As spring practices rolled on, coach Brian Daboll, quarterback Daniel Jones, tight end Darren Waller, safety Xavier McKinney, left tackle Andrew Thomas, and linebacker Bobby Okereke checked in with the media.
Here's everything you need to know from their pressers:
Coach Brian Daboll
🔹 Daboll began by congratulating cornerback Deonte Banks, the Giants' first-round selection, on graduating from Maryland this week. "It's an awesome accomplishment for him."
🔹 After the team made strides physically with the strength and conditioning portions of the offseason program, the third phase – i.e. OTAs – is really a camp for "learning" and "teaching," Daboll said. "That's how we approach it. No one is going to make the team off of performance at this camp. There are certain rules and things that we with try to coach and make sure that our guys are on top of. As always, I think there's a few guys out that had prior engagements for today. They will be back next week. We have really good attendance. There will be some guys working their rehab stuff, and throughout practice each of those guys are kind of at different stages. Just trying to get them as healthy as we can. I'm not going to get into specifics of any of them."
🔹 On Saquon Barkley, Daboll said "that situation is going to be between Saquon and the organization. I'm not going to get into detail of any of the discussions we've had."
🔹 The biggest thing for rookies is "taking it from the classroom to the field. I would say they are behind considerably, which is the same every year I've been in the NFL, so our job as a coaching staff is to try to get them up to speed as quickly as we can. Lay a foundation for training camp so when we get to training camp which I think is in about two months, is today the 25th? Yeah about, two months. They have a lot to learn in a short amount of time and try to get them as prepared as we can, so in training camp they can go out there, and again, there's players slowdown when they are thinking a lot. When you are just learning a new system, maybe not playing as fast as you'd like to play because you're thinking about a lot of different things, so just try to get them acclimated to our systems, our calls, to how we do things, but a long way away from training camp, actually. They will get reps, learn from those. There will be a lot of mistakes on everybody's end, including mine, so try to get better so we can be ready to go for training camp."
🔹 All of the players coming off injuries are at "different stages" in their rehab.
🔹 Linebacker Darrian Beavers, whose promising rookie year was cut short by injury, is "working hard. He'll be one of the guys on the rehab [field]. Once we get out to training camp and preseason games, that's really when the evaluation part comes in. He's done a great job, everything we've asked him to do, so whenever he gets back, look forward to working with him."
🔹 The reigning AP NFL Coach of the Year isn't getting too confident or comfortable based off last year's success. "I think it all starts over. There are great challenges that lie ahead, but staying in the moment is where we want to be. There are things I've learned like everybody's learned. A new team, a lot of personalities to deal with, we've got a lot of work to do, a big hill to climb and let's take it one day at a time."
🔹 Daboll loves "every part" of being a head coach. "But it's great when you come out here and get an hour and a half of practice in and go back to the meeting rooms and teach them some of the things that -- again, we make mistakes as coaches, too, so this is a great time of year. None of us have really been out here at practice for a while now. A lot of things we can get better at and that's what we're trying to do."
🔹 The Giants are looking at a "variety of things" with newcomers like Darren Waller and Parris Campbell. "Just kind of see how they move around and some of the things they are good at. It's a work in progress."
🔹 What has he learned about Waller? "He's a true pro. He's been really good for us in the meeting rooms. Gives good input. Good communicator. Has some leadership skills. He's been a good guy to work with."
View photos from OTA practice No. 3 at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.


DB Adoree' Jackson (22), DB Cor'dale Flott (28), DB Zyon Gilbert (38)

WR Jalin Hyatt (84)

WR Sterling Shepard (3)



DB Adoree' Jackson (22)

WR Isaiah Hodgins (18), WR Darius Slayton (86), WR Jeff Smith II (19)

OL Evan Neal (73), OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)

RB Gary Brightwell (23), RB Eric Gray (20), RB Jashaun Corbin (25), RB Matt Breida (31)

DB Gervarrius Owens (31)

DB Tre Hawkins III (37), DB Gervarrius Owens (31)

LB Micah McFadden (41)

LB Carter Coughlin (52)

WR Sterling Shepard (3)

DB Alex Cook (23)

DB Germon Green (34)

DB Cor'dale Flott (28)

DB Alex Cook (23)

DB Zyon Gilbert (38)

DB Cor'dale Flott (28)

DB Deonte Banks (36)

S Xavier McKinney (29)

Brian Daboll Head Coach

P Jamie Gillan (6), K Graham Gano (9)

DB Bobby McCain (21)

TE Lawrence Cager (83)

