The New York Giants hold their rookie mini-camp Friday and Saturday at Quest Diagnostics Training Center, giving the Giants their first on-field opportunity to look at the six players they just selected in the 2015 NFL Draft.
That means we get our first look at first-round pick Ereck Flowers, and we probably get at least an inkling of whether the Giants plan to play him inside at guard or outside at right tackle as a rookie. We also get to see safety Landon Collins, defensive end, Owamagbe Odighizuwa, safety Mykkele Thompson, wide receiver Geremy Davis and offensive guard Bobby Hart for the first time. Thompson and Hart, incidentally, signed their contracts on Thursday.
It takes, obviously, more than six players to make a mini-camp. The Giants expect to have 60-65 players in attendance. Among those will be the six draft picks, a handful of undrafted free agents who are expeted to sign with the Giants, several will be players who were on injured reserve or not on an NFL roster that are eligible to participate, and the rest will be tryout players.
What is the difference between a "signed" undrafted free agent and a "tryout" player?
A signed undrafted free agent receives a contract and is eligible for a share of an $86,957 UDFA bonus pool. A signed UDFA counts against the 90-man offseason roster. After the draft the Giants had 86 players on their roster, including the draft picks. So, if they actually sign more than four undrafted free agents they will have to release a player or players from the current roster.
A tryout player is precisely that. He does not get a contract. He is simply offered an opportunity to come to the mini-camp, practice for two days and try to impress the coaching staff enough to be offered a contract and a training camp invitation. Tryout players are eligible to work out with more than one team.
The Giants did not hold a rookie mini-camp last year. With the draft having been conducted later than usual, they opted instead to have rookies jump right into practices with the veteran players. These practices are closed to the public.
Signed players
Here are the six players who have signed undrafted free agent contracts with the Giants.
Justin Currie, S, Western Michigan
Sean Donnelly, OT, Tulane
Cole Farrand, LB, Maryland
Akeem Hunt, RB, Purdue
Matt LaCosse, TE, Illinois
Brad Harrah, DE, Cincinnati
[Scouting reports on the six signed UDFAs]
Tryout players
This list has been compiled from a variety of sources, ilcuing Ralph Vacchiano of the Daily News, Art Stapleton of The Record and Jordan Ranaan of NJ Advance Media. The list is, of course incomplete and subject to change. If you are interested, Giants.com has a look at notable undrafted free agents to make the Giants roster.
QB Pete Monroe, Louisiana-Monroe
QB Gary Nova, Rutgers
WR Addison Richards, University of Regina
WR Lemar Durant, Simon Fraser University
WR Taylor Belsterling, Huntington (Ala.) College
TE Will Tye, Stony Brook
TE Matt Marfisi, Tulane
OL Sukh Chungh, University of Calgary
OL Sean McEwen, University of Calgary
OL Jacob Ruby, Richmond
DT Daryl Waud, University of Western Ontario
DE Brad Bars, Penn State
DE Carlif Taylor, Southern Connecticut
DB Willie Creear, Eastern Michigan
LB Byron Archambault, University of Montreal
LB Takari Johnson, Concordia-Ann Arbor
CB C.J. Conway, Montclair State
DB Tevaughn Campbell, University of Regina (Saskatchewan)
CB Qua Cox, Jackson State (was in Colts camp last year)
DT Donte Rumph, Kentucky (was in Falcons camp last year)
Interesting tryout notes
- There are several players from the Canadian Football League who are receiving tryouts. The Giants signed CFL offensive lineman of the year Brett Jones, and apparently found several other players they were curious about along the way.
- Defensive tackle Donte Rumph is the player humiliated by the Atlanta Falcons during 'Hard Knocks' last year. The back story of how he has refused to give up on his NFL dream, as reported by the New York Daily News, is a worthwhile read.
- Cornerback Qua Cox is a player who was in training camp with the Indianapolis Colts last summer.
- Will Tye of Stony Brook reportedly ran a faster 40-yard dash at his Pro Day than any tight end did at the NFL Combine. Tye caught 79 passes for Stony Brook the past two seasons.
Other offseason dates to know:
OTA Offseason Workouts:
May 27-29, June 1-2, June 4, June 8-9, June 11-12
Mandatory Minicamp:
June 16-18