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5 impactful newcomers to Giants 2021 roster

KENNY-GOLLADAY-PRIMEPOINT

Draft pick. Free agent. Trade. Waiver claim. Teams can acquire players in a lot of ways, and the Giants exhausted all options during what the front office called an "aggressive" off-season. By and large, the 53 men on the roster as of 4 p.m. ET will make up 2021 New York Giants, who kick off the season Sept. 12 at home against the Denver Broncos. Although the core is made up of returning players, there are plenty of new additions who will make an impact on the upcoming season and beyond.

Here is a look at some of those key newcomers:

WR Kenny Golladay

2020 Team: Detroit Lions

A hamstring injury sidelined him for much of training camp, but the Giants have high hopes for Golladay, who was regarded as the top receiver on the market during the 2021 cycle. The Golladay signing was the signature piece in general manager Dave Gettleman's top objective of surrounding Daniel Jones with more playmakers. Golladay, a former third-round draft choice by the Lions, averaged 16.8 yards per catch, the sixth-best mark in the NFL since he entered the league in 2017 (minimum 80 receptions). In 2019, he led the NFL in touchdown catches and receptions of at least 25 yards.

OL Billy Price

2020 Team: Cincinnati Bengals

The Giants acquired the former first-round draft choice the day before Tuesday's roster deadline. In exchange, they sent B.J. Hill, whom coach Joe Judge said is a "starting defensive lineman" in the NFL, and a 2022 conditional seventh-round draft choice to the Bengals.

Price, 6-4 and 310 pounds, was selected 21st overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. In three seasons, he's played 42 games with 19 starts (11 at center, seven at left guard and one at right guard. As a rookie in 2018, Price started at center in all 10 games in which he played. He was named to the NFL All-Rookie team by Professional Football Writers of America. His college resume includes Ohio State records for both starts and consecutive starts.

LB Azeez Ojulari

2020 Team: Georgia Bulldogs

In his final collegiate season, Ojulari was a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award, which goes to the nation's top defensive player - that's what happens when you lead the SEC in sacks, tackles for loss, and forced fumbles. Adding playmakers on offense was at the top of the to-do list, but the defense was not too far below.

View photos of the New York Giants' active 53-man roster as it currently stands.

WR Kadarius Toney

2020 Team: Florida Gators

The rookie first-round draft choice had a stop-and-start beginning to his tenure, first dealing with a stint on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Whenever he does ramp up to game action, the Giants will be eager to use his dynamic play-making ability. Toney led the Gators with 70 receptions for 984 yards and 10 touchdowns last year in addition to recording 161 rushing yards and one touchdown on 19 carries. If that wasn't enough, the former high school star quarterback also attempted two passes.

"As any rookie, you're not going to see anyone really go out there and shoulder the burden for the team," said Judge, who coached receivers in addition to special teams for New England. "You don't really want to do that with rookies. You want to go ahead and build them up with their volume and the expectations early on and let them grow within their roles. I can tell you right now from coaching receivers in this league, you're going to see rookies play a lot better at the back end of the year anyway than the first end. That's a mixture of the defenses you're going to see, the speed of the game, just the chemistry on the field and the reactions with the quarterback. They just need time to really work that and get over and over. Now, in terms of not playing him, it always comes down to the player's health and individual status."

CB Adoree' Jackson

2020 Team: Tennessee Titans

On the day Saquon Barkley participated in his first full-team drills since his injury, Jackson left Thursday's joint practice against the Patriots with an ankle injury. "The medical team's optimistic about this guy," Judge said. "We're just going to kind of continue with the progression in his rebab to get him back with the team. He's moving along nice."

When he returns, the Giants' formidable cornerback tandem will be whole again. Jackson had been lining up opposite 2020 Pro Bowler James Bradberry in what has the makings of an elite secondary. Like Bradberry, a former Panther, did a year ago, Jackson is looking to take the next step in his career with a new team and coordinator in Patrick Graham.

In four seasons with the Titans, Jackson played in 46 regular season games ( 41 starts). He totaled 188 tackles (165 solo), two interceptions, 33 passes defensed, six tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. Additionally, Jackson made an impact on special teams and averaged 22.3 yards on 27 kickoff returns and 8.8 yards on 53 punt returns. Jackson also started all six postseason games in which he played.

Catch up on all the summer action with these must-see photos from training camp and preseason games.