Giants Roster Breakdown: Adrian Tracy

The 2013 NFL season provides Adrian Tracy with the first real chance he has had to earn consistent playing time since the New York Giants drafted him out of William & Mary in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Let's look at Tracy as we continue our player-by-player breakdown of the Giants' 90-man roster heading into training camp.

2012 Season In Review

Tracy played a limited role on the Giants defense. He played 13 snaps against the San Francisco 49ers and 26 against the Baltimore Ravens, and was rarely seen on the field the rest of the season. He has settled in as a defensive end after the Giants experimented some with him as an outside linebacker earlier in his career.

2013 Outlook

Tracy would appear to be the fourth defensive end on the depth chart, and quite possibly the third if Jason Pierre-Paul is not ready to start the season following back surgery.

Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell said during mini-camp that Tracy, 26, is "playing with a lot more confidence, playing with a lot more purpose" than he has in the past.

One reason there are defensive end snaps available for Tracy or any of the Giants other young defensive ends is that Osi Umenyiora is now a member of the Atlanta Falcons. At times Tracy has been called "young Osi."

"Osi did a nice job in training him. He was kind of his mentor, so to speak, and he has flashes of Osi in him at times," Fewell said.

The question with Tracy likely won't be whether or not he can rush the passer. He is listed at 245 pounds, though he is likely bigger than that at this point in his career, and the biggest issue will be whether or not Tracy can hold up against the run from a defensive end spot.

We will likely find out just what Tracy can bring to the table this season. He figures to be on the field for far more than the 70 defensive snaps he played a season ago.