Giants at Bengals: Familiar faces dot Cincinnati roster

When the New York Giants face the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday night, the Bengals will feature a roster filled with players who are familiar to Giants fans. Cincinnati’s 90-man roster contains seven players who formerly played for the Giants.

In many ways, looking at those players and considering whether or not they could have roles on the current Giants’ team is an illustration of how much the roster has changed. And, perhaps, depending upon your own judgment, improved.

The Bengals’ depth chart lists former Giants Bobby Hart (right tackle) and John Jerry (left guard) as starters.

Releasing Hart (attitude concerns and poor performance) before the final game of the 2017 season was the first appreciable move by Dave Gettleman after he took over as general manager. Jerry was out of the league a year ago after the Giants let him go at the end of the preseason.

It’s hard to imagine either player having a spot on the current Giants’ team, though you could argue that Jerry would be an adequate backup guard.

B.W. Webb, who played fairly well as the Giants’ nickel cornerback a season ago, is listed as a second-team cornerback by the Bengals and their probably nickel corner. With all of the young talent the Giants have added at cornerback, could Webb even make the Giants’ 2019 53-man roster? Debatable.

Hunter Sharp is listed as a third-team wide receiver. Sharp could not win a spot a season ago as a return man and backup wide receiver. He would be unlikely to win one this year, either.

Cornerback Tony Lippett was let go by the Giants in the spring. He is listed by the Bengals as a third-team cornerback.

Randy Bullock, who kicked in one 2016 game for the Giants, is Cincinnati’s placekicker. Not a chance he could take the placekicking job away from Aldrick Rosas.

The most interesting discussion might surround defensive end Kerry Wynn, listed as a third-teamer by the Bengals. Wynn was a useful reserve defensive player and special teamer, but accepted a one-year, $1.4 million free agent contract with Cincinnati. If he was a Giant, perhaps Olsen Pierre wouldn’t be.

Anyway, just what I thought was an interesting look at how the roster has changed. Mostly, I think for the better.

Agree or disagree?