Coming off a disastrous 2023 campaign, the New York Giants are looking to rebound and be more like the playoff team they were two years ago. New York isn’t just hoping that it happens and was proactive during the early NFL offseason.
Incoming veterans like Brian Burns, Jermaine Eluemunor, Jon Runyan and Allen Robinson should help shore up some of last year’s biggest problem areas. Rookies like Malik Nabers and Tyler Nubin should further bolster a roster that underachieved in 2023.
The Giants have potentially turned a couple of prior weaknesses into strengths, However, not every spot on the roster will be settled going into training camp.
Now that organized team activities (OTAs) are in full swing, it’s the perfect time to examine New York’s biggest position battles of 2024. We’ll do exactly that here, diving into the players likely to be involved and how each competition could shape the coming season.
The Giants added Drew Lock as veteran insurance this offseason, but there isn’t likely to be a full-on quarterback competition if Daniel Jones (torn ACL) is healthy by training camp. Sorting out who will catch passes from Jones, however, could be a challenge.
Nabers is likely to step right into the No. 1 receiver role. He has the skill set, and he’s already impressing at OTAs.
“Great route runner,” Jones said of Nabers, per Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News. “Strong, fast, adjusts to the ball well. I’m fired up to get Malik.”
Things behind Nabers should be a little more open, though. Darius Slayton is the top returning receiver, and he had just 720 receiving yards last season. Wan’Dale Robinson and Jalin Hyatt both had a few flashes in 2023 but neither played at a consistently high level.
Isaiah Hodgins is back, and New York added both Robinson and Isaiah McKenzie in free agency.
On paper, it’s the best wide receiver group the Giants have had since Jones arrived in 2019. However, that doesn’t mean New York will instantly have a top-tier unit, and there will be battles for both starting roles and roster spots in the coming weeks.
While the competition at receiver will be fun, battles along the offensive line could be even more pivotal. The Giants appear to have two cemented starters in left tackle Andrew Thomas and center John Michael Schmitz, while the rest of the line was a disaster in 2023.
As a unit, New York’s line surrendered an alarming 85 sacks last season.
Right tackle and 2022 first-round pick Evan Neal is in danger of losing his starting job to free-agent acquisition Jermaine Eluemunor, who may also compete at guard. Neal had issues as a rookie—he was responsible for seven penalties and seven sacks allowed, according to Pro Football Focus—and injuries have limited him to 20 regular-season appearances in two seasons.
Both guard spots should be up for grabs as well. Along with Eluemunor, the Giants added Jon Runyan and Aaron Stinnie this offseason.
While the left tackle and center spots are solid, New York should have fairly open competitions along the rest of the line. Ideally, the Giants will uncover a starting five that is vastly superior to last year’s group, especially in pass protection.
New York’s ability to do so could determine Jones’ level of success, or lack thereof, in the coming season.
New York also faced the unenviable task of trying to replace star running back Saquon Barkley, who departed for the rival Philadelphia Eagles in free agency. While injuries and inconsistent play have been issues during Barkley’s pro career, he’s been among the league’s top dual-threat running backs when at his best.
New York added Devin Singletary in free agency, and the 2023 Houston Texans starter is likely to lead a committee backfield in 2024. Singletary averaged 4.2 yards per carry and accumulated 1,091 scrimmage yards last season.
However, Singletary isn’t well-suited to fill Barkley’s every-down role, so there will be competition to fill out the backfield rotation. Gary Brightwell is back for New York, as is 2023 fifth-round pick Eric Gray. New York also added Purdue running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. in the fifth round of this year’s draft.
Tracy brings some intriguing athletic traits to the RB room, even if he isn’t polished enough to be a regular contributor right away.
“Tracy is a bet on athleticism and versatility. He brings enough burst, balance and speed to see the outlines of a useful running back,” Derrik Klassen of the Bleacher Report Scouting Department wrote.
Singletary should start, but it’ll be interesting to see how New York plans to fill specific roles before the start of the regular season. The Giants need to support their quarterback with a reliable rushing attack, and if they can’t find the right rotation by the end of training camp, they may have to consider external options.