RB Jashaun Corbin (25), QB Tyrod Taylor (2), TE Lawrence Cager (83), WR Collin Johnson (15)

WR Collin Johnson (15)

DB Cor'dale Flott (28)

DB Cor'dale Flott (28)

WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)

S Xavier McKinney (29)

S Xavier McKinney (29)

DB Adoree' Jackson (22)

LB Troy Brown (46)

LB Troy Brown (46)

LB Troy Brown (46)

WR Darius Slayton (86)

LB Dyontae Johnson (54)

LB Micah McFadden (41), LB Troy Brown (46), LB Dyontae Johnson (54)

WR Jalin Hyatt (84)

LB Micah McFadden (41), LB Troy Brown (46), LB Dyontae Johnson (54)




WR Parris Campbell (0)

WR Jalin Hyatt (84)

WR Jeff Smith II (19), WR Parris Campbell (0)

P Jamie Gillan (6), K Graham Gano (9)

WR Parris Campbell (0), WR Isaiah Hodgins (18), WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (6), WR Jalin Hyatt (84), WR Jamison Crowder (80), WR Jalin Hyatt (84), WR Collin Johnson (15), WR Darius Slayton (86)

WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)

TE Daniel Bellinger (82), G Shane Lemieux (66), OL Devery Hamilton (62), OL Mark Glowinski (64), LS Casey Kreiter (59), OL Jack Anderson (77), LB Jarrad Davis (57), OL J.C. Hassenaauer (63), TE Tommy Sweeney (89), K Graham Gano (9)

DB Rodarius Williams (25)

DB Cor'dale Flott (28)

TE Lawrence Cager (83)

DB Adoree' Jackson (22)

S Xavier McKinney (29)

RB Matt Breida (31)

OLB Tomon Fox (49)

OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)

LB Jihad Ward (55)

OLB Habakkuk Baldonado (45)

OLB Habakkuk Baldonado (45)

LB Oshane Ximines (53)

OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)

LB Azeez Ojulari (51)

OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)

LB Jihad Ward (55)

WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)

WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)

OLB Habakkuk Baldonado (45)

OLB Habakkuk Baldonado (45)

OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)

WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)

WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)

DB Adoree' Jackson (22), DB Cor'dale Flott (28), DB Zyon Gilbert (38)

WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)

OL John Michael Schmitz Jr (61), QB Daniel Jones (8)

TE Tommy Sweeney (89)

WR Jeff Smith II (19)




WR Sterling Shepard (3)










QB Daniel Jones
🔹 Jones had nothing but good things to say about Waller, who was acquired via trade with the Raiders. "I think as soon as you walk on the field, you can see he's a big guy. He can run. He can run every route. Catches the ball really well, great body control. He's been really fun to work with. A really smart guy. He's picked up things really quickly too."
🔹 Some players are listed at 6-6, but they're really 6-4 or 6-5. But Waller? "He's a true 6-6. He's a true 250, 260, and can fly, can run, can run all the routes. He's just an impressive athlete. He's just been locked in. You can tell it's important to him. He's put a lot of effort into learning the stuff and getting caught up. … He can do a lot. He's obviously a tough matchup for people, for defenses, with a guy who can run like that with that kind of size, and how you play him in man and how you account for him in zone coverages. He definitely gives something for a defense to worry about or to game plan for, and we can move him around and put him in different spots. Just a super versatile player."
🔹 Jones has also been impressed with rookie center John Michael Schmitz, the All-American out of Minnesota taken in the second round. "He's a smart guy. Been in here working hard. He's on it every day, working to learn and understand what we're doing in protections, what we're doing in the run game. Obviously, this is more of a passing camp. So, a lot of that run stuff's happening in meetings and then walkthroughs out here. But he's doing a great job, and it's been fun working with him."
🔹 Schmitz uses the "dead ball" snap that has become popular in college. A center tips the ball on its nose, puts his hands over the laces, and snaps it back. It comes back to the quarterback nice and easy, straight up and down – kind of like a rainbow. Jones said he is "good with it. He's accurate. I'm good with it. … He asked me, and I said yeah."
🔹 More on Waller: "He's a real deep-thinking guy. You can tell he cares about the relationships he has with guys on the team and is extremely humble and authentic in who he is. I have a ton of respect for that and who he is as a person, as a teammate. For all the reasons I said before and all those reasons, it's been a lot of fun working with him."
TE Darren Waller
🔹 The respect is mutual between Waller and Jones. "I've been very impressed with Daniel. Arm talent, intelligence, funny guy. He's got a lot of personality that you really get to see once you get to know him some more. It's been fun, man. Getting extra throwing sessions in, workout in the weight room. A lot of jokes. Just having lunch together. You can tell guys are really close around here, and he kind of leads that energy."
🔹 Wait a minute … he's funny? "He's got jokes, man. He's got like a low-key sense of humor. He's a little more introverted guy kind of like myself. I'm like that too. I feel like we have similar sense of humors."
🔹 Waller enjoys the "challenge" of learning this offense. "It requires you to know everything that's going on on the field, not just have yourself fixed in one spot, like you need to know the whole picture of the offense. Why the quarterback's looking in a certain direction, why you need to be in a certain window at a certain time. It forces you to move fast, think fast, and I love challenges. That's what I like the most about it."
🔹 Waller views this season as an "opportunity to get back to having fun and just being available for my teammates every and each week. That's something I haven't been able to do the last couple years, and I'm fully aware of that. I'm doing everything in my control to be able to be out there and be accountable, be reliable, by just being out there every day. I'm excited about that challenge. I've done it before, and I'm ready to do it again."
🔹 How does it feel different with his new team? "I'm on my third now. There are different cultures everywhere you go, different types of energy. This is a really light place, a really fun place, really empowering place in a way, where you just be yourself in all ways. As long as you're not putting the team at risk by getting a flag or things like that, you can really let your personality show. That's what I love about being here. It's just been fun, and it's also been challenging. Guys holding me to a high standard since I got here, and I try to reciprocate that."
🔹 Waller said they value opinions at the Giants. "As a player, I feel like a lot of places I've gone, you're told to do things a certain way, and you do those things. But here, they ask a lot of questions. They want to know what you're thinking, what do you like to do more. So, to offer input is a really cool thing because coach and players have got to be in partnership. We're all together. We shouldn't be clashing with each other. We're all going the same direction."
View photos of OTA practice No. 2 at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.




