Giants' 90-man roster: Center Shane McDermott getting attention

The New York Giants appeared during the spring to be holding open auditions for reserve offensive linemen. While it is virtually impossible to judge line play in shorts and t-shirts it wasn't impossible to notice that unheralded Shane McDermott, who finished last season the practice squad and was signed to a reserve/futures contract, was getting significant opportunities during practices open to the media.

Let's take a closer look at the former University of Miami center as we continue our series of player-by-player profiles of the 90-man roster the Giants will bring to training camp in late July.

2015 Season in Review

McDermott was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent. The Cowboys cut him at the end of the preseason. He spent a week on the practice squad of the Carolina Panthers before being cut again. The Giants added McDermott to their practice squad in mid-November and he remained there the rest of the season.

2016 Season Outlook

McDermott, 6-foot-3, 305 pounds, is competing for the reserve swing center/guard role ex-Giant Dallas Reynolds filled the last couple of years. His competition for that spot appears to be journeyman Adam Gettis and former CFL star Brett Jones.

Scouting reports on McDermott prior to the 2015 NFL Draft were not encouraging.

NFL.com:

Despite being a three-year starter for the Hurricanes, there are certain core traits that a player must have to make an NFL roster and McDermott's lack of strength and athleticism could limit his opportunities.

CBS Sports:

McDermott's biggest problem is that he is not the biggest, nor the most athletic. Can at times really struggle with power; has exceptional technique when dealing with this, but still finds himself on skates. He also doesn't move the best laterally, and this would give pause for concern moving to guard. Was beat with quickness across his face on numerous occasions when studying him. This lack of positional versatility may ultimately be his undoing.

Scouting reports aside, there is something the Giants seem to like about McDermott.

"He's a smart young man who works at it," head coach Ben McAdoo said during OTAs. "He's a center and you expect him to be able to have some type of versatility."

If he shows that versatility once pads on, and shows he can hold up blocking bigger players, perhaps McDermott has a chance to stick around.