Updated New York Giants 53-man roster projection: Let’s see what has changed

With the New York Giants opening their preseason on Friday night against the Miami Dolphins let’s update our 53-man roster projection. Reality is, many of these jobs won’t be determined until the coaching staff evaluates how players perform in the four preseason games. Still, let’s see what might have changed during training camp.

For comparison, here is the projection I made before training camp began.

Offense (25)

Quarterback

Eli Manning

Ryan Nassib

I still think that if the Giants can find the right guy they will consider keeping three quarterbacks. I don’t think Logan Thomas is the right guy.

Running back

Rashad Jennings

Shane Vereen

Paul Perkins

Orleans Darkwa

Change: Darkwa in, Andre Williams out. That’s because right here at running back I’m taking a stand and keeping the players I would keep if the choice was mine. I have a suspicion the Giants keep Williams over Darkwa simply because Williams is a draft pick and Darkwa isn’t, and to be honest that bugs me. I’m going to put this in the simplest possible terms. I think Darkwa is a better running back, has more value as a pass catcher and is better on special teams. The only argument for keeping Williams is to continue trying to justify the fact that you drafted him, and that’s not a good enough reason.

Tight end

Will Tye

Larry Donnell

Will Johnson

Matt LaCosse

Change: Donnell is in and fullback Nikita Whitlock is out. This is largely because of the versatility of Johnson.

Wide receiver

Odell Beckham, Sterling Shepard

Victor Cruz

Dwayne Harris

Geremy Davis

Roger Lewis

Change: Lewis in, Myles White out. Davis has been good in camp and I think he sticks as a reserve. Right now, I think someone between Lewis, Darius Powe and Tavarres King takes a job away from White. For today, I will guess that will be Lewis. By the end of the preseason? It might be Anthony Dable for all I know.

Offensive line

Ereck Flowers, Justin Pugh, Weston Richburg, John Jerry, Marshall Newhouse

Bobby Hart

Shane McDermott

Adam Gettis

Ninth spot: To be determined

No change. I am sticking with the belief that there will be at least one offensive lineman on the 53-man roster who is not currently a Giant. If I had to add a ninth guy from the group the Giants currently have I would choose Ryan Seymour because he can play all five spots.

Defense (25)

Defensive tackle

Damon Harrison, Johnathan Hankins

Jay Bromley

Greg Milhouse

Change: Milhouse in, Montori Hughes out. One of the veterans the Giants recently added, Jerrelle Cudjo or Davon Coleman, could earn this spot. Or, the Giants could look to add a veteran when cuts are made before the season starts. For now, though, I’m giving the fourth spot to Milhouse. All bets are off if Bromley doesn’t come off PUP before the regular season begins.

Defensive end

Olivier Vernon, Jason Pierre-Paul

Owamagbe Odighizuwa

Kerry Wynn

Linebacker

Devon Kennard, Jasper Brinkley, Jonathan Casillas

Keenan Robinson

B.J. Goodson

Mark Herzlich

Kelvin Sheppard

Cornerback

Janoris Jenkins, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Leon Hall

Eli Apple

Trevin Wade

Donte Deayon

Change: Deayon in, safety Mykkele Thompson out. Even with Leon Hall now a Giant, Deayon has been too good during camp for me to leave him off the roster.

Safety

Landon Collins, Darian Thompson

Nat Berhe

Bennett Jackson

Change: Cornerback Donte Deayon in, Mykkele Thompson out. Someone in the group of Thompson, Cooper Taylor, Andrew Adams and Justin Currie could earn a roster spot. Right now I just don’t know who. I will give Deayon a spot and re-evaluate after we see some preseason action.

Specialists (3)

Placekicker — Josh Brown

Punter — Brad Wing

Long-snapper — Zak DeOssie