WR Parris Campbell (0)


DB Gervarrius Owens (31)

DB Bobby McCain (21)

WR Sterling Shepard (3)

WR Kalil Pimpleton (81)

DB Cor'dale Flott (28)

DB Rodarius Williams (25)

WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)

WR Jeff Smith II (19)

WR David Sills V (13)

TE Darren Waller (12)

TE Daniel Bellinger (82)

TE Darren Waller (12)

WR Jeff Smith II (19)

DB Germon Green (34)

DB Germon Green (34)

DB Germon Green (34)

TE Darren Waller (12)

DB Alex Cook (23)

TE Darren Waller (12)

DB Gervarrius Owens (31)


DB Bobby McCain (21)

WR David Sills V (13)

LB Jihad Ward (55)

WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)

DB Nick McCloud (44)

WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)

WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)

DB Cor'dale Flott (28)

WR Kalil Pimpleton (81)

WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)

WR Parris Campbell (0)

WR Jaydon Mickens (88)

WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (6)

WR Jalin Hyatt (84)

WR Jeff Smith II (19)

TE Darren Waller (12)

WR Jamison Crowder (80)

QB Tommy DeVito (5)

QB Tommy DeVito (5-O)

QB Tyrod Taylor (2)

QB Tyrod Taylor (2)

WR Parris Campbell (0)


WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)

S Xavier McKinney (29)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

RB Jashaun Corbin (25)

RB Jashaun Corbin (25)

RB Jashaun Corbin (25)

WR Collin Johnson (15)

WR Parris Campbell (0)

WR Jalin Hyatt (84)

WR Parris Campbell (0)

WR Jalin Hyatt (84)

WR Jeff Smith II (19)

WR David Sills V (13)

WR Jeff Smith II (19)

WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)

WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)

WR Jalin Hyatt (84)

DB Tre Hawkins III (37)

DB Darnay Holmes (30)

DB Armini Oruwariye (20)

WR Darius Slayton (86)

DB Armini Oruwariye (20)

WR Jalin Hyatt (84)

WR Sterling Shepard (3), WR Parris Campbell (0)

WR Jamison Crowder (80)

WR Parris Campbell (0)

QB Tyrod Taylor (2)

DB Cor'dale Flott (28)

TE Lawrence Cager (83)

OLB Habakkuk Baldonado (45)

LB Carter Coughlin (52)

LB Cam Brown (47)

LB Jihad Ward (55)

TE Lawrence Cager (83)

LB Oshane Ximines (53)

S Xavier McKinney (29)

WR Parris Campbell (0)

DB Bobby McCain (21)

S Xavier McKinney (29), DB Darnay Holmes (30)

WR Jeff Smith II (19)

