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In advance of Saturday’s preseason opener vs. the New York Jets, the New York Giants have released their first unofficial depth chart. And it is a very unofficial depth chart.
Let’s go through it.
2021 Giants offensive depth chart
Position | First Team | Second Team | Third Team |
---|---|---|---|
Position | First Team | Second Team | Third Team |
WR | Kenny Golladay, | Darius Slayton | C.J. Board |
TE | Evan Engram | Kaden Smith | |
RT | Nate Solder | Matt Peart | |
RG | Will Hernandez | Ben Bredeson | |
C | Nick Gates | Billy Price | |
LG | Shane Lemieux | Ben Bredeson | |
LT | Andrew Thomas | Matt Peart | |
RB | Saquon Barkley | Devontae Booker | Gary Brightwell |
FB | Elijhaa Penny | Cullen Gillaspia | |
WR | Sterling Shepard | Kadarius Toney | Collin Johnson |
TE | Kyle Rudolph | Kaden Smith | |
QB | Daniel Jones | Mike Glennon |
A few thoughts on the offense:
- Running back Devontae Booker fumbled on his first 11-on-11 carry Wednesday night. That’s not the first time. Booker, to me, still has not shown why the Giants were in such a rush to sign him.
- I understood the reason for signing Mike Glennon instead of Colt McCoy. It was about arm strength. Still, arm strength doesn’t help Glennon on shorter throws where he appears to have no idea where the ball is going. Every day Glennon seems to miss wildly on a handful of short throws, many to running backs, that should be easy completions.
- Weird to see Kyle Rudolph listed as fourth team. We know that won’t end up being the case. Still, it is disconcerting that this far into camp we have yet to see Rudolph (foot surgery) do so much as stretch. He remains on the PUP list.
- The offensive line depth is a mess. Re-arrange those pieces any way you want, and you still can’t complete the puzzle.
- Another weird thing about this is to not see Darius Slayton listed as a starter.
2021 Giants defensive depth chart
Position | First Team | Second Team | Third Team |
---|---|---|---|
Position | First Team | Second Team | Third Team |
SLB | Lorenzo Carter | Quincy Roche | Cam Brown |
DE | Dexter Lawrence | ||
MLB | Blake Martinez | Reggie Ragland | Justin Hilliard |
NT | Austin Johnson | Danny Shelton | |
WIL | Tae Crowder | Carter Coughlin | |
DT | Leonard Williams | Raymond Johnson III | |
OLB | Oshane Ximines | Azeez Ojulari | |
LCB | James Bradberry | Rodarius Williams | Josh Jackson, Sam Beal |
SS | Jabrill Peppers | Julian Love | |
FS | Logan Ryan | Xavier McKinney | |
RCB | Adoree' Jackson | Darnay Holmes | Keion Crossen |
A few thoughts on the defense:
- Oshane Ximines is listed as a starting edge defender, but has still done very little in camp. I remain unconvinced Ximines is even guaranteed a roster spot.
- Odd to me to see Trent Harris listed ahead of Ifeadi Odenigbo and Cam Brown.
- You can see why the Giants signed defensive tackles Willie Henry and Elijah Qualls. They really don’t want their front-line guys playing a ton of snaps Saturday against the New York Jets.
- Xavier McKinney isn’t listed as a starter. But, he’s a starter. I have no doubt about that.
2021 Giants special teams depth chart
Position | First Team | Second Team | Third Team | Other |
---|---|---|---|---|
Position | First Team | Second Team | Third Team | Other |
Punter | Riley Dixon | |||
Placekicker | Graham Gano | |||
Long Snapper | Casey Kreiter | |||
Punt returner | Jabrill Peppers | Adoree' Jackson | Kadarius Toney | |
Kickoff returner | C.J. Board | Jabrill Peppers | Kadarius Toney | |
Holder | Riley Dixon |
A few thoughts on the special teams:
- Ryan Santoso was really impressive on Wednesday night, making 6 of 7 field goal attempts. His only miss came from 58 yards, and he made two 54-yarders with ease. Could the Giants get a seventh-round pick in exchange for him? I doubt it because he remains unproven in regular-season competition, but it won’t hurt to ask placekicker-needy teams.
- As special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey indicated a few days ago, the Giants have a ton of good options at punt and kickoff returner. I still think Kadarius Toney ends up doing a lot of returning, but I think the coaching staff wants to make him earn that right.