On Friday at 9 pm, at the latest, we will know the final rosters for every team in the NFL. So I figured it is time to roll out my predictions on who I believe will make the final roster. The New York Giants got down to 75 players on Monday, so they still have to cut 22 players to get down to the max of 53 for the season.
Well, let’s get to it.
Quarterbacks - Eli Manning, David Carr
This shouldn’t surprise you. Ryan Perrilloux has not done enough to warrant wasting a roster spot, nor has Eli made anyone think he’s going to miss games anytime soon.
Runningbacks – Ahmad Bradshaw, David Wilson, Da’Rel Scott, D.J. Ware, Henry Hynoski
Andre Brown will be the odd man out here. Wilson and Scott have more upside than Brown and Ware is the veteran of the group of backups that Tom Coughlin can trust on third down.
Wide Receivers - Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz, Domenik Hixon, Rueben Randle, Jerrel Jernigan, Ramses Barden
The first five receivers are safe, it is after that that things get a little hazy. Barden had a great game against the Chicago Bears last Friday and may have solidified a spot on the roster. At the same time, he’s not done much else in his three year career so the Giants could be skeptical. David Douglas has looked good in practice but also brings the special teams element to his equation, whereas Barden does not play special teams.
Tight Ends – Martellus Bennett, Bear Pascoe, Adrien Robinson
Nothing surprising with the selections here. Pascoe and Bennett should split time as the starting tight ends and Robinson will be brought along slowly with the intentions of him taking over as the starter in a year or two. In the short term, Bennett and Robinson provide tremendous blocking skill that will help the running game.
Offensive Line – Will Beatty, Kevin Boothe, David Baas, Chris Snee, David Diehl, Sean Locklear, James Brewer, Mitch Petrus
The Giants could keep fewer offensive lineman than they have in years past based on the need to keep some talented players at linebacker and the secondary. Keeping two tackles is necessary with Beatty having injury issues and Diehl not being the best of options at the right tackle spot. Both could easily be replaced at some point in the season. Expect the Giants to load the practice squad with guys like Matt McCants, Jim Cordle and Selfish Capers.
Defensive Ends – Justin Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul, Osi Umenyiora, Adawale Ojomo
The last defensive end spot is a difficult one to call. Adrian Tracy has been sitting and waiting for a couple of years to get his shot and now he could get it with Dave Tollefson gone. However, he has been sidelined with an injury and Ojomo has three sacks in the preseason. The battle between those two is a tough one to call, but Ojomo appears to offer more upside and is healthy, which is key.
Defensive Tackles – Linval Joseph, Marvin Austin, Marcus Thomas, Rocky Bernard
With Chris Canty on the PUP, Thomas has a chance to prove what he’s capable of doing for the first six weeks of the season. That is unless the Giants think Markus Kuhn is ready to step in to a reserve role. That’s not likely, and Kuhn will probably be practice squad material. I could add Shaun Rogers to the list, but his injury is serious and he will more than likely be out the entire year.
Linebackers – Michael Boley, Chase Blackburn, Mathias Kiwanuka, Keith Rivers, Mark Herzlich, Jacquian Williams, Greg Jones, Spencer Paysinger
This list should not surprise you. The first six linebackers on the list could actually all play on a rotating basis, and Jones and Paysinger are solid special teams contributors. I thought about cutting Paysinger, but the Giants like his effort and is a decent backup at outside linebacker.
Cornerbacks – Corey Webster, Prince Amukamara, Terrell Thomas, Jayron Hosley, Michael Coe, Justin Tryon, Bruce Johnson
Seven cornerbacks seems like a lot, but Terrell Thomas will be inactive for the first few games at least and Prince Amukamara has a high ankle sprain. The Giants need bodies and it could cost them players at other positions.
Safeties – Antrel Rolle, Kenny Phillips, Will Hill (Tyler Sash is Suspended)
Either Hill or B. Johnson will likely have to be cut by the time Sash comes off his suspension, but what a story Hill has been this offseason. He is yet another undrafted player the Giants will bring on in the hopes he can make the most of his opportunities. Hopefully nobody snatches Hill up if the team is forced to let him go for Sash. A year on the practice squad will do him some good.
If you disagree with any of my predictions, or are just bored, feel free to leave a comment below and I’ll be sure to respond!
Jeff is an NFL Featured Columnist for www.RantSports.com. He contributes mainly to the New York Giants and NFL Rumors pages. He also will occasionally touch on the NBA and humorous videos involving all sports.
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I would keep Brown and cut Ware…..I would cut Hixon and Barden and keep Douglas and Stanback…I would IR Austin, keep Kuhn…I also like Hendricks who is better than Austin…..I would IR Tracy and keep Ojomo…I would IR Terrell Thomas and IR Sash….
why? Brown has more upside than Ware, not much more but some…Ware has shown zip…Hixon is damaged goods and no one will pick him up if he is released…Douglas has more upside than Barden and can play ST….Stanback has more upside than Barden and can play ST….Austin is damaged and probably a bust….T Thomas is through…very damaged….Sash needs an operation on his floating bones in the ankle…that’s why his ankle locked up…Tracy is hurt and can be IR’d for a spot next year when Osi goes….The Giants are primed to win NOW…what a damaged player did a year or two ago means squat….expect Bradshaw to get hurt and Wilson to take over…Giants are this at RB and if they PS a kid like Martinek that would be good….don’t forget about DePalma who played a vita role last year when he was on the PS and mimicked playing Wes Welker in the 2 weeks prior to the SB and also played defense on the PS to mimic the Pat’s Ellerman…DePalma is very gifted kid…the Giants want to win Now…
There is no way the Giants are cutting Hixon…he is the third receiver option right now. Sash is not hurt badly, he should be fine after his suspension. Thomas should come back…no need to lose those guys for the season. IR Austin? he’s not injured badly. You seem to want to keep a lot of the players the beat writers have been talking about, but really those guys don’t have much of a chance to make the roster save for a couple. They trust Ware more than Brown, but I could see either making the team.