DB Nick McCloud (44)

TE Lawrence Cager (83)

LB Bobby Okereke (58)

LB Bobby Okereke (58)

LB Bobby Okereke (58)

S Xavier McKinney (29)

LB Dyontae Johnson (54)

DB Leonard Johnson (35)

DB Alex Cook (23)

WR Jaydon Mickens (88)

WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (6)


WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (6)







S Xavier McKinney (29)

S Xavier McKinney
🔹 Defenses need to be aware of where Waller is "at all times" because he puts "a lot of pressure" on them. It will be a good challenge for Wink Martindale's unit. "He's one of the best tight ends in the league that we have. Obviously, it's a lot of pressure just him being out there on the field. You can feel his presence. Like I said, you've got to be aware of where he's at. He's able to make plays inside, outside, against the corner, against the safety, it doesn't matter. For me, I like to see it as a challenge. It's fun to go out there and compete with him every day that he's been here. It's just been fun to have him, see him make plays, and be able to work and compete with him."
🔹 McKinney has seen a lot of growth from the young safeties. "They're showing a lot of just willing to listen, willing to get better, willing to work to compete. I try to kind of get on them a little bit from time to time just to make them go a little harder, try to see what buttons I can push. But it's been fun having them out there. Obviously, you're able to -- even though they're young guys, you're still able to learn from them, and they're able to learn from us as well. It's been fun just having the unit as one and being able to just work with these guys every day."
🔹 Asked about handling raised expectations for the team, McKinney said, "We're just here to work at the end of the day. It's a new year for us, a new season. We're just taking it day by day. Being in this league, I know that the previous year does not matter. You've seen the worst teams be the best teams. You've seen the best teams become the worst teams. We don't worry about last year. We just focus on today. Then each and every day we'll come in here and get better."
LB Bobby Okereke
🔹 The veteran addition has been one of the players wearing the green dot on his helmet, meaning he can relay the communication from the coaches. "Whatever is best for the team. I don't have an ego about it. I know a couple different guys are wearing it throughout this process."
🔹 Okereke is joined by a lot of young players in the linebacker room. Who has stood out to him? "I love Micah McFadden. I think he's a technician, great player, smart guy. Obviously Jarrad Davis is a great leader. And Darrian Beavers is a guy who has a lot of potential."
LT Andrew Thomas
🔹 It's a "blessing" to have his fifth-year option picked up by the Giants. "I'm excited. Just working on getting better every day."
🔹 Thomas said Schmitz has done a good job learning the complicated system. "There's a lot to learn in our offense. We have a lot of code words, different things that he has to do. The center makes most of the calls up front. We're just encouraging him to be confident. Whatever he calls, that's how we approach the game. He's doing a good job for us, and I'm excited to see him play."
View photos of every move made by the Giants during the 2023 cycle.


QB Jacob Eason - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (January 6)

TE Tyree Jackson - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (January 6)

K Mason Crosby - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (January 6)

OT Yodny Cajuste - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (January 6)

S Jason Pinnock - Reserve/Injured (January 6)

QB Jacob Eason - Practice Squad Signing (January 4)

OT Tyre Phillips - Reserve/Injured (January 2)

OLB Jeremiah Martin - Practice Squad Signing (January 1)

K Mason Crosby - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (December 30)

WR Dennis Houston - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (December 30)

LB Darrian Beavers - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (December 30)

TE Lawrence Cager - Reserve/Injured (December 30)

K Mason Crosby - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (December 24)

OLB Tomon Fox - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (December 24)

OT Matt Peart - Activated, from Reserve (December 24)

OT Evan Neal - Reserve/Injured (December 24)

K Mason Crosby - Practice Squad Veteran (December 22)

K Cade York - Practice Squad; Injured (December 22)

K Randy Bullock - Reserve/Injured (December 21)

DL Timmy Horne - Free Agent Signing from ATL Practice Squad (December 21)

OT Matt Peart - Designated for Return / Returned to Practice (December 20)

RB Gary Brightwell - Designated for Return / Returned to Practice (December 20)

TE Darren Waller - Activated, from Reserve (December 16)

S Bobby McCain - Waived, No Recall (December 16)

TE Darren Waller - Designated for Return / Returned to Practice (December 14)

QB Tyrod Taylor - Activated, from Reserve (December 11)

QB Matt Barkley - Practice Squad Veteran Signing (December 5)

QB Jacob Eason - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (December 4)

QB Matt Barkley - Waived, No Recall (December 4)

QB Tyrod Taylor - Designated for Return / Returned to Practice (December 4)

