darius Slayton and Sterling Shepard. They drafted Biletnikoff winner Jalin Hyatt in the third round. With a crowded wide receiver room, it will be interesting to see how that and several other positions (including cornerback with Darnay Holmes) shake out.
Here is my pre-training camp 53-man roster projection:
QUARTERBACK (2): Daniel Jones, Tyrod Taylor
There's no need for anybody else with so much invested in Jones and Taylor. Rookie Tommy DeVito is the only other quarterback on the roster and could land on the practice squad.
RUNNING BACK (4): Saquon Barkley, Matt Breida, Eric Gray, Jashaun Corbin
Corbin might be considered a bit of a surprise, but he opened some eyes last season while on the practice squad. Gary Brightwell got squeezed out with his special teams value diminishing if he's not the kickoff returner.
WIDE RECEIVER (7): Parris Campbell, Darius Slayton, Isaiah Hodgins, Jalin Hyatt, Wan'Dale Robinson, Sterling Shepard, Collin Johnson
There could be a lot of moving parts at wide receiver depending on if anyone starts on PUP or injured reserve. It will be interesting to see if Robinson, who suffered a torn ACL last November, is ready for the season. If Robinson and Shepard (also recovering from a torn ACL) are healthy, it leaves Crowder and Smith as the odd men out.
TIGHT END (4): Darren Waller, Daniel Bellinger, Lawrence Cager, Tommy Sweeney
Four is a lot of tight ends, but it seems that the Giants plan to run a lot of multiple-tight end sets this season. And Sweeney can almost be viewed as an H-back or fullback because of his blocking ability.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Andrew Thomas, Evan Neal, Tyre Phillips, Mark Glowinski, Ben Bredeson, Joshua Ezeudu, Jack Anderson, John Michael Schmitz, Matt Peart
It's hard to put Shane Lemieux on the roster after he hasn't played much in the past two years, even if there is going to be a competition to start at guard. Peart was the last man in, just ahead of Korey Cunningham. Anderson was the choice over J.C. Hassenauer because of his versatility.
DEFENSIVE LINE (5): Dexter Lawrence, Leonard Williams, A'Shawn Robinson, Rakeem Nunez-Roches, D.J. Davidson
The Giants put an emphasis on stopping the run this offseason. Robinson and Nunez-Roches are free agent signings and Davidson was part of the rotation last year before tearing his ACL. In this scenario, seventh-round draft pick Jordon Riley lands on the practice squad.
INSIDE LINEBACKER (4): Bobby Okereke, Micah McFadden, Darrian Beavers, Cam Brown
Jarrad Davis' season-ending knee injury created some uncertainty with this group. The fourth inside linebacker might not even be on the roster right now. Brown is more of a special teams specialist than linebacker. Undrafted rookie Dyontae Johnson is someone to keep an eye on.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER (5): Kayvon Thibodeaux, Azeez Ojulari, Jihad Ward, Tomon Fox, Elerson Smith
It came down to Smith vs. Oshane Ximines for the final spot. Smith brings more pass-rushing upside and was the choice. The Giants really do like Fox.
CORNERBACK (5): Adoree' Jackson, Deonte Banks, Cor'Dale Flott, Amani Oruwariye, Tre Hawkins III
This was perhaps the toughest position. Darnay Holmes, Aaron Robinson and Rodarius Williams all have a chance to make the team. But if Flott beats out Holmes for the starting job, it seems likely the Giants move on from Holmes because of the money ($2.7 million).
SAFETY (5): Xavier McKinney, Bobby McCain, Jason Pinnock, Dane Belton, Nick McCloud
This is a lot of safeties and doesn't even include seventh-round pick Gervarrius Owens, who could land on the practice squad. McCloud was moved to safety as an experiment in the spring and provides versatility as a safety/big corner.
SPECIALISTS (3): Graham Gano (K), Jamie Gillan (P), Casey Kreiter (LS)
There's no change here. This was inevitable once the Giants re-signed Gillan after the season.