WR Dylan Drummond - Practice Squad Signing (November 30)

OLB Oshane Ximines - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (November 30)

RB Eric Gray - Activated, from Reserve (November 25)

K Cade York - Practice Squad Exception Signing (November 24)

K Randy Bullock - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (November 24)

K Cade York - Waived, No Recall (November 22)

RB Eric Gray - Designated for Return / Returned to Practice (November 22)

OL Joshua Miles - Practice Squad Veteran Signing (November 21)

RB Deon Jackson - Practice Squad Exception Signing (November 21)

RB Hassan Hall - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (November 21)

LB Benton Whitley - Free Agent Signing from MIN Practice Squad (November 21)

RB Deon Jackson - Waived, No Recall (November 20)

OL Joshua Miles - Waived, No Recall (November 20)

K Randy Bullock - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (November 18)

TE Tyree Jackson - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (November 18)

TE Chris Myarick - Waived, No Recall from Reserve/Injured (November 13)

OLB Azeez Ojulari - Activated, from Reserve (November 11)

TE Tyree Jackson - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (November 11)

K Randy Bullock - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (November 11)

OLB Azeez Ojulari - Designated for Return / Returned to Practice (November 8)

QB Matt Barkley - QB Matt Barkley - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (November 8)

QB Daniel Jones - Reserve/Injured (November 8)

QB Jacob Eason - Practice Squad Signing (November 7)

RB Hassan Hall - Practice Squad Signing (November 7)

OLB Justin Hollins - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (November 4)

K Randy Bullock - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (November 4)

TE Lawrence Cager - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (November 4)

TE Darren Waller - Reserve/Injured (November 4)

QB Tyrod Taylor - Reserve/Injured (November 4)

WR Gunner Olszewski - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (November 3)

K Cade York - Free Agent Signing from TEN Practice Squad (November 3)

K Randy Bullock - Practice Squad Veteran Signing (November 3)

K Graham Gano - Reserve/Injured (November 3)

QB Matt Barkley - Practice Squad Veteran Signing (October 31)

QB Tommy DeVito - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (October 31)

WR Gunner Olszewski - Practice Squad Veteran Signing (October 31)

OL Jaylon Thomas - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (October 31)

DL Leonard Williams - Traded to Seahawks for 2024 2nd Round Pick & 2025 5th Round Pick (October 30)

CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver III - Practice Squad Veteran Signing (October 30)

WR Gunner Olszewski - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (October 30)

WR Gunner Olszewski - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (October 28)

RB Gary Brightwell - Reserve/Injured (October 28)

QB Tommy DeVito - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 28)

OLB Oshane Ximines - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 28)

RB Jashaun Corbin - Free Agent Signing from CAR Practice Squad
OLB Justin Hollins - Practice Squad Veteran Signing
RB Eric Gray, OT Matt Peart - Reserve/Injured
RB Deon Jackson - Claimed off Waivers from CLV
(October 24)

WR Gunner Olszewski - Practice Squad Veteran Signing (October 23)

QB Tommy DeVito - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 21)

OL Jalen Mayfield - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 21)

TE Lawrence Cager - Practice Squad Signing

OL Sean Harlow - Free Agent Signing from DAL Practice Squad (October 19)

OL Shane Lemieux - Reserve/Injured (October 19)

OL Justin Pugh - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (October 18)

TE Lawrence Cager - Waived, No Recall (October 18)

OL Tyre Phillips - Free Agent Signing from PHI Practice Squad
OL Joshua Miles - Free Agent Signing from ATL Practice Squad
OL Joshua Ezeudu - Reserve/Injured
OL Jalen Mayfield - Practice Squad Exception Signing
DB Alex Cook - Free Agent Signing to CAR Active Roster
(October 17)

OLB Azeez Ojulari - Reserve/Injured (October 14)

OL Jalen Mayfield - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (October 14)

QB Tommy DeVito - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 14)

OL Justin Pugh - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 14)

OT Yodny Cajuste - Practice Squad Veteran (October 11)

WR Cole Beasley - Designated for Return / Restored to Practice Squad (October 10)

WR Cam Sims - - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (October 10)

CB Amani Oruwariye - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (October 10)

OL Jaylon Thomas, OL Jalen Mayfield - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 7)

OL Justin Pugh - Practice Squad Veteran (October 3)

RB Taiwan Jones - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (October 3)

OLB Oshane Ximines - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 21)

OL Jaylon Thomas - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 21)

RB Taiwan Jones - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 16)

OLB Oshane Ximines - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 16)

RB Taiwan Jones - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 9)
